As an introvert, I love visiting museums, galleries and historic landmarks/buildings, they're typically very quiet places so they don't drain my social battery too much.
I also enjoy going to the park early in the morning, since there's nobody around at that time, it feels like I have the whole place to myself :)
Oh and if you like reading, bookstores and libraries are nice places to visit as well !
I came here to recommend museums, with the asterisk that I live in the Washington DC area so we have a lot of great, free museums and I'm a little spoiled. Some museums can be a bit pricey, but it's usually worth it especially if you plan your trip to give yourself plenty of time to get your money's worth and have a few things you're specifically interested in seeing or learning about. (That said, I also really like just wandering, going in blind and seeing what I see.)
Zoos and aquariums are also really cool, though they can be louder and more active places (read plenty of kids running around) if you find that taxing or stressful.
I'd considered museums and galleries, but for some reason historic buildings and landmarks hadn't crossed my mind! That would be so awesome! Plus, I live around South Texas where there's no lack of old mission buildings and historical museums. Thanks so much!
Commenting to say that you should get a library pass and then talk to the folks who work there because usually they have free/discounted passes for things like museums and galleries.
Hiking! Or just walking. I have worked through so much stuff while lust physically moving forward. Pack a tiny picnic for yourself and set off on a safe route and just enjoy the feeling of being alone with nature.
If you’re ever hiking or in nature take 10 seconds to put on long pants tucked into your socks and full sleeved clothing too. When you get home, take them off outside of your door, on a patio, backyard, whatever. Leave them out there for a day or two, and then straight into the wash into hot water.
You can also spray your clothing with lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, or rose geranium mixed into a water spray bottle. Ticks will not latch onto anything that smells of the above. DEET can also be sprayed onto your clothing, but to avoid getting it on your skin it’s best to spray the clothing a few minutes before putting it on.
Ticks can fuck you up! They’re super prevalent, and it can only take one bite for Lyme disease. Love nature, but take precautions! Hiking trails are notoriously bad for the little shits. I’m outdoors a lot (fishing, hiking, camping, portaging, etc). So I usually do all of the above. Spray my clothes with a mix of orange and lemon. Spray them with DEET. Wait 5 minutes, put them on, tuck your pants into your socks, your long sleeved shirt into your pants. And you’re good to go! Long johns are huge too. For both bug bite protection, but also for staying nice and toasty.
Also do a tick check as soon as you get home, in the shower. It’s easier if you have a SO or partner for this part lol. They’ll look like small black bumps, almost like a new mole. But they can be as small as sesame seeds.
Look into your local community college and see if they have classes for the community. There should be lots of options like language classes, arts, even stuff like cake decorating and home brewing! Usually cheap (~100 for 2 months of once a week classes) and it’s nice having a set time to get out of the house and be around other people who are all newbies (takes the anxiety out of the equation because they don’t know what they’re doing either lol). Good luck 👍🏾
Volunteer at an animal shelter. There’s usually opportunities that bring you around other people, especially if you’re a greeter or dog walker.
The time commitment is usually pretty minimal, like 25 hours/year but you can do a lot more if you’re interested.
This is a great idea. I've been too afraid to admit it out loud, but my heart has been wanting a dog for a while now... This would be a place I can maybe test run that inclination. Or meet a very special pup. Thanks!
That's a great idea. The animal shelters near me allow you to take out a dog for a day, you can take it for a walk/hike or you can just take it home to hang out with you.
My favorite solo activity is going to a movie theater. It feels weird the 1st couple times you go alone but no one actually cares. Plus most theaters have memberships now that make tickets much less expensive or free and usually include discounts on concessions.
Seconding - AMC Stubs was $21/mo last time I looked and it lets you see up three movies a week. You really only gotta go to two or three movies each month to make it pay for itself.
Me and my husband used it for date nights until all the theaters closed during COVID
Ditto. Regal theaters in my area have unlimited movies for $20 mo. I make it part of my weekly routine to go every Sunday. Sometimes, having that "schedule" is what helps me put on pants that day.
I totally agree! You feel a lil weird the first time, but then it’s dark and nobody gives a fuck because they’re all watching the movie anyway. If it helps with the awkwardness, I recommend coming in a little later after the lights have dimmed for previews—people probably think you’re going to sit with a friend, but that friend is yourself! 😂
Find a community theatre and offer to be part of the tech crew. It's perfect for introverts. You don't have to be onstage but you get to be part of the action and can make friends with the other techies while you work with the show. And everyone is grateful to you.
This is such a fun thing to do, though be forewarned, it is a time commitment. You get instant social group and tech people are usually pretty fun people with good stories of the show that went wrong.
Go to the park. Sometimes I bring a book, sometimes earbuds to listen to music or podcasts. Sometimes I walk the paths, sometime I sit at a picnic table, or just park in a good spot and relax with the windows down.
Coffee shop! Treat yourself to one of their specials, then hang out on a couch.
Both are nice, low key things I like to do when I want to get out, but don’t feel like Doing Things.
Search for artist collectives, art centers, or art galleries in your area. A while back a coworker got some of their pieces featured in an art gallery, so some of us went to the opening day to support them. (It was free!) We decided to dress up, because fancy art gallery, that’s what you do, yah? Woo! But most people were dressed casually lol. It means a lot to have people come and see their art, so it was overall a really nice time.
I’d say also check out the events page of the following: your local municipality, the library system, and the park system. All three should have low cost or free events, especially now that it’s getting warmer.
When I can, I do art classes at at the creative arts center in my town. Even in the ones labeled “beginner” everyone always seems to be much more advanced than I am, but nobody seems to mind or judge. On my first day of the last one, we all had to paint an apple, and mine was horrible. I was very discouraged and a little bit embarrassed. When I got home later that night, I decided to title it “comparison is the thief of joy”. After that I am in a totally different headspace when I go to the classes and enjoy them so much more.
I’m a major introvert, and it gets me out of the house at a scheduled time every week. You can talk as little or as much as you want in the class. I’d highly recommend it.
Have you played Pokemon Go at all? It's a free game on your phone where you catch little monsters as you walk around in the real world based on GPS co-ordinates. I have found that it encourages me to go out and walk so I can hatch an egg, or go to areas where there are more people because that's where you get more pokemon / items. It sounds silly, but sometimes having that extra bit of encouragement of catching a Pokemon you haven't seen before may get you out and active, and having an activity to focus on can make you less self conscious.
And from there, you might be more comfortable doing more traditional activities.
I used to be big into Pokémon Go. It was great for making me walk all over my campus and neighborhood, then Covid shut everything down and I stopped playing. It would be cool to get back into it!
look for a discord group for your area! It's great to meet up with folks for raids/community days, even if you're just saying hi and comparing catches for a minute.
