I think every introvert has received an invites to big social events that they want to go to on some level.
Sometimes, the prospect of these events may be exciting, like attending your cousin’s wedding. Even if you know it will suck you dry, for the right event it may be worth it.
Other times, it may be more about showing up for your people, like if your best friend is DJing at a club and you’re someone who hates clubs.
With a little planning and consideration for your introverted personality, it’s very possible to navigate and manage these big social events.
Here are eight tips to help you navigate the big social events you actually want to attend.
Build in charge up and recovery time
Give yourself plenty of time before and after the event. Depending on the scale of the event you’re attending, you may want to block off the entire day before and the entire day after.
If you’re going to be in a busy social environment for a prolonged period of time, the key to enjoying yourself is to do what you can to manage your energy levels.
This includes going in with as much energy as possible and giving yourself some space and protection to recharge after the fact.
You might very well have an introvert hangover when this thing is over.
If you have a good time, it may be worth it. But still, you’re more likely to enjoy the event more if you go into it charged up and look back on it more fondly if you aren’t feeling the effects of it for a full week.
I talk about this a lot in the Introvert Life Guide, so if this is resonating with you, you might want to check that out!
Plan ahead
Part of going into the event refreshed and charged up means not rushing around and burning through your energy reservoir before you even get to the event.
Have your outfit laid out (or at least planned out) before you start your pre-event charge. If the event requires a gift, have it wrapped and by the door days in advance.
And when it comes time to get ready, give yourself even more time than you think you’ll need.
It might seem like overkill, but the less you have to worry about on the day of, the better.
Try to get an idea what to expect
If you’ve never been to the type of event you’re going to before, take some time to do some research or ask some questions upfront.
Some introverts can find the newness of a situation a little overwhelming, which can exhaust a chunk of your energy right off the bat.
You won’t really know what to expect until you experience the situation once, but going in with some background and understanding can help take some of the edge off.
Plan your exit
I’ve said it before on this blog, and I’ll likely say it many more times:
Always have an exit strategy.
It doesn’t matter that this is something you want to be at. At some point, even if it’s hours into the function, you will get tried and want to make your escape.
This is a lot easier to pull off gracefully if you know how you’re going to extract yourself and have a rough idea of when you think you’ll want to duck out.
Also, know how you’re getting home, and be in charge of your own transportation if you can. This way, you aren’t trapped waiting for anyone else to be ready to leave when you max out.
But if you happen to be attending with someone else, be on the same page up front about when you think you’ll be leaving.
There’s nothing worse than mentally preparing to leave after cake only to learn your extroverted spouse was planning on going for another hour or so.
And if you and a partner have different plans for the event, consider traveling separately so you can both enjoy yourselves in your own way.
Have a buddy (or bring one if you can)
It’s good to have a buddy you can hang with, at least for part of the event.
This is especially true if the thing you’re attending is more to be supportive of someone you care about and not usually the kind of thing you enjoy.
It’s nice to know you have someone to talk to, and if you’re engaged in conversation, it can help keep small talk with strangers to a minimum.
Take a breather
Don’t be afraid to duck out if it’s a long, loud, or somehow draining event.
There are always quiet spots to be found, and when in doubt there’s always outside. If this is an option you’ll need, be prepared! Bring a heavy coat if it’s cold or an umbrella if it may rain.
Alternatively, you may be able to find a quieter room someplace where you can sneak a mini mid-event recharge in.
Don’t force yourself to do things you hate
If there’s an aspect to the event you’re not big on, don’t force yourself to participate just because you feel like you have to.
If you love weddings but aren’t big on dancing, you don’t have to dance. Eat, people watch, catch up with family. Do the things you like.
If you just showed up for your people and/or you’re having your own fun, you shouldn’t feel like you have to do anything that isn’t your idea of a good time.
Should people try to talk you into something, it’s okay to kindly, but firmly, say, “That is so not my thing, but you guys go have fun!”
If necessary, see if you can modify the event
This is something else I cover deeper in the Introvert Life Guide.
If you like the idea of some of or most of the event, see if you can modify it to meet your needs.
Maybe you’ve been invited to a networking event, and there are some people you really do want to talk to, but the idea of giving up hours of your time and talking to more people than you want sounds so painful.
There’s nothing that says you can’t leave early. And if it really is expected that you stay the whole time, talk to the coordinators, explain you’re only available for X amount of time and see if there’s a way to work something out.
This may not always go in your favor, but you’d be surprised how often people are willing to work with you if you just ask.
Looking for more in-depth tips on how to manage your introverted social life?
If you want to dig a little deeper into this topic, check out the Introvert Life Guide!
This guide was designed to help you build the introvert life of your dreams. And it’s full of plenty of tips and tricks to help you manage your introvert social life and big social events.
It will also help you embrace your introverted nature and build a life to help you thrive!
For more introvert life tips, check out the other introvert posts!
Sound off: What helps you navigate the big social events you want to take part in? Tell us about it in the comments!