The Introvert’s Guide to Entertaining

Are you an introvert who’s sworn off entertaining after too many exhausting events? Not everyone is cut out for every kind of hosting, but just because you’re not a social butterfly doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time with guests; you just have to do it the right way and play to your strengths. Here’s how.

Introverts need plenty of alone time to balance out social activities so if you know you have plans to be social on a specific night, make your day low-key so you’re rested and mentally prepared to be around others later on.

You tend to get overwhelmed by lots of people around, even if they’re friends. Better to focus on a few at a time so you can truly connect with them over dinner or drinks rather than trying to throw a big bash.

If you get a little tired during the evening, it’s always nice to be able to take five minutes to duck out and take a breather. Whether it’s with a spouse or a friend, hosting as a team means that you’re not solely responsible for every minute of hosting time and your partner-in-partying can take over for a while.

You are not an all-night party animal and that’s fine. Make sure that your guests also know the deal by specifying an end time to your gathering. There’s no need to stick to it if you’re having fun, but it’s always nice to have an excuse to wrap up the evening.

If you’re planning to meet outside your home, chose an intimate restaurant or lounge, not a crowded bustling venue. You will be so much happier if you can tuck into a booth or cluster of sofas and chat quietly with friends instead of being forced to circulate around a crowded room.

Get more required reading for introverts right here:

• Design Tips for Introverts & Extroverts (and How to Tell Which One You Are)
• The Introvert’s Guide to Surviving a Houseful of People
• An Introvert’s Guide to Never Flaking on Holiday Gatherings

Re-edited from a post originally published 4.23.15-NT