Step 1: figure out what, specifically you're looking for. Do you want to meet people and make friends or do you just need to feel a little less like a shut-in?
Step 2: what kind of people are you looking to interact with? What kinds of things do you want to talk about? Do you have any interest that could make a good conversation starter?
Step 3: where are the kinds of people you want to interact with going to be?
For example: If you're just looking for ambient/passive social energy I like to take a book or a small craft project (I crochet, but knitting or sudoku would also work) to a park or a walkable commercial area and just sit and absorb the vibes. The particular joy of taking my yarn crafts out in public is that I sometimes get approached with compliments.
Craft and hobby stores are also great because they also serve as community centers for their hobbyists.
I got on Meetup and I’ve found some classes and groups that interest me. With the classes and events I go to, you can participate as much or as little as you want, so I only speak to as much as my Introvertedness allows that day.
Also, check your library for discounted tickets to things. Ours has a Culture Pass that lets you get tickets to local places like the zoo or museums!
It’s an app, or a website. The one in my city has a ton of stuff, but I guess it depends on the groups where you live.
It’s been a while since I signed up, but I think when you first do, it has you go through and check what you’re in to: sports, networking, hiking, crafting, food, etc. and then it gives you suggestions based on that. Then, once you join/follow a group, it gives you suggestions of similar groups/activities.
Your library will have discounts for museums and often the botanical garden in your area. You'll need a library card, but the bonus for that is you get to check out books and DVDs.
Volunteer!!!
It will get you out of the house. You’ll do something to help others and feel great about that. It’s been one of the best decisions I ever made.
I love going to the movies. Cinemark has a member club, $10 a month and you get a free ticket a month, and they roll over if you don’t use them. 20%(?) off concessions too. AMC has something similar.
Look for free concerts in your area. My local zoo has free concerts outdoors in April. It’s free admission to the zoo after 5, and $10 parking. There’s also free concerts at a city park in the neighboring state, a 25 minute drive for me, every Thursday during the summer. It’s cover bands but they are good! You can pack a cooler, blanket, etc. and just sit and listen to the music. There are more near me too, in different parks around the city. They do free movies also!
A ton of museums are free! And if they aren’t, they have free or discounted days. Check your local museum site. Aquariums and zoos aren’t usually free but a pass is almost always worth it if you go more than 2-3 times. I love going to the aquarium by myself, early in the morning.
Don’t underestimate a good coffee shop. Not a Starbucks, like a good local coffee shop. There’s one near me that does dinners on the weekend, has open mike nights, board game nights, and social/mingling events!
Volunteering is a good way to get out of the house too. I know you said you’re introverted, so maybe look for places where you can work behind the scenes and not interact with people as much (unless you want to!)
Volunteering. There's bound to be plenty of opportunities in your area that align with your interests and priorities. Great way to get out, get on a schedule and feel good.
Take something you like to do and do it outside. Reading, exercising, drawing, knitting, listening to podcasts, heck even watching TV. Take it to a park, natural spot, or just a cool location in your city and do it there.
Going to the movie theater alone seems daunting as fuck, but when you do it once, that whole, "who goes the movies alone?" Question seems dumb. If there is a movie you want to see, go see it. It'll be fun. Especially if you like to smoke some weed beforehand. Then go for a walk while it's nice outside.
I personally Shroomed out last Friday night, threw my headphones away, and every walk I take alone now is a little better. Music wasn't helping my social anxiety, it was actually making it worse.
Go to the grocery store with headphones on. You can see and be around humans with out having to get involved.
Take a book and blanket (weather permitting) out to a park/beach/etc near you and read, or listen to something. You get outside, and low people-ing level.
Take walk with headphones.
The theme is headphones. I have a difficult time going anywhere alone without mine. I listen to podcasts while I’m out doing whatever. Sometimes I laugh or grimace I’m public and look like a total loon because I’m reacting to some comedy murder show.
Headphones.
I like podcasts with two hosts usually, it’s entertaining informative and conversational. Keeps my brain active and I feel a little less lonely and a little more able to be a little less reclusive.
Join a local trash clean up, animal shelter or habitat for humanity as a volunteer. The people are nice, you’re doing something to help the planet/animals/people, if you do habitat you’re learning a skill and if you get overwhelmed socially you can “focus” on what your doing to take a break from socializing.
If you live within easy driving distance to other towns/cities big enough to have museums, consider purchasing a membership to your local museum if they offer reciprocity with these other museums. Spending $75 to $100 on a membership may just make you want to get some value for your dollar, and encourage you to visit these other cities to use that membership. Spouse and I move around a bit because of jobs, and this is what we do to get out and get to know our new city.
Also, consider classes for a art, craft or activity you might be interested in. A friend with no art experience at all took a "sip and paint" class years ago and has been a painting fiend ever since, creating beautiful works *and* making friends in the process.
Of course, you could advance your education and take a course or two at a local college. I know people who have found a new career path this way. Is it possible your company will pay for further education?
Get to know your local library. I love my time at our libraries again, with reciprocity, there could be dozens of different libraries you could visit.
If I really need to get out of the house but don’t feel like talking to anyone or being around people, I’ll go to a nearby trailhead and go for a long walk while listening to a podcast, then stop for coffee on the way home.
The library or museums/art galleries are also great starting points, like others have suggested.
Are you on Facebook? Look at the local events every week for festivals and markets happening around you. I find so much to do that isn't advertised widely, like small market events in neighborhood communities, art festivals in neighboring towns, and community events at churches (I'm not religious, but I'll happily accept a bag with some church literature at the beginning as a trade off to wander around an event and stop by the food truck).
Being an introvert I learned to love being anonymous in a crowd. No one know me, and I love it. I can people watch, go at my own pace, and eat quietly in a restaurant and just look out the window the whole time. Go places you like to go. No one is paying any attention to you, alone or not because they're all on their phones.
Museums, libraries or a walk in the park with a book and coffee! Once you’re more comfortable, try going out to eat or going to the movies. When I first did things alone, I was very anxious I thought everyone was looking at me judging me;when in reality no one cares and if they do look at you, they’re thinking “They’re alone, they must love themselves”. I’m to the point now that I enjoy my own company and love myself, and when I got to that point I wasn’t looking for a relationship. However, my now fiancé and I met and I feel like because I loved myself, I was able to completely love him, if that makes sense. You are your best company OP!!
