It’s World Introvert Day – Time to Celebrate Introverts

The world often appears to be full of extroverts, people who are loud, sociable and who thrive off being with others, but there are also those who prefer a quieter approach to life and deep meaningful connections with people, the introverts.

People often make incorrect assumptions about introverts that they are shy, have social anxiety or don’t like being around people.  This is not true, introverts can enjoy social events and often prefer the more in-depth connections that can be experienced with smaller groups of people. Introverts also need to have times where they can get away from everyone and recharge their batteries.

There are two very important neurotransmitters in the human brain, these are Dopamine and Acetylcholine.

Extroverts thrive off dopamine resulting in more frequent activation of strong positive emotions. Introverts are more sensitive to dopamine and can feel over stimulated by it. Introverts prefer the slow burn feeling when their brains release the hormone Acetylcholine, as this makes them feel relaxed, alert and content.  

So if you are an introvert, you are more likely to:

• Be a good listener
• Be patient
• Be happy spending time alone 
• Be self motivated and independent 
• Be a compassionate and loyal friend
• Be observant
• Be a thoughtful leader
• Think before you speak
• Have a good eye for detail
• Be excellent at written communication
• Be well prepared
• Be productive in solitude

Things you can do to self care as an introvert:

• Make sure you spend time away from others, carve out time for yourself
• Enjoy your social connections in small group meetings or one to one catch ups with friends
• Revel in your interest and desire for deep connections and conversations, these are really enjoyable and nourishing for you
• Engaging activities are often very nourishing for introverts who often love to do things, for example: listening to music, hiking, biking, sports, yoga, walking, reading, baking, drawing and any number of artistic activities. These types of mindful activities are often very satisfying for introverts who often get more out of connecting with others via activities rather than small talk at a random party.
• If you need a break from people take a walk in the park, be in nature – it’s really good for you and recharges your battery.
• If your job permits you to, working from home can be beneficial and give you the opportunity to concentrate on tasks in a calm, quiet environment which can be supportive for you.  
• Remember, there’s nothing wrong with feeling at home in a quiet space and if this is what you crave then listen to what your body and mind are telling you.
• The alone time that introverted people enjoy often feeds their their intelligent and creative contributions to the world.

Just think how challenging the world would be if everyone was an extrovert, we need introverts to bring depth, balance and calm!