I consider myself to be mostly an introvert – I do connect with some of the traits that are associated with being an extrovert but overall I think I fall more on the introversion side of the spectrum and prefer introvert activities. I don’t really think there is a distinct divide between introverts and extroverts but a continuous spectrum where people have a little bit or a lot of either traits. This makes us all unique which makes us all the more interesting.
As a fellow introvert, I’ll share some of the best ways I like to spend my time. Maybe we’ll share a lot of hobbies in common. Maybe you’ll get introduced to some new things introverts may like to do. If you feel like you might have more of an introvert soul, keep reading for all different types of introvert activities you might like to try!
In This Article…
What is an introvert?
There are many definitions and lists of personality traits that have been written to describe introverts vs. extroverts. The explanation that resonates with me the most to define how I see myself as an introvert is the ‘rechargeable batteries’ metaphor.
When I’m talking about your ‘batteries’ – I mean your ‘social batteries’. It is hard to describe but social batteries can sort of be measured by your patience, tolerance or willingness to participate in being social with others.
If you consider your amount of social energy as a battery – it makes sense that certain activities drain those batteries and certain activities will charge up those batteries. This is where the difference between an introvert and extrovert stand out to me.
An introvert drains their batteries during highly stimulating, highly social activities and charges them up with alone time. And an extrovert can be considered the opposite. An extrovert drains their batteries when spending time alone and recharges them by being around people and being social.
You can start to understand which side of the spectrum you fall on when you consider how you feel after you spend your free time doing certain activities. For example, I do love going out and spending time socializing and chatting with friends and family but at the end of the night I feel exhausted. And to feel recharged and refreshed I desire to be on my own.
An extrovert would likely feel the opposite, they spend the day alone and feel tired and worn out but then go out with their friends for dinner and feel replenished of energy, after chatting and being with others.
Why are activities or hobbies important?
Having a hobby or doing an activity we enjoy in our spare time is vital to living a joyful and fulfilled life. It gives us something fun to do in our leisure time.
It’s important to save time for activities we specifically enjoy amongst our busy lives. There are always going to be activities that are required of us (that we may not necessarily enjoy) like errands or work or cooking so it’s important to mix in activities we specifically choose and love to do. Having the time to spend on our hobbies or leisure activities is important for stress relief and giving us the feeling of joy.
Remembering to take time to feel happy in our lives is something we tend to forget since life is busy, tasks are important, things are stressful!
Hobbies have the effect of enriching and improving the quality of our lives. I think it’s vital to have at least one you truly enjoy and do often!
Of course, there are quite literally thousands of hobbies and activities out there for every personality type and personal preferences but this post will focus on “introvert activities” but that doesn’t necessarily exclude anyone! I’m quite sure anyone can find something interesting on this list of ideas that might spark some joy in life.
I have included many different “types” of introvert activities on this list because sometimes what we feel like doing is very dependent on our energy levels or even what social events we need to plan around. I have included many different ways of taking some time to do an activity purely for your own enjoyment including:
- At home: for when you need ultimate relaxation and recharging of those social batteries
- Solo but out and about: for when you still want some alone time but something more fun, eventful and engaging then being at home
- Small groups: for when you want to connect with others but not in a very hustle, bustle highly social way
- Trying something new: for when you’re feeling courageous to try something new (but, things I still love to do and consider to be ‘introvert activities’)
35 INTROVERT ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES AND HOBBIES FOR THE PERSON WHO FEELS REFRESHED WHEN DOING ACTIVITIES ALONE OR IN SMALL GROUPS
Introvert Activities at Home to Relax and Recharge
Here are 20 introvert activities to get into when you may not have much time and are just looking for a quick recharge. These are activities are often turn to after a stressful day and am looking for an easy way to feel more relaxed and recharge my social batteries. 🙂
- Get lost in a good book
Having some reading time is a super easy way to take a bit of time to yourself. I normally always have a book on the go that I can pick up quickly. If I’m short on time, I don’t mind reading just a chapter or two (although, I often lose track of time and read much more than I intended… but that’s okay!) and getting back to other things. But, I always appreciate a few minutes to wind down, turn my brain off and not have to think about anything but the story. I think reading is considered an ultimate introvert activity because it’s an easy activity to get some alone time even amongst others or during busy times.