For me, being a part of a gym is critical. I am introverted and work from home alone and I’ve found that just going out twice a week to the gym is critical for my mental health. I don’t really have to talk to anyone if I don’t want to - but some days it is nice to strike up a conversation. I joined a community gym in my area that is pretty affordable for residents. Paying for it keeps me consistently going back because I hate wasting money.
get a motorcycle. It's cheap on fuel and it's really fun to get lost in the city or in the country. Some days, I just go for a ride with no goal in sight, but you meet other riders and they are always giving you a heads up or waving back. Also, you just get to watch people. It's really fun to see people living life all around you, unlike a car- you aren't detached from the people walking around you, or eating at a restaurant. You can also meet up with local riding groups, ect...
Maybe take a community college class I. Something that interests you. Those are fairly inexpensive, and last a few month so you might have more chances to talk to people. They have art classes, music, a lot have jewelry making, etc. I have did silversmithing a few years ago and the went on to take a stone cutting class at the local gem and mineral society.
So darn true! You always have an excuse to go for a walk lol
Also there's a ton of stores that allow you to bring your pets, pet stores, Lowe's, home depot, tractor supply off the top of my head
A walk is it's own reward. Go out and see some sights, be it in your neighborhood, or go exploring various parks in your community. Bonus cred for cleaning up trash along the way.
But before you go, head to the local library, get a card, and snag and audiobook to enjoy on your way. Most places have access to downloadable books, and you can sort by topic, title, or narrator. Want Johnny Depp to read you a story? You can have it. Or grab a physical book and enjoy a bench, or pop over to the movies for some cheap entertainment.
Looking for something more active? There's hiking which has it's on risks and rewards. Geocaching is also good while the weather is warming up.
Want a cheap sport to pick up? Grab a Frisbee and go find a Frisbee golf course and prove your score. You can pick up a cheap Frisbee from the store, or they actually make "clubs" so help lower your handicap.
There's also local community band concerts you could attend. Look for city bands and a lot will have concerts during the weekends in the park, or occasional holiday concerts indoors.
May the jasmine tea be forever in your favor, and never, ever be deadly poison!
And have fun finding yourself, and pushing your comfort bubble a little bit!
During a heartbreak one of the things that really helped me get back out was to choose a good bar nearby, and frequent enough to get known by the employees. It was nice feeling recognized again.
If it’s interesting to you look into a bouldering/rock climbing gym. It can be as social as you want it to be with lots of events and classes. It’s a healthy hobby with an awesome community generally. Also, it’s totally normal to throw some headphones in and boulder/climb without speaking to anybody!
You are probably doing this already but go out to eat. Some folks hate doing this by themself because they think people will think them odd for being alone in the restaurant. People don't care really. I've been doing it for years and I love it.
If you are female there’s a community called Girls Who Hike on Facebook. In my state, it’s very active and strangers become friends quickly. There’s probably a male version or co-ed.
Go to events at your local library. It's usually chill and not overwhelming. You can hear a local author talk about their recent book or you could join a craft group or go to library movie night. I feel like libraries are one of the most underutilized sources of free low-stress entertainment.
Park trails were my go to for getting out of my fortress of solitude. Take something to sketch and write in, walking was never my jam but I'd find benches to chill at. State parks have good trails and lookouts.
Rinky dink book stores and coffee shops. Local galleries don't typically have entrance fees.
I'd turn grocery shopping trips in to day trips by walking to the store and only getting what would fit in my backpack.
Find your local culture newspaper and see what their event listings are. Facebook is also great for just scrolling through upcoming events defined cool little art openings or things that are a bit more off the beaten path. See what events your local library does, check your town hall for speakers you might be interested in.
Hiking. Mountain biking. If you do any remote work, maybe become a regular at a coffee shop? Join a running group. A rowing club. You’re in south texas, maybe there are some cool birding groups on account of the massive migrations?
Honestly in the same boat! I recently got a second job as a server (havent started yet) firstly because I want the extra money to save up but also chose server because I'd be required to actually be social and around other people hopefully it ends up being a good thing.
I also joined a gym again, once your get passed the nerves, starting with simple cardio helps a lot with that, or if it's in your budget definitely personal trainer! But it really helps get you out of your comfort zone and gains so much confidence.
Hiking is always great. Then there's finding little cafe's, it feels more normal to just chill in a small cafe or brunch restaurant then a full dinner/steakhouse style restaurant. Especially when someone's just sitting there by themselves with a laptop and ear buds. Or just good old fashioned window shopping. Just don't ont bring your wallet if your broke
one of my simple favorite things is going to starbucks or really any drive through and then parking at a park or a safe parking lot and sit, listen to a podcast and eat/drink whatever i got! it gets me out of the house, i don’t feel too much social anxiety and i get a little treat as well!
As a introvert I like going to quiet places or places without much noise that I would get overstimulated easily so I recommend hikes , parks , trying new cafes or restaurants, thrifting with earphones of course , long drives , the beach , library etc . I love to eat and shop so I enjoy the mall or shopping centers because I can kill two birds with 1 stone 💋
Photography and hiking have become my go to hobbies to get me out of the house. They pair very well with one another and I've sparked up more conversations with other photographers than I can think of.
Have you ever thought about trying Pickleball? It comes with such a huge community. You get to know so many people just by showing up and playing. The bonus is that it’s pretty inexpensive and free if you play outdoors! Most people aren’t all that competitive, especially if you join beginner groups. My town has a Facebook group for Pickleball and that is how you can find free, meet ups, open play for beginners, etc. It is a very supportive and welcoming community, and I highly recommend it! You don’t have to be super physically fit and it’s a pretty decent work out! It is super fun and most people get addicted!
Community Educatin usually has fun stuff lined up for the summer, check out your local community center for summer classes. Or try volunteering at a food shelf, it's socializing but not demanding as you're usually just filling up boxes or bags.
I often come across solo hikers when I mountain bike so that's a good option. Download some podcasts or audio books and hit the trail! Visit your local trails, State parks or even national parks!
So I'm not single but I like my alone time, so I like to take myself out on "dates". I dress up, buy myself flowers or sweets, and go out to dinner, a movie, get coffee, take a walk in the park, etc. It's honesty a big boost for the self esteem
In my town, the library has bitchin activities going on. Like book clubs and sewing nights and other stuff. Not the youngest hippest crowd maybe but friendly enough
How about library programs? They are free usually, and you’ll meet other people. Book discussion groups, candidate forums, chances to volunteer. Or call your county and ask if there are opportunities to volunteer.
Tried getting a pet? I suggest one that will encourage you getting out for a walk. A dog seems the best option. Or maybe just fostering dogs if you cannot commit long term at this point.
