Introverts are people who have minimal capacity for noise and social stimulation. They absorb the world differently, thus, function differently from the high-spirited extroverts.
Introverts recharge alone in peace and quiet to keep their well-being. This is contrary to extroverts who accumulate energy from moderate to extensive socialization.
People usually correlate introversion to shyness and being anti-social. However, I’d say it’s a widely known misconception. To understand more about introverts, let’s give you a quick overview.
What’s an introvert?
Just today, I Googled the word “introvert” and the Oxford dictionary defined it as “shy, reticent person.” Now, I have a slight suspicion where all these misconceptions are coming from.
Introversion and extroversion are personality types that describe how a person regains or drains his energy. It doesn’t speak about shyness or being anti-social.
If we think about it, a shy person could be an introvert. In the same way, extroverts become shy, too.
Truth is, we all feel embarrassed at some point. That said, shyness is actually a trait everyone is capable of regardless if you’re an introvert or extrovert.
Generalizing all introverts as shy doesn’t suit a good description.
How do introverts drain and regain their energy?
Introverts regain their energy from streaming themselves in tranquil places where there is little stimulation. Conversely, too much engagement in social stimulation such as in team buildings, reunions, and parties exhausts them in the long run. These events suck out their energy.
Introverts need alone time to maintain a working and functioning state. Like any physical exhaustion, introverts need to recharge their batteries and take a day off from all the dimming static noise.
5 Signs Introverts Need Alone Time
To shed a brighter light, I’ll tell you what happens when introverts don’t get alone time.
We’re dull, have slower reflexes, and decelerated brain activity. I could describe it as being so “done”. Yeeeeeah. Worse, the lack of rest and alone time could lead an introvert to the edges of depression.
Here’s a list of signs introverts are needing their alone time, so give it!
1. They are no longer as responsive to ANYTHING
“I wanna go home.” –– Every introvert stuck in a party.
An introvert’s worst-case scenario: exhausting his social batteries too early at a party.
Soon, you will see introverts all piling up at the corner: eating, drinking, or maybe zombie-ing through the party. They no longer engage with people in the room. The only thing running through their heads is to go home or get away from the crowd.
However, escaping a crowd doesn’t come easy. We know how it works. When someone exits from the “fun,” they’re marked as uncool and anti-social. But in reality, it’s way out of our control. Toiling too much social interaction exhaust introverts and that’s no exaggeration.
When you have a friend who was initially excited, yet bolted a 180-degree turn to boredom, just remember that it’s not the occasion. Truth is, they have reached their limits. Responding to any more stimulation could only drain the life out of them more.
Some introverts, like me, may love gatherings. Unfortunately, their capacity is too limited to bear all the commotion. It’s the curse of social butterfly introverts.
2. They get emotionally and mentally tired to function
Physical exhaustion is nothing compared to the torment of emotional and mental tiredness.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been playing badminton with my closest friends. It was physically tiring but wasn’t enough to stop me from doing my deadlines overnight.
But when emotional exhaustion kicks in, I have tendencies to drop anything. Introverts call it a “shut down”. We deactivate from social media, avoid contact with friends, and dump everything to pursue our beloved peace.
No one can invite me to go out and unwind. For a completely drained introvert, “going out” and “unwind” don’t match together. The best way to get over this exhaustion is still alone and quiet time.
You may also like: 7 Tips on How to Be Happy as an Introvert (for highly sensitive introverts)
3. When they isolate themselves
When an introvert stops engaging and starts to occupy the farthest vacant corner, then an introvert may just have had too much stimulation.
Not yet dropping, but almost there.
It doesn’t only happen at parties. Isolation may be prolonged in workplace and classroom setups when an introvert doesn’t recognize the connection to people. Sometimes, introverts can’t withstand small talk and fake friends. So they walk out of the murky bubble and purposely isolate themselves.
4. They bid goodbye and go home
Introverts have two stages in every social interaction. Stage one is looking forward and getting pumped up. The second stage is regretting why he joined this event.
To be fair, there are also events that truly interest an introvert. But most times, many social gatherings are as tedious as talking to your boss. As a result, introverts would eventually settle to go home instead of absorbing the nebulous atmosphere.
5. Turns anxious or angry
Work could be a never-ending flow of stress. Introverts could only handle so much.
Introverts perform well in their jobs especially when they’re left alone to accomplish a task. However, we know those workmates who love to pry on other people’s work. Such interactions are uncalled for. Too much of it batters the introvert’s mind.
Oftentimes, introverts just wonder when will all this pressure stop. Unfortunately, we don’t control work stress, but it’s the stress that consumes us little by little. When an introvert gradually becomes anxious and angry (or maybe starts throwing things), that’s a sure signal to give them their time off.
How Do Introverts Recharge?
Of course, they have a way to “plug in” themselves back to their best shape.