- Practice with a musical instrument
There are studies to show the benefits of musical training on our brain health – a hobby that is fun but also good for you is a win-win! I am in no way, shape or form a talented ‘musician’ (I don’t really consider myself a person who knows how to play any instrument at all…).
But, I enjoy playing around with various instruments and trying to learn new songs or ways to make ‘moderately nice sounding noise’. It’s a nice way to relax and learning something new can always make me feel really good.
We have a lot of instruments in our house because my husband (who is actually talented) keeps many. But, you can always borrow an instrument from a friend or rent for a reasonable price. There are many small instruments that are fun to play with that aren’t too expensive. Like a kalimba or ukulele (my current favourites to play around with).
- Play a solo card game
I grew up playing cards – it was the activity the whole family could join in on for a round or two. Every now and then, I play a solo round of solitaire. It’s a good way to kick back and relax (and it reminds me of my childhood).
Getting out a deck of cards is quick and customizable to whatever game you’d like to play. It’s a great option when you’re looking for something a little bit more to do than just sitting around but is still low energy.
- Write in a journal
You can physically write in a notebook – there’s something I quite like about the old-school way of putting pen to paper. But, you can do it the digital way as well – type or use a tablet. However, YOU want to write is the right way.
Writing in a journal is a very versatile activity, you can tailor it to suit you perfectly:
- It can be a reflective activity. You can jot things down about how you’re feeling or your goals for the future.
- It can be a creative activity. You can start writing a story or plan a house renovation.
Writing can be about the content you are writing or just about the physical act of writing down. It doesn’t even have to be words! I’m a big fan of doodling. It gives my mind something to focus on so it doesn’t wander too much.
Just get out a notebook and see what comes out. If you are feeling stuck but want to write something try searching for various writing prompts to get you started!
- Fill in a colouring book
Colouring can be so much fun! It’s a detail oriented activity that keeps your mind focused on the task at hand instead of worrying about other things. It’s a great meditation-like activity to try if you’re looking for some peace, calm and quiet time.
You can try colouring with whatever you have on hand – coloured pencils, markers or even, try paints. If you don’t have a colouring book, you can easily find printable sheets to try out.
- Try out or work on a crafting hobby
I keep a stash of crochet stuff (yarn, hooks and the like) tucked behind my couch – it is always easily accessible when I have a minute or two to have a seat. I love crocheting and crafting in general. This is probably my favourite of the introvert activities.
Crafting is a nice activity to inject into your spare time – working through the process of making something is very rewarding. You learn new skills, you make mistakes, you try again and you end up with a product you can love and be proud of in the end!
It can be a practice in patience but it is worth it for the feeling of accomplishment in the end. I usually always have a little project going like hand towels or a blanket or scarf (as a bonus, they make great gifts!).
- Cook yourself a nice meal (or dessert!)
I really enjoy spending time baking. Similarly, to a lot of my other hobbies – it’s enjoyable to take the extra time to go slowly through the process and end with a satisfying (and yummy!) result.
Choose a recipe you’ve always wanted to try and go for it! Cooking or baking can be a relaxing way to fill your time and it’s always nice to share the results with others (or eat them all yourself! I can’t deny that I do this, at least sometimes. :))
- Try meditating
You don’t have to be intimidated by meditation. There are literally thousands of ways to do it and in my opinion, there is no way that is the best way, the right way or even the better way. There’s just the way that you do it. 🙂
I like to keep it very simple – I find a comfy spot to sit or lay down, close my eyes and just focus on breathing in and breathing out. That’s it! I usually only spend a couple of minutes like this but it is a nice way to reset your mind and relax – especially if you’re stressed, anxious, worried or just have too much racing through your mind.
