We’ve all heard of FOMO, the fear of missing out, but are you familiar with the term FOGO? It’s for those of us on the opposite end of the spectrum, who would rather spend Saturday night curled up with their cat and a good book than out at a club meeting new people. There’s nothing wrong with being afflicted by FOMO or FOGO, but if the idea of being at a party or surrounded by people you don’t know gives you the heebie-jeebies, we’ve got a safe space for you right here, pandas.

The Fear of Going Out Instagram page is beloved by introverts and antisocial individuals galore. It has shared over 8,000 memes, tweets and photos over the years and has amassed an impressive 235k followers. Whether you struggle to find a balance between having a flourishing social life and enjoying cozy nights in or every single phone call you have to make fills you with dread, we’re sure you’ll find some relatable content on this list. So enjoy scrolling through, and enjoy the moments of peace and quiet you have to do so.  

To learn more about what it's like to need alone time to recharge, we reached out to Michaela Chung, creator of Introvert Spring and author of The Irresistible Introvert: Harness The Power of Quiet Charisma in a Loud World. Michaela was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and explain what being an introvert means to her.

"Being an introvert means I gain energy from solitude and lose energy in stimulating environments," she explained. "I recognize that I have different needs and challenges than extroverts in social situations. I may need to take more thoughtful pauses in conversation, leave early, or schedule in fewer activities—and that's okay."

When it comes to the perks of being an introvert, Michaela shared, "Introverts are capable of great focus, self-reflection and creativity. We also tend to be very observant. Our calm personality gives people space to relax and be themselves. We're the ultimate Netflix and Chill partners (emphasis on the 'chill')."

On the other hand, Michaela noted that having limited energy to socialize can be really frustrating. "We may want to go to all the weekend parties, but only have the social batteries for one event," she explained. "It's hard not to feel guilty for saying no and staying home."

Michaela also set the record straight about the common misconception that introverts are antisocial. "We're actually selectively social," she noted. "For example, the introvert confidence coaching clients I work with genuinely want to connect with the right people. They'd rather have meaningful conversations with a few like minded people than make mindless small talk with a room full of strangers."

Michaela also wants to assure readers that "it's okay to be an introvert! I always encourage introverts to embrace their quiet strengths. It is possible to confidently socialize in your own introverted way—no extroversion required."

If you'd like to learn more from Michaela or reach out to her for dating or confidence coaching, be sure to visit Introvert Spring!

While the internet might love poking fun at us less social folks, there are plenty of benefits that being an introvert can bring you. According to Walden University, introverts are often extremely creative, excel in academic performance, find themselves getting more sleep than extroverts, are great at communicating in the business world and can use their listening and observational skills to be wonderful leaders. Just because extroverts are often louder and demand more attention doesn’t mean that introverts deserve to shine any less. They just might need to hide from the spotlight to rest and recharge every now and then.    

We also reached out to Yadirichi Oyibo, founder of Diary Of An Introvert, to hear her thoughts on this topic, and she was kind enough to open up with Bored Panda about being an introvert. “Being an introvert isn't just a fancy psychological term I tend to use; it's my way of life,” Yadirichi shared. “It's where my creativity blooms, and it gives my life a sense of purpose.”

“Introversion lets me do some deep soul-searching and connect with people on a genuine level. And guess what? It's not just for introverts; it's something the whole world uses,” she explained. 

“Imagine a world where nobody takes a moment to think about things. We'd all be like zombies,” Yadirichi told Bored Panda. “But, introspection helps us stay true to ourselves while contributing to society. So, for me, being an introvert isn't just a personality trait; it's the quiet glue holding the world together.”

When it comes to the best aspects of being an introvert, Yadirichi shared, “The coolest part about being an introvert is that it makes me unique. No two introverts are the same. We might look similar on the outside, but our inner worlds are like uncharted territories.” 

The founder also noted that being introverted freed her from the pressure to fit in. “Sure, I tried to be like everyone else during my childhood, but over time, I've come to love my quirks,” she explained. “Now, I wear my introverted nature with pride, knowing I've got something special to offer. Plus, nobody expects me to be anything other than myself, and that's pretty awesome.”

Yadirichi does recognize, however, that there are some downsides to being introverted. “For one, I can get so comfy with my own company that I forget the importance of building relationships. Let's be real; we all need people in our lives,” she shared. “More so, being an introvert sometimes makes me cling to my comfort zone like it's my lifeline. While comfort zones are great for brewing ideas, there's a whole world out there where we can share our talents and make a difference.”

She also busted a few of the common myths that surround introverts. “That we're all shy, timid, arrogant, or just plain incapable. The ‘incapable’ myth gets under my skin the most because introverts aren't any less capable due to our quieter nature,” Yadirichi noted. “We've got skills aplenty, but we might express them in more subtle ways. We'd rather avoid the spotlight and let our actions speak for us.”

But Yadirichi wanted to make it clear that introverts certainly can rock the boat when it’s necessary. “In fact, the low expectations can work to our advantage. When people least expect, we spark intrigue, further allowing us to make a positive impact,” she explained. 

“To my fellow introverts, you've got some serious potential. Your inner world is like a treasure chest of creativity; don't ever doubt it. Embrace your uniqueness and never sell yourself short.”

If you’d like to hear more from Yadirichi, be sure to visit Diary Of An Introvert!

We hope these tweets are making you feel seen, pandas, if you too have a fear of going out. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being an introvert or liking to keep to yourself, especially when you can bond with like minded individuals through lists like this. Keep upvoting the pics you find most relatable, and if you’d like to find even more memes and tweets for antisocial individuals, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s last article on the same topic!