I'm an introvert, and see social interaction as tiring, and sometimes, a waste of time. How do I enjoy social interaction more?

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What I’ve found is that it’s a lot less about the actual social activity as it is about the setting. I get all my socialization done in quiet coffee shops and bars. If the coffee shop gets too crowded, I pull out my laptop and put headphones on. If a bar gets too crowded, I pay my tab and bounce. If it’s too quiet, I pull out my laptop and do some work on my side project. Yes, I bring my laptop to the bar. So long as you’re careful with liquids you should be fine.

At the bar people love seeing laptops and asking you what you’re doing, it’s a great way to start a conversation. At the coffee shop you have to be a bit more proactive. Baristas are nice to talk to, and you can involve other customers in the conversation if they seem interested.

But yeah, any time there are too many people around, I get nervous and quiet and I just want to leave.