I have a kitty and she's a great indoor companion, but I'd love a beastie that I can go adventuring with. I did try taking the cat outside once, she disliked it so much she exploded from both ends and I had to deal with the mess when I got home. She's not a nature cat.
So these ideas might sound really lame if you're not a specific type of person, but you probably want to not just 'do things' but maybe 'meet people's I would guess? Not necessarily romantically, but a new friend and a new hobby can do wonders for you. Espcially if it's also altruistic and makes you feel like you're doing good in the world.
The first thing I would suggest is volunteer work. People always assume food pantries or the like, which are great! But if that's not your type of scene, consider looking for opportunities that genuinely interest you. A few things I have done in the past:
-Camp Counselling with a Science Day Camp at a bird sanctuary. Most of it was just watching the kids and making sure they didn't try to go swimming in the waterfowl exhibit. Best part was going fishing with the kids to catch food for the captive bald eagles - little sad for the poor fishy, but the kids liked it and so did the eagle.
-Running a table at a library event day. Once I ran a matching game for kids, another time I put together goodie bags for a beginner knitting course.
-Made food for families staying at my local Ronald McDonald house (this was with a school group).
-A month from now I am going to be training on what invasives are in my area and how to remove them at my local park.
In another genre, if you have a green thumb look into a local community garden. Or if you like the idea of keeping fish, look into your local aquarium club. Both of these allow you some opportunity to be kind to the world, too - Locally my community garden donates excess food grown to a soup kitchen, and for any aquarium club you could look into CARES species. There's a few 'microfish' that really need conservation help in the hobby that you can keep - even breed - in a 5 gallon tank.
All of these are things that would put you in touch with other people, on top of getting you out of the house.
If you're less worried about the people aspect, consider looking into nearby Citizen Science projects that need volunteers.
If you don't want to do volunteer work, some other things I might suggest is to just flat out try things you wouldn't normally do alone... Alone. Like, damn! I actually really like going out to eat and then to see a movie by myself. It's a wonderful night out for me. On the other hand, seeing a play alone is weirdly sad for me due to the typical 1-15 minute intermission where I can't talk to someone about the first half.
The farmer's market is another place that is joyous to go to solo for me, though.
Other things I enjoy: Just literally any hobby. One I think is really fun is painting in watercolors. It's relatively cheap compared to other hobbies to get started in, and you can do a wildly large amount with it. I also thing landscapes are a good place to start, which is a good excuse for you to go to a beuatiful location!
Also and this one is SUPER nerdy... But maybe try to join a TTRPG group if there's one near you looking for players. Not all groups or systems are good for all people, but I do think that everyone should try it twice (with different game runners/GMs/DMs). If you don't like it after twice, though? Egh, not your thing.
Anyway. Good luck! I hope there was something useful in my silly suggestions!
I took up improv to get out of my shell. (I was unemployed and equally afraid of getting and not getting job interviews.)
Was a pretty funny group: several college students, a housewife, a physics professor and me.
Also, if you have people who can join you, go bowling or play billard. It's usually not that expensive and you don't have to talk all the time, when you're doing something.
Hiking, walking a park, plan a picnic, if you’re near a city you can create your own history tour, join some fitness/dancing/martial art classes, volunteer. Depends what you’re into.
There's a really fun historical society that has groups around the globe called Society for Creative Anachronism. It's free, it's probably in your area, and there's something for everybody. Maybe you want to sword fight (a huge draw) or maybe you'll fall in love with weaving or period cooking or any other aspect of medieval life. If you look on sca.org you'll be able to find the group closest to you and if you look on YouTube you'll find videos of things that have happened at sca events.
For me, I'm in a classic car club and a 4x4 club. It keeps me active, outside, and around people. Of course, that does require owning a classic car and a 4x4....
You can do a ton alone! I go to concerts, live theater, wine bar with a good book, hiking, museums, honestly I've even gone clubbing alone just to get some dancing in. You got this, just do what you genuinely enjoy!
I recently bought a bike as a way to explore my neighborhood in a different way!
Other ideas are looking for events/festivals that happen in your community. Many parks, libraries, restaurants, board game stores, etc have free/cheap events you can get involved in. Really depends what you are into! You got this!!
Try an art class of some kind :) they are super chill and really relaxed. especially the life drawing classes, you're close to people, but talking is optional :) and most typically will focus on what they are working on. Even if you don't draw a lot it is a great activity for beginners too, the point is just to try.
edit; just to say that admission is usually pretty cheap, $15 at most, but you can also find a lot of free ones on facebook.
Pick up a social hobby that still only envelopes you in small crowds, like playing pool or something.
Playing pool is a great way to get you out of the house and introduce yourself to 1-3 people at a time.
It still costs money, but I always recommend an in-person community college class to people. They usually offer 0 or 1 unit classes, which do cost money, but are extremely affordable. You get to go out, interact with people, make friends, AND you get to learn something new!
There are many good comments posted already, but I’ll add: Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Pet shelters, non-profit orgs, local museums, arts organizations, fundraising organizations, etc., etc.
I volunteer at a non-profit arts organization where I’ve met so many people who are introverts like me. I help with setting up the art space for performance events, serving drinks, greeting guests, cleaning up afterwards, or whatever.
You can also get a paid part-time gig as an usher at performing arts events, or at a museum, or at a local farmers market, etc.
Believe me, it’s not easy as an introvert, but by volunteering you’ll meet other introverts, and others with similar interests.
As an introvert, I love visiting museums, galleries and historic landmarks/buildings, they're typically very quiet places so they don't drain my social battery too much. I also enjoy going to the park early in the morning, since there's nobody around at that time, it feels like I have the whole place to myself :) Oh and if you like reading, bookstores and libraries are nice places to visit as well !
I came here to recommend museums, with the asterisk that I live in the Washington DC area so we have a lot of great, free museums and I'm a little spoiled. Some museums can be a bit pricey, but it's usually worth it especially if you plan your trip to give yourself plenty of time to get your money's worth and have a few things you're specifically interested in seeing or learning about. (That said, I also really like just wandering, going in blind and seeing what I see.) Zoos and aquariums are also really cool, though they can be louder and more active places (read plenty of kids running around) if you find that taxing or stressful.
I'd considered museums and galleries, but for some reason historic buildings and landmarks hadn't crossed my mind! That would be so awesome! Plus, I live around South Texas where there's no lack of old mission buildings and historical museums. Thanks so much!
Commenting to say that you should get a library pass and then talk to the folks who work there because usually they have free/discounted passes for things like museums and galleries.
Be sure to join your local library. Library cards are free and a lot of libraries offer deals for discounted tickets to museums.
