10 Great tips to help you navigate college as an introvert

10 Great tips to help you navigate college as an introvert. As an introvert, I had days I found college draining and exhausting because I was always surrounded by people and noise. If you’re an introvert, you might have experienced similar feelings. 

For that reason, I decided to put together a few tips that I used to help me navigate college as an introvert. Without further ado, here are 10 life-saving tips to help you navigate college as an introvert.

10 Great tips to help you navigate college as an introvert

Who is an introvert?  

An introvert is typically someone who prefers to be by themselves, they prefer time alone away from crowds, and they get drained by social interactions, which in college is basically all your classes.

1. Make a classroom buddy

As an introvert, I realized that I dislike having to talk to people I didn’t know. That is how this tip came about.

Instead of asking a stranger what you missed in the last lecture, make a classroom buddy who is diligent about attendance. This is in the event that you take ill and have to miss a class or two. 

2. Join a club

This goes back to the strangers’ thing. I haven’t met a single introvert who enjoys interactions with people they don’t already know.

Joining a club will help you stay updated with the goings-on in uni without needing to ask someone you don’t know. How does this work?

Most clubs have groups on some communication channel where tons of information will be exchanged about various things, helping you stay tuned about what’s going on on campus without too much-extroverted effort.

3. Take a public speaking class

According to research, not all introverts are soft-spoken and shy. And I am one such introvert. I am very loud and very assertive, and I have no issue taking up space, so I didn’t really need to take public speaking. 

However, if you do, this might help you come out of your shell a bit. Enough to smoothly navigate college as an introvert.

4. Set boundaries

This one is especially important. If you happen to live in the uni dormitories, be sure to set very strict boundaries. 

As an introvert, you recharge from solitude, from being alone. That time is crucial if you’re going to be a likable human being. You, therefore, need to protect that time, otherwise, you’ll be in a fol mood all the time.

5. No FOMO

FOMO is an acronym for Fear Of Missing Out. This one is important because in college there is hype around almost everything, which is why you need to realize that not everything is worth your time.

Don’t be afraid to pass on some parties. Not all of them are important. School-wide events are worth attending like Culture week and all that, but these other things you out to be discriminative about your time.

6. Take online classes

As an introvert, I thrived from taking online classes. The last three semesters of my undergrad were all taken online, and I score a 3.9 and 4.0 GPA throughout.

If this is an option where you are, then it is worth looking into.

Taking online classes allows you to thrive in your classes because there is so much order with online classes. Also, you can take them from the comfort and solitude of your house.

7. Sit in the front of the classroom

This is another great tip to help you navigate college as an introvert. The front of the class is often the sparsest part of the classroom, which makes it the best spot for you as an introvert.

The front of the class is also the best place to sit as an introvert because it has the lowest chance of having someone talk to you in the middle of the lecture.

8. Engage with familiar faces

If having to talk to strangers gives you anxiety, then make an effort to form some bonds with people you see often.

This is important because when you need some information about something, you won’t have to risk an anxiety attack by asking a total stranger.

9. Avoid crowded places

There is nothing that puts me in a foul mood faster than a crowded place unless I have planned for it, and I’m mentally prepared and even though I seriously can’t do more than 4 hours at any one time.

If that sounds like you, then you will be doing yourself a huge favor by avoiding crowded places as much as possible.

That won’t always be the case because there will be events when that is unavoidable, like when you have school events and when you have to study in the library.

If that’s the case then get a very secluded area in the library for you to get some studying done and in the case of events just limit it to a few hours and mentally prepare yourself leading up to the event.

10. Take the time to make friends

As an introvert, you probably find the task of making friends incredibly daunting. The very thought makes you want to never leave your house, I hear you, I feel the same way.

However, with all that being said, you still have to take the time to make some friends. Why? Because you need them. It is that simple.

You need to make friends. They will help you stay updated with school stuff and make sure you don’t miss anything important.

They will also save you from turning into a Hermite. Lol.

Conclusion

Navigating college as an introvert is not easy, but it’s also not impossible. 

With these tips, I am confident you’ll be fine. If you have any other tips to help you navigate college as an introvert, be sure to share them with us in the comment section below.