Now, that we know the signs introverts need alone time, next, let’s see a few ways to effectively recharge an introvert.
But what do introverts do when they are alone? How do introverts recharge their batteries? Here are 7 ways introverts do to recharge themselves.
1. Selective internet browsing
Lying on the bed while scrolling through their phones is the easiest way introverts recharge. With the Internet, we absorb or reject information the way we want to. Introverts can reply to whoever they want, block whoever they dislike, and scroll on whichever platform they choose.
They can be selective to what they receive. And when the stimulation’s too much, they shut their phones off. It’s a quick escape and introverts love the idea that they have control over such things. It keeps them in their comfort bubble and gradually recharges them.
2. Time with themselves.
Introverts can’t handle too many things at a time. But on the contrary, introverts love focus, reflection, and deeper thinking. They love to be with themselves or with a few close people. This way, they can process things around them in a clearer and concentrated way.
3. Spending time with their loved ones and closest friends
In contrary to common belief, introverts don’t hate people. What they dislike is prolonged, yet trifling social engagement, especially with strangers they know nothing about.
Deep conversations restore an introvert’s interest. This way, talking to their closest friends is one good way to relieve their stress. Oftentimes it even sets an introvert’s energy and motivation afire.
4. Motivation from learning new skills
Introverts don’t need to go out to learn something new. Google and Youtube are our besties.
When an introvert learns new knowledge and finds a connection with it, it most likely excites them and becomes a motivation.
As an introvert, I enjoy random new information. I listened to business tycoon, Gary Vee, I was preoccuppied with blogger’s exceptional blogging journeys, and I enjoyed stand-up comedies. One can’t know how much an introvert gets engrossed with new knowledge. Sparking up their passion is a way to recharge introverts quickly.
5. Spending time on what they truly enjoy
When an introvert gets drained down to zero, or they shut off all doors and do their own things.
They will read their favorite novels, search for new information about a wide range of topics. Sometimes, they just want to write for the whole day or have a movie marathon.
Introverts recharge when they are in their comfort zone and no one’s trying to pry against their solitude.
6. When nothing seems to recharge you, pray
It’s from personal experience.
I tried every way I can to get back on track from everyday work stress and anxiety. I sought multiple ways. Some procedures and advice work, but in the long run, they all dissipate into thin air. Sooner or later, I’m back to square one – anxious and still helpless.
Fortunately, the only solution that truly recharged me was praying and listening to the Words of the Most High. It’s a sure-ball technique that people often forget — like I did — but is actually powerfully effective. It’s always worth mentioning.
How long do introverts need to recharge?
Alone time is a requirement to keep an introvert productively functioning. But really, how much time does an introvert need alone? Does it take an hour, a day, or a month? Is there a specific amount of time on how long introverts need to recharge? Truth be told, it varies.
A 1-2 hour social exhaustion may require an hour (more or less) of recharging. Moreover, if an introvert completely drains themselves, they tend to shut down for a few days to a week.
But actually, there’s no one-size-fits-all scenario here. Every introvert differs. I’ve known introverts who are social butterflies and have a lot of social endurance (and I’m not of them).
For a few more references, I quoted some introverts’ take on the questions:
- how do introverts recharge?
- how long do introverts need to recharge?
Here are their answers:
“Most of my days are spent on work. After a tiring work week, I guess a complete 8-hour sleep is enough. Also, watching movies and playing mobile games help me recharge and face another day.” — Rik, ISFP
“After a tiring day and socialization with large crowds, it is a must for me to recharge. I do it by spending time alone — strictly taking a rest at home. I give myself a break and even restrict myself from doing work. I also give myself time to binge-watch something on Netflix, read a book, or write. The time I need to recharge depends on how tiring the day was or how long I had to socialize. But I’d say a day or two at home is enough.” — Jianna Marie Allison , author of The Boy with the Chestnut Brown Hair
“I recharge through watching K-drama or playing mobile games. That way, I pamper myself and can recharge after a long busy day. Recharging depends upon how exhausted I am. For most of the time, just a couple of hours would be enough. But when I think I’m drowning with worries, I need days to recover from the down feeling.” –Victoria Britt, INFJ
“How introverts recharge faster? I don’t usually get tired especially when I enjoy the event with my friends. But maybe, 1–2 hour nap is enough.” — Tin, INFJ
Conclusion
Introverts take up around 25 to 40 percent of the population. However, some are still unaware of this social orientation. They describe it as “shy”. As a result, many introverts pretend to be someone they’re not just to be free from all these dismissive stereotyping.
Fortunately, as society progresses, the knowledge about this personality is slowly becoming known. People are more compassionate about it and they start to respect an introvert’s traits and lifestyle. We’ve come a long way.
Introverts have their own unique capabilities.
So as I end this post, I’d like to say this. Stay true to yourselves. The way we amass or drain energy is not in any way a hindrance to becoming the best version of ourselves.
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