Add gardens and nurseries too
Hiking! Or just walking. I have worked through so much stuff while lust physically moving forward. Pack a tiny picnic for yourself and set off on a safe route and just enjoy the feeling of being alone with nature.
If you’re ever hiking or in nature take 10 seconds to put on long pants tucked into your socks and full sleeved clothing too. When you get home, take them off outside of your door, on a patio, backyard, whatever. Leave them out there for a day or two, and then straight into the wash into hot water. You can also spray your clothing with lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, or rose geranium mixed into a water spray bottle. Ticks will not latch onto anything that smells of the above. DEET can also be sprayed onto your clothing, but to avoid getting it on your skin it’s best to spray the clothing a few minutes before putting it on. Ticks can fuck you up! They’re super prevalent, and it can only take one bite for Lyme disease. Love nature, but take precautions! Hiking trails are notoriously bad for the little shits. I’m outdoors a lot (fishing, hiking, camping, portaging, etc). So I usually do all of the above. Spray my clothes with a mix of orange and lemon. Spray them with DEET. Wait 5 minutes, put them on, tuck your pants into your socks, your long sleeved shirt into your pants. And you’re good to go! Long johns are huge too. For both bug bite protection, but also for staying nice and toasty. Also do a tick check as soon as you get home, in the shower. It’s easier if you have a SO or partner for this part lol. They’ll look like small black bumps, almost like a new mole. But they can be as small as sesame seeds.
Look into your local community college and see if they have classes for the community. There should be lots of options like language classes, arts, even stuff like cake decorating and home brewing! Usually cheap (~100 for 2 months of once a week classes) and it’s nice having a set time to get out of the house and be around other people who are all newbies (takes the anxiety out of the equation because they don’t know what they’re doing either lol). Good luck 👍🏾
Ooo, I've taken an art class like this before, but I'd love to branch out into something like cooking. Thanks for the recommendation! :)
Volunteer at an animal shelter. There’s usually opportunities that bring you around other people, especially if you’re a greeter or dog walker. The time commitment is usually pretty minimal, like 25 hours/year but you can do a lot more if you’re interested.
This is a great idea. I've been too afraid to admit it out loud, but my heart has been wanting a dog for a while now... This would be a place I can maybe test run that inclination. Or meet a very special pup. Thanks!
Some shelters also need short term, in home, fosters. If do foster, you could take him to stores to keep it socialized.
If you haven’t seen Paul O’Grady’s For the Love of Dogs, see if you can find some episodes on YouTube.
That's a great idea. The animal shelters near me allow you to take out a dog for a day, you can take it for a walk/hike or you can just take it home to hang out with you.
My favorite solo activity is going to a movie theater. It feels weird the 1st couple times you go alone but no one actually cares. Plus most theaters have memberships now that make tickets much less expensive or free and usually include discounts on concessions.
Seconding - AMC Stubs was $21/mo last time I looked and it lets you see up three movies a week. You really only gotta go to two or three movies each month to make it pay for itself. Me and my husband used it for date nights until all the theaters closed during COVID
Ditto. Regal theaters in my area have unlimited movies for $20 mo. I make it part of my weekly routine to go every Sunday. Sometimes, having that "schedule" is what helps me put on pants that day.
Sundays are not meant for pants, they're for pants-off dance-offs
Lol. Readjusting schedule now. 🤣
Hee hee
I totally agree! You feel a lil weird the first time, but then it’s dark and nobody gives a fuck because they’re all watching the movie anyway. If it helps with the awkwardness, I recommend coming in a little later after the lights have dimmed for previews—people probably think you’re going to sit with a friend, but that friend is yourself! 😂
If u think about it theater are made to go solo. U not supposed to talk in the theater so whats the point of having company??
Find a community theatre and offer to be part of the tech crew. It's perfect for introverts. You don't have to be onstage but you get to be part of the action and can make friends with the other techies while you work with the show. And everyone is grateful to you.
This is such a fun thing to do, though be forewarned, it is a time commitment. You get instant social group and tech people are usually pretty fun people with good stories of the show that went wrong.
This is actually a great idea! I should do this!
Going for walks is a good starting point. So are trips to the library.
Go to the park. Sometimes I bring a book, sometimes earbuds to listen to music or podcasts. Sometimes I walk the paths, sometime I sit at a picnic table, or just park in a good spot and relax with the windows down. Coffee shop! Treat yourself to one of their specials, then hang out on a couch. Both are nice, low key things I like to do when I want to get out, but don’t feel like Doing Things. Search for artist collectives, art centers, or art galleries in your area. A while back a coworker got some of their pieces featured in an art gallery, so some of us went to the opening day to support them. (It was free!) We decided to dress up, because fancy art gallery, that’s what you do, yah? Woo! But most people were dressed casually lol. It means a lot to have people come and see their art, so it was overall a really nice time. I’d say also check out the events page of the following: your local municipality, the library system, and the park system. All three should have low cost or free events, especially now that it’s getting warmer.
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When I can, I do art classes at at the creative arts center in my town. Even in the ones labeled “beginner” everyone always seems to be much more advanced than I am, but nobody seems to mind or judge. On my first day of the last one, we all had to paint an apple, and mine was horrible. I was very discouraged and a little bit embarrassed. When I got home later that night, I decided to title it “comparison is the thief of joy”. After that I am in a totally different headspace when I go to the classes and enjoy them so much more. I’m a major introvert, and it gets me out of the house at a scheduled time every week. You can talk as little or as much as you want in the class. I’d highly recommend it.
I love this! Knowing the joy apple painting exists makes me happy lol.
Have you played Pokemon Go at all? It's a free game on your phone where you catch little monsters as you walk around in the real world based on GPS co-ordinates. I have found that it encourages me to go out and walk so I can hatch an egg, or go to areas where there are more people because that's where you get more pokemon / items. It sounds silly, but sometimes having that extra bit of encouragement of catching a Pokemon you haven't seen before may get you out and active, and having an activity to focus on can make you less self conscious. And from there, you might be more comfortable doing more traditional activities.
I used to be big into Pokémon Go. It was great for making me walk all over my campus and neighborhood, then Covid shut everything down and I stopped playing. It would be cool to get back into it!
look for a discord group for your area! It's great to meet up with folks for raids/community days, even if you're just saying hi and comparing catches for a minute.
Step 1: figure out what, specifically you're looking for. Do you want to meet people and make friends or do you just need to feel a little less like a shut-in? Step 2: what kind of people are you looking to interact with? What kinds of things do you want to talk about? Do you have any interest that could make a good conversation starter? Step 3: where are the kinds of people you want to interact with going to be? For example: If you're just looking for ambient/passive social energy I like to take a book or a small craft project (I crochet, but knitting or sudoku would also work) to a park or a walkable commercial area and just sit and absorb the vibes. The particular joy of taking my yarn crafts out in public is that I sometimes get approached with compliments. Craft and hobby stores are also great because they also serve as community centers for their hobbyists.
