How to thrive in an extroverted world as an introvert

Introduction

If you’re an introvert and you’re having trouble balancing your introverted nature with the demands of an extroverted world, you’re not alone. Introverts are a rare breed. In fact, one in every four people is an introvert—and they make up 40% of leaders at fortune 500 companies!

But while there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert, it can be hard to thrive in a world that favors extroversion. Extroverts often find it easier to network and build relationships because they enjoy being around other people so much—but that’s not necessarily true for everyone else. Introverts are known for their ability to focus deeply on one task or project at a time, but when faced with social demands like networking events where they don’t know anyone or small talk with strangers in elevators or lobbies during conferences (or worse yet), this focus can go out the window…

Learn to recognize the signs of being overloaded.

It’s easy to get overloaded when you’re an introvert. The world is constantly trying to push us into a state of extroversion, and we are expected to be more outgoing and less reserved than our fellow introverts. But there are ways that you can learn to recognize when you’re starting to feel overstimulated and take action before being overloaded happens. Here are some signs that might indicate that you are being overstimulated:

You feel drained or exhausted after spending time with people
You become irritable or short-tempered during social situations
Your mind starts wandering during conversations or lectures

If any of these things happen, this could mean that your brain needs a break from interacting with others. In order for an introvert like yourself (or anyone) not only survive but thrive in the extroverted world, it’s important that we recognize these signs early on so they don’t escalate into something worse later on down the road.

Look after your health.

You should be aware of the following health-related tips for introverts:

Eat right and exercise regularly. This is pretty obvious, but it’s also easy to forget when you’re busy with other things.
Get enough sleep. You’ve got to catch up on your sleep debt eventually, so take it easy and get your full eight hours every night (or at least try to!). Sleeping less than eight hours per night can leave you feeling tired, cranky and unmotivated—all traits that are definitely not helpful for an introvert trying to thrive in an extroverted world!
Take time out of your day to recharge yourself by doing something relaxing like reading or meditating. A great way to do this is by scheduling regular “me time” into your life, where you set aside some quiet time just for yourself without any distractions from the outside world (like social media), so that you can relax and refresh yourself before getting back into whatever activities were keeping you busy before taking this break…

Stay connected to your introverted self.

You can keep yourself from getting overwhelmed by thinking of your introverted self as a separate entity. Recognize that your introverted side has needs, too—and that it’s okay to honor them!

For example, if you’re going out with friends and you’re feeling drained after a long day of work, don’t force yourself to stay for hours. If you’re at a party where there are lots of people around and everyone seems to be having fun but no one is paying attention to anything except their phones, take some space in the kitchen or another quiet room and go on Facebook. You’ll feel better when you come back out of hiding!

Also remember that just because someone tries to get your attention doesn’t mean they are trying to harm or overwhelm you; sometimes we just need time alone to think things through so we don’t lose ourselves in the crowd.”

Be specific about what you need from other people.

Be specific about what you need from other people

Being an introvert means that you’re more comfortable alone than in a crowd, but that doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy spending time with others. In fact, many introverts thrive when they find their tribe—those people who understand them and won’t take up too much of their energy or attention. However, if the person you’re spending time with is an extrovert (or even if they’re simply not introverted), it can be hard for them to understand exactly how much space, quiet, or alone time is necessary for your happiness.

To avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings, communicate clearly about what kind of interaction works best for both of you during social interactions:

How long will this event/activity last? Will there be breaks? Can we take turns hosting parties at each other’s houses instead of going out somewhere? This information will help determine how much energy needs to be invested before and after the event so that it doesn’t drain all your reserves without providing anything in return!

Practice assertiveness.

As an introvert, you might be more comfortable in a quiet space and alone. You might enjoy listening to others rather than always having the floor and being the center of attention. But there are times when assertiveness can be helpful:

You don’t need to say yes every time someone asks for your help or favors you with their attention. Practice saying no when it comes to something that doesn’t interest or benefit you.
Learn how to set boundaries around what activities are acceptable and unacceptable for yourself. For example, if someone invites you out but they have been rude or inconsiderate before, consider whether or not it’s worth going out of your way just because they invited you along as well. If there is any chance that he/she will behave poorly again while with his/her friends (and especially if they’ve already embarrassed him/herself), then this person isn’t worth spending time with at all costs—especially if it means making yourself uncomfortable just because someone else wants something from them! They deserve better than that too; so do YOU!
Be aware when people ask for things; often times requests aren’t made lightly–often times people want something specific from us! It may take some practice learning how much information is too much information; however once mastered–this skill could potentially save our relationships from becoming too strained by oversharing information about ourselves which isn’t necessary needed at all times during conversations between ourselves with another person who has nothing whatsoever about himself/herself except maybe one thing: The fact that he\she needs us now.”

