6 Ways to be Social When You're a Homebody

By Alyssa Laffitte on January 7, 2018

If you are a homebody, like me, it can be hard to be social and make friends. Here are six ways to be social when you’re not a social butterfly.

Image via Isorepublic.com

Get an internship in your field

Getting an internship will not only give you an opportunity to be more social, but it will also give you experience in your dream career. You can meet people who work in the field you want to work in, so they can give you tips on how to succeed in that career. They can provide letters of recommendation when it’s time to apply for graduate school or jobs.

Join an extracurricular activity

Many people will encourage you to join extracurricular activities to help you become more social, and I agree with them! Joining an extracurricular activity will introduce you to people who share your interests and values, and thus, it will be easier to start conversations and make friends with them. For example, if you join a music-related extracurricular activity, you know that people there will be interested in music, and you can easily strike up a conversation about music with anyone there.

You can join an extracurricular activity related to your major, too. (That’s what I did! I am a biology major, and when I’m not in class, I’m working in a lab.)

Also, you don’t have to limit yourself to campus when you look for extracurricular activities to join, too. For example, you can volunteer at your local church or at a community center.

An easy way to find an extracurricular to join is to attend student activities fairs. At these fairs, you will be introduced to many activities that you might not be aware of!

Talk to the person who sits next to you in class

Talking to the person who sits next to you in class doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking! You can start a conversation by asking a question about something relevant to the class. For example, “You think you’re ready for the quiz today?” or, “What did you think about the homework that was due yesterday?” Then, say hello when you see each other. This is how friendships start!

It’s also a good idea to have a friend in class in case you are sick one day and need someone else’s notes.

Making a friend in a class is a good idea, especially if the class is in a subject that requires multiple semesters of study, or if it’s a class for your major. If you are taking the next level class in the subject next semester, it’s likely you will see your friend again in that class. Similarly, if a class is for your major, chances are that you will see your friend in another class for your major. When you start the next class, you will already have a friend!

Talk to someone who sits next to you and exchange numbers. You never know if you’ve found yourself a new friend!

Form (or join) a study group

Study groups are great because not only will it give you the opportunity to study, but also the opportunity to make new friends. Take advantage of this by joining a study group or forming your own! (Another good reason to talk to the person who sits next to you in class… they might be interested in this study group, too.)

Even if you are more of an independent learner (like me), study groups are great because everyone in the group has different strengths and weaknesses. A concept that you’re struggling with might be someone else’s strength, and they can help you! Likewise, you will be able to help out other people who might be struggling with a concept you understand well.

A study group also forces you to talk to the people in the group, so it’s a great way to make friends. You might find that you want to hang out with these people even outside the study group!

Actually attend social events

One way to be more social is to actually attend the social events your internship or extracurricular club hosts. If you’re a homebody, like me, it’s very easy to just stay home watching movies while there is an event going on for your extracurricular activity. Staying home may sound appealing, but it is not good for your social life. Make an effort to attend these social events. You will reunite with friends, and possibly make new friends! In the end, you will be glad you went.

Don’t eat alone

Another way to be social is to avoid eating alone. If you can, make lunch and dinner plans with any of your friends (or even better: with a group of friends!) Eating with someone provides an opportunity for conversation and getting to know others in a laid-back setting.

In short, don’t be afraid to put yourself in a position where you will have to talk to people. Chances are that they will end up liking you, and you will have found a new group of friends!

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