How to Enjoy a Night Out
3 Tips Every Introvert Needs to Hear Before Going Out
Going out can often seem overwhelming to introverts, as it usually includes being surrounded by many people you don’t know well, loud music/noises, and feeling out of your comfort zone. This is completely normal, but it’s important to learn how to make the most of these experiences, especially if you’re doing it for a friend or family member. Here are 3 of my best tips on how to enjoy a night out:
Be open. Let your friends/family know that going out may not be your favorite thing, so they’ll understand if you want to leave early or why you might be feeling more anxious than normal. Sharing this information makes it easier on both yourself and them. Good friends shouldn’t be insulted by this, but rather appreciate that you’re putting yourself out there for them. It’s important in friendships to work together to compromise and that you’re both being respectful of each other's feelings and comfort levels when it comes to certain situations.
Have something in your hand/give yourself a task. Having a drink or some food in your hand usually makes you look and feel more involved in the evening. Similarly, doing an activity, like grabbing your group’s drinks from the bar) can take the pressure off of trying to socialize the entire time. Plus, it gives you a chance to get away for a short amount of time to take a breather and regroup before coming back and enjoying the conversation.
Bring a book. This suggestion depends on the social setting you’re in. If you’re in a situation where you’re going to be mostly surrounded by people you don’t know, grab a seat and start reading a book when you get there. This almost always intrigues someone enough to come up to you and start a conversation – maybe they’re interested in the book you have or maybe they just want to help you feel more engaged in the social setting. This is an easy way to get someone to come up and start a conversation with you!