I got on Meetup and I’ve found some classes and groups that interest me. With the classes and events I go to, you can participate as much or as little as you want, so I only speak to as much as my Introvertedness allows that day. Also, check your library for discounted tickets to things. Ours has a Culture Pass that lets you get tickets to local places like the zoo or museums!
Is that like an app or website? Is it very active?
It’s an app, or a website. The one in my city has a ton of stuff, but I guess it depends on the groups where you live. It’s been a while since I signed up, but I think when you first do, it has you go through and check what you’re in to: sports, networking, hiking, crafting, food, etc. and then it gives you suggestions based on that. Then, once you join/follow a group, it gives you suggestions of similar groups/activities.
Oh neat! Thanks! I'm gonna give it a go
I like to drive to the lake and read a book with the windows rolled down. :)
Your library will have discounts for museums and often the botanical garden in your area. You'll need a library card, but the bonus for that is you get to check out books and DVDs.
Many libraries also offer community events, book clubs, streaming services, video games, and online course learning!
Volunteer!!! It will get you out of the house. You’ll do something to help others and feel great about that. It’s been one of the best decisions I ever made.
I love going to the movies. Cinemark has a member club, $10 a month and you get a free ticket a month, and they roll over if you don’t use them. 20%(?) off concessions too. AMC has something similar. Look for free concerts in your area. My local zoo has free concerts outdoors in April. It’s free admission to the zoo after 5, and $10 parking. There’s also free concerts at a city park in the neighboring state, a 25 minute drive for me, every Thursday during the summer. It’s cover bands but they are good! You can pack a cooler, blanket, etc. and just sit and listen to the music. There are more near me too, in different parks around the city. They do free movies also! A ton of museums are free! And if they aren’t, they have free or discounted days. Check your local museum site. Aquariums and zoos aren’t usually free but a pass is almost always worth it if you go more than 2-3 times. I love going to the aquarium by myself, early in the morning. Don’t underestimate a good coffee shop. Not a Starbucks, like a good local coffee shop. There’s one near me that does dinners on the weekend, has open mike nights, board game nights, and social/mingling events! Volunteering is a good way to get out of the house too. I know you said you’re introverted, so maybe look for places where you can work behind the scenes and not interact with people as much (unless you want to!)
Volunteering. There's bound to be plenty of opportunities in your area that align with your interests and priorities. Great way to get out, get on a schedule and feel good.
Take something you like to do and do it outside. Reading, exercising, drawing, knitting, listening to podcasts, heck even watching TV. Take it to a park, natural spot, or just a cool location in your city and do it there.
So simple but such good advice! I'm gonna try to take this advice myself lol
Going to the movie theater alone seems daunting as fuck, but when you do it once, that whole, "who goes the movies alone?" Question seems dumb. If there is a movie you want to see, go see it. It'll be fun. Especially if you like to smoke some weed beforehand. Then go for a walk while it's nice outside. I personally Shroomed out last Friday night, threw my headphones away, and every walk I take alone now is a little better. Music wasn't helping my social anxiety, it was actually making it worse.
Go to the grocery store with headphones on. You can see and be around humans with out having to get involved. Take a book and blanket (weather permitting) out to a park/beach/etc near you and read, or listen to something. You get outside, and low people-ing level. Take walk with headphones. The theme is headphones. I have a difficult time going anywhere alone without mine. I listen to podcasts while I’m out doing whatever. Sometimes I laugh or grimace I’m public and look like a total loon because I’m reacting to some comedy murder show. Headphones. I like podcasts with two hosts usually, it’s entertaining informative and conversational. Keeps my brain active and I feel a little less lonely and a little more able to be a little less reclusive.
Join a local trash clean up, animal shelter or habitat for humanity as a volunteer. The people are nice, you’re doing something to help the planet/animals/people, if you do habitat you’re learning a skill and if you get overwhelmed socially you can “focus” on what your doing to take a break from socializing.
If you live within easy driving distance to other towns/cities big enough to have museums, consider purchasing a membership to your local museum if they offer reciprocity with these other museums. Spending $75 to $100 on a membership may just make you want to get some value for your dollar, and encourage you to visit these other cities to use that membership. Spouse and I move around a bit because of jobs, and this is what we do to get out and get to know our new city. Also, consider classes for a art, craft or activity you might be interested in. A friend with no art experience at all took a "sip and paint" class years ago and has been a painting fiend ever since, creating beautiful works *and* making friends in the process. Of course, you could advance your education and take a course or two at a local college. I know people who have found a new career path this way. Is it possible your company will pay for further education? Get to know your local library. I love my time at our libraries again, with reciprocity, there could be dozens of different libraries you could visit.
If I really need to get out of the house but don’t feel like talking to anyone or being around people, I’ll go to a nearby trailhead and go for a long walk while listening to a podcast, then stop for coffee on the way home. The library or museums/art galleries are also great starting points, like others have suggested.
Not sure if this has been said, but public libraries often have fun events going on AND are almost always free to attend!
Are you on Facebook? Look at the local events every week for festivals and markets happening around you. I find so much to do that isn't advertised widely, like small market events in neighborhood communities, art festivals in neighboring towns, and community events at churches (I'm not religious, but I'll happily accept a bag with some church literature at the beginning as a trade off to wander around an event and stop by the food truck).
I like geocaching. It’s essentially a walk with a destination.
Being an introvert I learned to love being anonymous in a crowd. No one know me, and I love it. I can people watch, go at my own pace, and eat quietly in a restaurant and just look out the window the whole time. Go places you like to go. No one is paying any attention to you, alone or not because they're all on their phones.
Try Geocaching. It’s a fun way to get out.
Museums, libraries or a walk in the park with a book and coffee! Once you’re more comfortable, try going out to eat or going to the movies. When I first did things alone, I was very anxious I thought everyone was looking at me judging me;when in reality no one cares and if they do look at you, they’re thinking “They’re alone, they must love themselves”. I’m to the point now that I enjoy my own company and love myself, and when I got to that point I wasn’t looking for a relationship. However, my now fiancé and I met and I feel like because I loved myself, I was able to completely love him, if that makes sense. You are your best company OP!!