- Take time for thoughtful reflection
You might consider this similar to meditation – but, for me – they are very different. Meditation is about thinking about… well, nothing. You let your mind be still without any thoughts, give that brain a break! Whereas thoughtful reflection – you have thoughts!
I like to pair this with being outside – I enjoy the outdoors and being in nature. It makes me feel calm and lends well to just pondering life – being grateful for where I am, what I have, thinking about what I want to accomplish today, tomorrow, 5 years from now. Thoughtful reflection is for you to think about whatever you want!
- Take a nap
I’m thinking, no explanation needed. 🙂
- Have a pajama day
I am a comfort clothes enthusiast – so far as, I have a part of my closet I consider ‘day pajamas’ – really pajamas but possibly could pass for real clothes?
Sometimes you need a quiet restful day at home where you spend it in your jammies and participate in all of your comforts – cozy blankets, a warm drink, and nothing to do!
- Do some stretching
I’ve done a lot of yoga classes over the years so I typically recreate the stretches I’ve learned through classes. But, you can easily follow a youtube video or just move your body in ways that feel good for you.
I try to prioritize moving my body but sometimes you don’t have it in you to do a whole workout or exercise routine, enter – stretching. It’s the relaxation workout and it’s my favourite for feeling accomplished and getting in some movement but focusing on rest and relaxation.
- Listen to a podcast
This is the activity I turn to when I feel like reading but want to keep my eyes closed. Reading for the ears. 🙂
The blog, Simply Fiercely, has rounded up a list of 7 Simple Living Podcasts to Inspire You. This list has a lot of my favourites, I hope you can find one you love too!
- Do a puzzle
I really do love puzzles. I love sorting the pieces by edge/middle, I love sorting the pieces by colour and I certainly love satisfyingly finding a match and putting those pieces together. To me, puzzles are a satisfying game of organization and process that allows my mind to rest while I focus only on the task at hand.
Puzzles are a great introvert activity and they come in every size, number of pieces and style imaginable. You can definitely find something you might like. You don’t even need to do a traditional puzzle – lego sets are also satisfying to complete and you can follow the step by step guide – less frustration of a traditional puzzle but still great!
- Tidy up a space
Accomplishing something can always put you in a great mood so when I’m in the mood for a pick me up I’ll choose a small area to tidy or re-organize like the top of my desk or a drawer in the kitchen. Choosing a small area ensures I will finish the job, without it taking too much time (sometimes 15 minutes maximum) and I can choose to keep tidying if I’m on a roll or move on to something else.
- Watch the sunset (or the sunrise)
The cycles of nature are always mesmerizing. The sun will always set in the evening and always rise in the morning.
There are so many reasons watching the sunset or sunrise is such a great activity:
- It’s something reliable you can always count on.
- It’s an easy activity to do at the start or end of a day.
- It’s a relaxing activity to take a few minutes to focus on nature.
- It’s something you can do alone or share with those close to you. You can sit in silence or chat.
- It’s for everyone! It doesn’t only have to be one of the introvert activities.
- Watch a movie
I have a lot of favourite movies I like to watch from time to time. Sometimes, especially on those bad weather days, it’s nice to set aside the to-do’s for a few hours and curl up with some snacks and watch a movie.
- Do a workout
We all know how important it is to move our bodies and get regular exercise. It’s an activity that can easily be labelled as self-care. If you’re looking for something to do, it might as well be something good for your body and your mind too! I always feel refreshed and ready to take on new challenges after a good workout.
- Research something
“The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Suess
I love learning new things – every new thing you learn is more growth for you as a person. You can delve deeper into a topic you know something about or do some research about something entirely new. I try to always keep an open mind to learning new things, you never know when something new becomes something you love!
I like to learn about all different kinds of things – baking, gardening, the middle ages, statistics, crochet, how CGI films are made… learning really never ends so try looking into something new! The world becomes a very interesting place when you stay curious.
