Many of us have our own unique personalities and views in life. Since each of us is born and raised in different environments, we react differently when socializing with others. While other individuals find comfort and energy in being with others, there are others who just want to be left alone while they are doing their hobbies or activities.
Most experts would say that personalities are divided into two major groups: introverts and extroverts. Most extroverts are known for being the “life of the party” and will usually gain much of the emotional and mental energy from being around others. This is one of the reasons why many extroverts are out-going. On the other hand, introverts are known for being reserved and sometimes even shy. This is not necessarily the case for many introverts since many can get energy from going out with friends and just staying at home.
Many introverts don’t have the same emotional energy to be around others or crowds for a long time compared to extroverts. In most cases, they’ll need to stay at home while keeping a small circle of friends that you can be close with and more likely to have more introspective thoughts and emotions.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that introverts can’t have a bit of fun. There’s going to be a time in our lives that we want some peace and quiet. Then, there’s also going to be some time in our lives where we want to socialize. Most would say that having the right balance and knowing where your balance is the best way of taking care of yourself.
But what are some facts regarding self-care as an introvert? What are some effective means of having the right balance between socializing and recharging your “social battery?” Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Get Into The Right Environment
First and foremost, one of the best ways of taking care of yourself as an introvert is getting comfortable with the right environment. Contrary to what most people think, you don’t have to stay at home all the time when you can experience the world by yourself.
In some situations, being an introvert doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be in a quiet and peaceful environment. If you’re into music, you can always go to music festivals that can help stimulate your senses. No worries, though. If you don’t like going into large crowds, you can always stay in a tent. Fortunately, glamor camping businesses are known for their affordable music festival-themed tent rentals that will definitely offer an unforgettable experience.
Have Creative Outlets
Next, a good way of practicing self-care as an introvert is putting in time and effort in honing your skills and abilities. There are a variety of hobbies that you can go for, which include writing, painting, art, and even sports. You don’t necessarily need to produce a masterpiece, and you shouldn’t aim to please others with your work (since this is counter-intuitive). If your work’s nature involves producing content and the arts, you might want to try out new hobbies or have a more personal rather than professional project. Essentially, you’re killing two birds with one stone when you’re taking care of yourself while also honing important skills that you can use.
Detox Digitally
Lastly, one of the most important ways of self-care for both extroverts and introverts is putting your social media usage on hold. Although digital platforms might be a great way of communicating, it’s also known for being a double-edged sword.
Some psychologists and studies have theorized that the use of social media is known for having an effect on your overall mental health. These digital platforms are known for being a source of negative effects on the human mind, including poor self-esteem, a distorted sense of self-perception, and internet addiction. Although many introverts want to be left alone, social media will usually prefer to communicate via these channels rather than communicating verbally and in person. This can lead to a distorted sense of reality and impede individuals’ social development that should be socializing.
When you are taking care of yourself as an introvert, you’ll need to set limits on social activities. Although social media can be used for socializing, there are also a lot of problematic individuals and celebrities that want to show the world that they are “happy.”
That said, you shouldn’t feel pressured when you need to put some time off social media and other addictive digital platforms. Instead, you can keep yourself busy with a more active lifestyle. If you’re on a laptop or a smartphone most of the time, you might want to steer clear from web browsers and focus on productivity applications.
In summary, many introverts need time and energy to rest and recuperate. Self-care is about setting boundaries and having a personal space that you can be comfortable in. Still, it’s important to know what your priorities in life are. Although you might want to be comfortable, there’s no problem in stepping out of that comfort zone to grow. At the end of the day, you shouldn’t sacrifice your peace of mind to meet the expectation of others or extreme expectations that you have made for yourself.
Being in control of your environment and being self-aware can definitely help you in any situation, including having peers that are supportive. Of course, you shouldn’t be afraid to socialize, as long as you know your limits and what you shouldn’t be doing. If you think that you’re tired most of the time, you might want to consider consulting with a mental health professional regarding your situation.
