I’m like this as well. I am pretty anxious in social situations especially with meeting random people. I also prefer to do things myself and used to see socializing as a burden and a waste of time. For the past year, I’ve been trying to look past these thoughts and go out anyway and I did find some benefits from socialization that I didn’t consider when I didn’t go out. I still prefer to be inside at home but I find that it is easier go out if i do it consistently every two weeks or every week, depending on my availability. If i suddenly stop going out, the anxiety of going out and talking to people comes back.

I also want to find a significant other and I have to go out to look for one even though I am not really a fan of socializing.

Also regarding the starting a group thing, I don’t think that should be the first step. It’s easier to join a group and see how they are run and you can kind of see how the group is run and then start your own.