- Pamper yourself
Everyone deserves a self care day (or at least some self care time :)). Take some time to refresh and relax with all of your favourite self care activities. For me, this is as simple as taking some extra time caring for my skin and having a warm tea.
Introvert Activities that are Solo Activities but Out and About
I enjoy solitary activities, having alone time recharges me. But, those activities don’t always need to take place at home. I like going out and about on my own as well – they are just as recharging to my social batteries but more exciting and eventful than my at home introvert activities.
Consider some of these ideas when you’d like to get out of the house but still would like some alone time.
- Go for a walk or hike
A super easy activity – no preparation or even driving required, you can just pop out of your house and get a walk in. It’s always nice to get some fresh air and a bit of physical activity.
You can try morning walks or evening walks, a long walk or a short one, walks just around your neighbourhood or visit walking or hiking trails nearby. It’s a completely customizable activity for every mood.
- Take yourself out for lunch
Taking yourself out on a little self care date is a nice little outing – you get to pick your favourite place, your favourite food and get to just enjoy a delicious meal! I never used to go out to eat on my own unless I was grabbing take out. But, now I like to grab a bite to eat on my own (or I take my kiddo with me, which is just as nice).
- Go for a no destination drive
I don’t do this very often because… gas prices, environment… so, typically my drives aren’t to ‘no destination’ but just somewhere I don’t go often. But, I use the driving time as a bit of a reset. You get a bit of alone time and I like listening to my music.
Going for a drive gets you a bit alone time with the radio and interesting views depending on where you’re going (or not going). Plus, you might just end up somewhere interesting that you’d want to visit again if you go driving with no destination in mind!
- Visit your local library
Most local libraries have more happening than just books! My local library has board games, seed swaps (I love getting new plant seeds for my gardens!), other media (like movies or magazines), computer access, sitting areas, and more!
There’s always something to do at the library. I usually grab a drink to go and hang out at the library – it’s usually one of the quiet places so sometimes I work or write and do something productive, sometimes I just read or check out what they have going on. But, a visit to the library is usually a good time 🙂 .
- Sit at your local coffee shops
Sometimes you want to spend time alone but with a change of scenery (to your own home) and a visit to a local coffee shop (or little restaurant) is just the change you need. Little local shops always have friendly staff and usually a nice atmosphere to spend some time in. It feels great to support local businesses too!
Introvert Activities for Small Groups
“Introvert activities” doesn’t necessarily need to only mean “ALONE”, I can feel just as recharged after a nice outing with a friend or even small groups of friends too. I’ve made a small list of group activities that are a perfect way to get some social interactions with close friends but not ‘too social’ 🙂 .
- Try yoga classes
You could also attend any other type of physical activity class you like! This is a great activity for when you’re feeling a bit social as there will be others there or you can bring along a friend or two. But, it’s still a nice activity for introverts because there’s a task to be focused on and an activity to be doing so general chit chat or socialization isn’t required. 🙂
I love meeting up with a friend at a yoga class – I get to spend some time with them and chat before and after class but still have an activity to do that I enjoy. Yoga is particularly great, there is a focus on connection and community but you’re sort of all still doing the activity alone… but together 🙂 .
- Have a board games night
This is another great activity for getting some social time in but without too much social ‘pressure’. I find it is easy to get conversations flowing and started when there is a central activity for the group to be doing (in this case, playing the game). It takes the pressure off to start or fill conversations making it more comfortable for my fellow introverts. 🙂
You can meet up at a place that has board games for use (like a library or board game cafe) or host a gathering at your own place. Sometimes I prefer to host events because I feel more comfortable being social in a setting that is my own.
- Volunteer
There is a lot of good we can accomplish in the world when we spend our spare time helping others. Volunteering is a great way to connect with a friend or small group of friends in a profound way that has a lasting impact on others. Plus, you could meet others that share the same values as you and make other close friends.
- Visit a museum or art gallery
Make a trip to a museum or art gallery near you, or make a fun road trip out of it and visit one out of town. You can take a close friend or even go on your own. This is a great outing because you can never run out of things to talk about with all of the new things you get to see and experience (and learn!) at a museum or gallery.