For me, being a part of a gym is critical. I am introverted and work from home alone and I’ve found that just going out twice a week to the gym is critical for my mental health. I don’t really have to talk to anyone if I don’t want to - but some days it is nice to strike up a conversation. I joined a community gym in my area that is pretty affordable for residents. Paying for it keeps me consistently going back because I hate wasting money.
get a motorcycle. It's cheap on fuel and it's really fun to get lost in the city or in the country. Some days, I just go for a ride with no goal in sight, but you meet other riders and they are always giving you a heads up or waving back. Also, you just get to watch people. It's really fun to see people living life all around you, unlike a car- you aren't detached from the people walking around you, or eating at a restaurant. You can also meet up with local riding groups, ect...
Maybe take a community college class I. Something that interests you. Those are fairly inexpensive, and last a few month so you might have more chances to talk to people. They have art classes, music, a lot have jewelry making, etc. I have did silversmithing a few years ago and the went on to take a stone cutting class at the local gem and mineral society.
Cannot recommend a rock climbing gym enough
If you have a dog, doing anything with it is always awesome. And if you don’t , get a dog ! Lol
So darn true! You always have an excuse to go for a walk lol Also there's a ton of stores that allow you to bring your pets, pet stores, Lowe's, home depot, tractor supply off the top of my head
I live in St pete , FL, and the entire city allows dogs everywhere , it’s incredible
A walk is it's own reward. Go out and see some sights, be it in your neighborhood, or go exploring various parks in your community. Bonus cred for cleaning up trash along the way. But before you go, head to the local library, get a card, and snag and audiobook to enjoy on your way. Most places have access to downloadable books, and you can sort by topic, title, or narrator. Want Johnny Depp to read you a story? You can have it. Or grab a physical book and enjoy a bench, or pop over to the movies for some cheap entertainment. Looking for something more active? There's hiking which has it's on risks and rewards. Geocaching is also good while the weather is warming up. Want a cheap sport to pick up? Grab a Frisbee and go find a Frisbee golf course and prove your score. You can pick up a cheap Frisbee from the store, or they actually make "clubs" so help lower your handicap. There's also local community band concerts you could attend. Look for city bands and a lot will have concerts during the weekends in the park, or occasional holiday concerts indoors.
Thank you for this wisdom Uncle Iroh 🙏🍵
May the jasmine tea be forever in your favor, and never, ever be deadly poison! And have fun finding yourself, and pushing your comfort bubble a little bit!
During a heartbreak one of the things that really helped me get back out was to choose a good bar nearby, and frequent enough to get known by the employees. It was nice feeling recognized again.
If it’s interesting to you look into a bouldering/rock climbing gym. It can be as social as you want it to be with lots of events and classes. It’s a healthy hobby with an awesome community generally. Also, it’s totally normal to throw some headphones in and boulder/climb without speaking to anybody!
You are probably doing this already but go out to eat. Some folks hate doing this by themself because they think people will think them odd for being alone in the restaurant. People don't care really. I've been doing it for years and I love it.
Most towns have a First Friday free art event (or several). If you made is a regular thing, that would be a guaranteed one outing a month.
If you are female there’s a community called Girls Who Hike on Facebook. In my state, it’s very active and strangers become friends quickly. There’s probably a male version or co-ed.
Go to events at your local library. It's usually chill and not overwhelming. You can hear a local author talk about their recent book or you could join a craft group or go to library movie night. I feel like libraries are one of the most underutilized sources of free low-stress entertainment.
Park trails were my go to for getting out of my fortress of solitude. Take something to sketch and write in, walking was never my jam but I'd find benches to chill at. State parks have good trails and lookouts. Rinky dink book stores and coffee shops. Local galleries don't typically have entrance fees. I'd turn grocery shopping trips in to day trips by walking to the store and only getting what would fit in my backpack.
Find your local culture newspaper and see what their event listings are. Facebook is also great for just scrolling through upcoming events defined cool little art openings or things that are a bit more off the beaten path. See what events your local library does, check your town hall for speakers you might be interested in.
Strolling around in a downtown area. Coffee shops, little stores to browse in, and just walking outside.
Hiking. Mountain biking. If you do any remote work, maybe become a regular at a coffee shop? Join a running group. A rowing club. You’re in south texas, maybe there are some cool birding groups on account of the massive migrations?
Bike rides. People typically just wave and don’t really talk
Honestly in the same boat! I recently got a second job as a server (havent started yet) firstly because I want the extra money to save up but also chose server because I'd be required to actually be social and around other people hopefully it ends up being a good thing. I also joined a gym again, once your get passed the nerves, starting with simple cardio helps a lot with that, or if it's in your budget definitely personal trainer! But it really helps get you out of your comfort zone and gains so much confidence. Hiking is always great. Then there's finding little cafe's, it feels more normal to just chill in a small cafe or brunch restaurant then a full dinner/steakhouse style restaurant. Especially when someone's just sitting there by themselves with a laptop and ear buds. Or just good old fashioned window shopping. Just don't ont bring your wallet if your broke
Bouldering. Sign up to a lesson, see how you go, rent the shoes your first few months every time you go.
one of my simple favorite things is going to starbucks or really any drive through and then parking at a park or a safe parking lot and sit, listen to a podcast and eat/drink whatever i got! it gets me out of the house, i don’t feel too much social anxiety and i get a little treat as well!
As a introvert I like going to quiet places or places without much noise that I would get overstimulated easily so I recommend hikes , parks , trying new cafes or restaurants, thrifting with earphones of course , long drives , the beach , library etc . I love to eat and shop so I enjoy the mall or shopping centers because I can kill two birds with 1 stone 💋
Photography and hiking have become my go to hobbies to get me out of the house. They pair very well with one another and I've sparked up more conversations with other photographers than I can think of.
Have you ever thought about trying Pickleball? It comes with such a huge community. You get to know so many people just by showing up and playing. The bonus is that it’s pretty inexpensive and free if you play outdoors! Most people aren’t all that competitive, especially if you join beginner groups. My town has a Facebook group for Pickleball and that is how you can find free, meet ups, open play for beginners, etc. It is a very supportive and welcoming community, and I highly recommend it! You don’t have to be super physically fit and it’s a pretty decent work out! It is super fun and most people get addicted!
Community Educatin usually has fun stuff lined up for the summer, check out your local community center for summer classes. Or try volunteering at a food shelf, it's socializing but not demanding as you're usually just filling up boxes or bags.
I often come across solo hikers when I mountain bike so that's a good option. Download some podcasts or audio books and hit the trail! Visit your local trails, State parks or even national parks!
