“By being friendly and comfortable in your own skin you actually make it easier for people who may have wanted to be friends with you to make that first step. ”

If you’re an introvert you’ve probably at one point or another wonder how you’ll make friends in college. I know that we introverts don’t like to initiate conversation because we’re so content in our own company it’s hard to put ourselves out there to meet new people.

However, making friends is a big part of the college experiences and I’m gonna share 5 ways you can make friends in college even while maintaining your sanity and having enough me-time:

Study in common areas

This is a simple low-stress way to meet people. Usually, you can study by yourself and still get that feeling of “alone” time. It also increases the odds that you might meet someone and the odds are the persona might also be an introvert as well and you’ll have more to connect with.

Go to interest invents

if you’re an introvert and you want to put yourself out there, you’ll want to do it ins a place where you’ll find like-minded people. It will be more fruitful for you because instead of raking up friends you have nothing in common with you’ll usually find a solid handful who have similar interests to you. Interest events include clubs, campus events and shows that your already a fan of.

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Social Media

This is an underutilized tool for us introvert. If you’ve met someone in a class or walking around campus but you haven’t gotten a chance to build up a solid relationship with them, it might be worthwhile to follow them on social media

1) it will break the ice and make you feel more comfortable approaching each other

2) it will give you a better idea of whether you guys even have anything in common.

I’ve maintained several casual friendships online that have transformed into IRL friendships and the best part is you don’t have to leave your room.

Read: 10 habits of successful college students

Steal your friend’s friends

If you already have a handful of friends that you’ve met in college but you’re looking to branch out, it might be a good strategy to try to make friends with your friend’s friends. 1) you’ll probably like them because you like your friend 2) you’ll probably see them more often because of your friend’s association with them. Don’t be afraid to strike up conversations with people that are close to your other friends.

It’s actually ironic that several of my best friends were friends of people I was friends with.

Be approachable

Easier said than done, but an effective way to make friends that don’t always have to be on your end. By being friendly and comfortable in your own skin you actually make it easier for people who may have wanted to be friends with you to make that first step.

Maybe if someone comes up to ask you something you can have a conversation with them instead of climbing back into your introvert shell. By simply turning everyday interaction into a chance to build new connections and friendships you be surprised the number of people who probably already wanted to be friends with you!

With that being said..

making friends in college is hard and it takes time! Don’t be afraid to go through some trial and error when trying to create your friend group. Just keep doing things you like and listen to your intuition when it comes to the people around you.

Spend time with people who make you feel comfortable and welcomed and distance yourself from those who don’t. It’s better to have a handful of reliable friends you can count on than a dozen friends who aren’t there when you need them.

Good luck and remember that everyone deserves love and compassion.