Take time for yourself — and don’t feel bad about it.

Take time for yourself. Extroverts may seem like their batteries are constantly being charged by the energy of others, but even they need to recharge. Give yourself plenty of downtime where you can be alone and decompress from the day, whether that means taking a walk or a nap or just sitting quietly with your thoughts. You don’t have to feel guilty about it — this is part of being an introvert!
Say no when you need to say no — but also say yes when it feels good. Extroverts will tell you that one key to thriving in their world is learning how to say “no” without feeling bad about it (which means learning how not to take things personally). This can be hard for an introvert who has been conditioned since childhood not only to avoid conflict but also prioritize other people’s needs over her own; however, getting better at saying “no” will help keep her from burning out from overextending herself — which leads me back around again…

Prioritize more introverted activities.

There are plenty of ways to make introverted activities more fun, meaningful, productive, relaxing and exciting. Here’s how:

Make your own rules for fun. For example, if you love to read but don’t want to spend hours in a bookstore browsing books you may never buy or will never read again (unless it’s an absolutely amazing book), create a rule that says every other time you go shopping for books online at Amazon or elsewhere online you must buy something. This will keep the process fun and prevent it from feeling like a chore. It also gives you the opportunity to discover new authors or genres that aren’t as popular as some others yet might still be interesting enough for your tastes.
Make them more meaningful by using them as an opportunity not just for self-improvement but also as an act of mindfulness—a time when we can really pay attention both externally (to what’s happening around us) and internally (to our thoughts). Take yoga classes: not only will this help improve your physical fitness level but also increase self-awareness too!
Adapt activities so they’re less exhausting by doing things gradually rather than jumping straight into them without preparation; planning ahead so there isn’t too much pressure on yourself; getting support from friends/family members if possible; preparing snacks beforehand so there isn’t any temptation during breaks etcetera etcetera…

Try meditation or mindfulness.

Meditation and mindfulness are two great ways to quiet your mind. This can help you be more present, more aware of your surroundings, and less likely to get overwhelmed by the noise of a crowded room. If you’re new to meditation or mindfulness, try downloading an app like Headspace or Calm (either on their websites or through the Apple App Store), which offer guided meditations that are designed for beginners. These apps will walk you through the process step-by-step in a very easy way—and once you’ve gotten used to it, there are some great free apps out there that have similar features!

Find a friend who gets it.

The best way to deal with being an introvert in an extroverted world is to find a friend who gets it. Not only do they get you, but they know what you need and will respect your boundaries. A good friend will know that when you’re having a bad day, they should give you space and not insist on hanging out. They’ll understand when the best time of day for them to chat is after work, or even late at night when everyone else has gone home for the night.

Finding a friend who gets it isn’t easy—you can’t just ask someone if they identify as an introvert and expect them to be one too! But once you’ve found one (or even better: more than one!), life becomes much easier.

Make small talk fun for you — or at least bearable — by focusing on topics that interest you or finding humor in the conversation.

To make small talk more enjoyable for yourself, focus on topics that interest you. If there’s a subject or person you’re curious about, ask questions about it. You could ask something like: “What do you think of X?” or “How is Y going?” If the other person shares your interest in a topic, they’d probably be happy to tell you more about their experience with it.

You can also try to be funny during your conversations by finding humor in what’s going on around you — and maybe even pointing it out! Your sense of humor might come through when discussing things like current events or pop culture references (e.g., “Have you seen The Office? It’s really funny!”). If people laugh at what you say, even if only politely, this may help them feel closer to you and reduce any awkwardness between the two of you

You can thrive while being true to yourself as an introvert, in a world that tends to value extroversion more.

In this article, I’ll present five ways you can make the most of your introverted nature and learn how to thrive in an extroverted world.

Conclusion

I hope that this article has helped you see that it’s possible to thrive as an introvert in an extroverted world. It’s not easy, but it is possible. All it takes is a willingness to learn more about yourself and how other people work. You can use those skills to make small talk less painful, find friends who understand you better than most others do, and even become more comfortable with assertiveness—which will help you get what you want out of life (and maybe even save some time).

The post How to thrive in an extroverted world as an introvert appeared first on Mindful Wellness Counseling.