- Go out to the movies
A good movie night is always a go-to outing for me! I love the movies (and the movie snacks!) so it’s a natural fit for a fun activity to do. I can go out with my friends and have a great time watching the movie and then we can chit-chat away after all about the movie.
If you want to change it up a bit try visiting a drive-in theater if you can find one near you. It’s very fun to be able to watch a movie outdoors. You can make your vehicle extra comfy with lots of pillows and blankets.
Introvert Activities to Try Something New
Like I said before, as much as I consider myself to be an ‘introvert’ there are times where I’m just in an ‘extrovert’ kind of mood. Just because I’m feeling more introverted one day doesn’t make me an introvert for life! Your personality and mood can definitely change all of the time and sometimes that means you’re in the mood for different things!
So, if you’re looking for an introvert activity that is outside of your comfort zone, or an activity with large groups or new people then checkout the list below! These are things that maybe you could consider to be more ‘extroverted activities’ but I think they’re still comfortable (aka I’m not really the center of attention). Plus, you can always tailor any activity to make it work for you – bring your closest friends, go alone, whatever works!
- Attend a street festival
Keep an eye on the social media pages of your local town (if it has one!) – there are lots of fun festivals that go on throughout the year in most towns. My town hosts a maple syrup festival, an apple festival, a jazz festival, a butter tart festival… you get the idea! There’s usually something for everyone.
I like visiting these events – although there are crowds and it can sometimes feel overwhelming, there’s always lots of fun things to do and you can do them at your own pace without having to interact or small talk with every single person there! So, still great for my ‘introvert’ friends. 🙂
PLUS! Usually lots of local businesses are a part of these festivals so you might just discover new activities to do in your own town that you didn’t consider before. 🙂 (my town has a circus school… yep! Circus school. The athletes are always at the festivals showing off their amazing skills!)
- Join a crafting circle or book club
One of the things I consider an ‘introvert’ trait is having deep and meaningful interactions or connections with others who share similar interests as opposed to lots of small talk type chit chat with lots and lots of people. A crafting circle or book club is the perfect activity to set up these kinds of interactions. I can work on my own project/read the book at my own pace to allow for that social disconnect and alone time BUT then also come together with others to connect, learn new craft skills or reflect on reading material. Alone time and connection all rolled in together – win-win!
My local library hosts both of these types of events but you can always find one near you on social media pages or host one yourself! 🙂
- Host a small gathering at your home
You can host a crafting circle (see the suggestion previous to this one!), a board games night, a movie night! You can tailor it to what you and the people you’ll be inviting love most. You’ll feel more comfortable socializing because you’re in your own space (which is where I feel most comfortable anyway). And if I’m being honest, the best part is that when you’re tired and have had enough you can have everyone leave 🙂 (nicely, of course!).
- Attend a local live show or concert
Similarly to a street festival – it may be busy with a lot of people but there is a central activity everyone is focused on and experiencing. You can take it all in without chatting or you can chat with others about the show/concert. Try to focus on having a fun time and the good music! It’s a choose your own adventure of how much social time you want. 🙂
- Attend a cooking class
Like some of the other introvert activities I’ve suggested – it may seem out there or intimidating to get together with a group of people you don’t know BUT there is a central activity you are all working on so there’s not much social pressure. You can participate socially as much or as little as you’d like and you get to learn new skills at the same time.
You made it to the end of this list…
I did label this as a list of introvert activities BUT I think anyone can find something that might work for them. Since, really there isn’t a divide between ‘introvert’ or ‘extrovert’ sometimes it’s just the mood you’re in that day. And I really believe, everyone’s a little bit of each, falling somewhere on a spectrum of introvert-extrovert.
I hope you find something on this list that you think is a great idea! If you have any other ideas for me you think I might like please let me know in the comments, I’m always happy to try something new. 🙂
…and they all lived simply ever after.