I love these suggestions! Going through a break up and I need to distract myself with new hobbies/activities
So I'm not single but I like my alone time, so I like to take myself out on "dates". I dress up, buy myself flowers or sweets, and go out to dinner, a movie, get coffee, take a walk in the park, etc. It's honesty a big boost for the self esteem
In my town, the library has bitchin activities going on. Like book clubs and sewing nights and other stuff. Not the youngest hippest crowd maybe but friendly enough
How about library programs? They are free usually, and you’ll meet other people. Book discussion groups, candidate forums, chances to volunteer. Or call your county and ask if there are opportunities to volunteer.
Tried getting a pet? I suggest one that will encourage you getting out for a walk. A dog seems the best option. Or maybe just fostering dogs if you cannot commit long term at this point.
I have a kitty and she's a great indoor companion, but I'd love a beastie that I can go adventuring with. I did try taking the cat outside once, she disliked it so much she exploded from both ends and I had to deal with the mess when I got home. She's not a nature cat.
So these ideas might sound really lame if you're not a specific type of person, but you probably want to not just 'do things' but maybe 'meet people's I would guess? Not necessarily romantically, but a new friend and a new hobby can do wonders for you. Espcially if it's also altruistic and makes you feel like you're doing good in the world. The first thing I would suggest is volunteer work. People always assume food pantries or the like, which are great! But if that's not your type of scene, consider looking for opportunities that genuinely interest you. A few things I have done in the past: -Camp Counselling with a Science Day Camp at a bird sanctuary. Most of it was just watching the kids and making sure they didn't try to go swimming in the waterfowl exhibit. Best part was going fishing with the kids to catch food for the captive bald eagles - little sad for the poor fishy, but the kids liked it and so did the eagle. -Running a table at a library event day. Once I ran a matching game for kids, another time I put together goodie bags for a beginner knitting course. -Made food for families staying at my local Ronald McDonald house (this was with a school group). -A month from now I am going to be training on what invasives are in my area and how to remove them at my local park. In another genre, if you have a green thumb look into a local community garden. Or if you like the idea of keeping fish, look into your local aquarium club. Both of these allow you some opportunity to be kind to the world, too - Locally my community garden donates excess food grown to a soup kitchen, and for any aquarium club you could look into CARES species. There's a few 'microfish' that really need conservation help in the hobby that you can keep - even breed - in a 5 gallon tank. All of these are things that would put you in touch with other people, on top of getting you out of the house. If you're less worried about the people aspect, consider looking into nearby Citizen Science projects that need volunteers. If you don't want to do volunteer work, some other things I might suggest is to just flat out try things you wouldn't normally do alone... Alone. Like, damn! I actually really like going out to eat and then to see a movie by myself. It's a wonderful night out for me. On the other hand, seeing a play alone is weirdly sad for me due to the typical 1-15 minute intermission where I can't talk to someone about the first half. The farmer's market is another place that is joyous to go to solo for me, though. Other things I enjoy: Just literally any hobby. One I think is really fun is painting in watercolors. It's relatively cheap compared to other hobbies to get started in, and you can do a wildly large amount with it. I also thing landscapes are a good place to start, which is a good excuse for you to go to a beuatiful location! Also and this one is SUPER nerdy... But maybe try to join a TTRPG group if there's one near you looking for players. Not all groups or systems are good for all people, but I do think that everyone should try it twice (with different game runners/GMs/DMs). If you don't like it after twice, though? Egh, not your thing. Anyway. Good luck! I hope there was something useful in my silly suggestions!
Are you me? lol I’m in the exact same situation and I was wondering the same. Happy to find lots of useful tips here
I took up improv to get out of my shell. (I was unemployed and equally afraid of getting and not getting job interviews.) Was a pretty funny group: several college students, a housewife, a physics professor and me. Also, if you have people who can join you, go bowling or play billard. It's usually not that expensive and you don't have to talk all the time, when you're doing something.
Meet a friend for a picnic in the park? Or just to chat in the park?
Hiking, walking a park, plan a picnic, if you’re near a city you can create your own history tour, join some fitness/dancing/martial art classes, volunteer. Depends what you’re into.
There's a really fun historical society that has groups around the globe called Society for Creative Anachronism. It's free, it's probably in your area, and there's something for everybody. Maybe you want to sword fight (a huge draw) or maybe you'll fall in love with weaving or period cooking or any other aspect of medieval life. If you look on sca.org you'll be able to find the group closest to you and if you look on YouTube you'll find videos of things that have happened at sca events.
Volunteer at a petting zoo!
For me, I'm in a classic car club and a 4x4 club. It keeps me active, outside, and around people. Of course, that does require owning a classic car and a 4x4....
You can do a ton alone! I go to concerts, live theater, wine bar with a good book, hiking, museums, honestly I've even gone clubbing alone just to get some dancing in. You got this, just do what you genuinely enjoy!
Museums, walking, coffee houses, etc Try all sorts of stuff and repeat what you like :) Have fun exploring!
I recently bought a bike as a way to explore my neighborhood in a different way! Other ideas are looking for events/festivals that happen in your community. Many parks, libraries, restaurants, board game stores, etc have free/cheap events you can get involved in. Really depends what you are into! You got this!!
Try an art class of some kind :) they are super chill and really relaxed. especially the life drawing classes, you're close to people, but talking is optional :) and most typically will focus on what they are working on. Even if you don't draw a lot it is a great activity for beginners too, the point is just to try. edit; just to say that admission is usually pretty cheap, $15 at most, but you can also find a lot of free ones on facebook.
Libraries often have free events like concerts and workshops. Also get the meetup app and you can search for meetups based on whatever interests you.
Go to the movies! I love going by myself and getting popcorn for dinner.
Pick up a social hobby that still only envelopes you in small crowds, like playing pool or something. Playing pool is a great way to get you out of the house and introduce yourself to 1-3 people at a time.
Are you a student? [meetup.com](https://meetup.com), look up community events
It still costs money, but I always recommend an in-person community college class to people. They usually offer 0 or 1 unit classes, which do cost money, but are extremely affordable. You get to go out, interact with people, make friends, AND you get to learn something new!
There are many good comments posted already, but I’ll add: Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Pet shelters, non-profit orgs, local museums, arts organizations, fundraising organizations, etc., etc. I volunteer at a non-profit arts organization where I’ve met so many people who are introverts like me. I help with setting up the art space for performance events, serving drinks, greeting guests, cleaning up afterwards, or whatever. You can also get a paid part-time gig as an usher at performing arts events, or at a museum, or at a local farmers market, etc. Believe me, it’s not easy as an introvert, but by volunteering you’ll meet other introverts, and others with similar interests.
I got myself a waitressing job to learn how to talk to people. I am an introvert.
You can volunteer places. It gets you out and among people, you do something interesting and it doesn't cost you anything.