As an introvert in an extroverted world, you need to recharge more often
As an introvert in an extroverted world, your energy can deplete fast. You need to check your energy levels more often.
- A stressful day at work
- Drinks afterward with co-workers
- An aunt visits on the weekend
- Household chores and preparations
- And then a friend asks for dinner together because she struggles with something
This friend won’t have your full attention and energy because you’re already tired from the other things you did before. But I know you want to be 100% there for your friend.
So I’m showing you today how to practice scanning your body and checking in on your mental state to balance your energy every day.
In this extroverted world, it’s hard for an introvert to keep the energy high with all the talking, events, to-dos, and open offices.
You can’t change your environment. But you can change what you do with it.
- Ask yourself some questions to check your energy level
- Take time to feel yourself
- Figure out who and what is depleting your energy the most
- Have a definite answer based on your current energy level if someone asks you to go out
Practice your energy level sensitivity
Take time every day to practice feeling your energy level. Maybe every time you’re on the toilet.
Ask yourself some of the following questions:
- What is my mental energy level? Alert? Nervous? Brain dead? Motivated?
- Do I feel overstimulated or understimulated?
- What do I have to do today? What is optional?
- Can I add anything if I have more energy?
- Can I put off anything if I’m running on low fuel?
- Can I put breaks in my schedule?
- Do I need time alone?
- What kind of alone time do I need?
- What do I need today?
After a while, you won’t need the conscious breaks to check your energy level anymore because you do it unconsciously.
I usually feel the energy draining when I’m not calm. My normal state is being calm, but when I’m outside or stressed, my energy decreases fast.
At work, I feel my energy draining fast because it’s loud in the open office, and every time I lose focus, I need more energy to get back at it.
The toilet is my room to take a break, calm down, and be by myself.
I get tired faster than a day at home when I solely focus on writing and my business without noise.
By asking yourself those questions, you’ll figure out what is depleting or charging your energy.
Take those conscious breaks daily a few times for a few weeks until your subconscious learns to recognize themselves.
Who and what is depleting your energy the most?
While consciously checking your energy level, let’s also check your environment for negative influences.
There are some people (or things) called “energy vampires” because they suck out your energy. When you’re increasing your sensitivity to your energy levels, you’ll find the vampires in your life.
It could be co-workers, work itself, family members, friends…
Decrease your time with them. It sounds harsh, but as an introvert, you need to watch your energy levels.
Of course, I’m not saying to cut off your relationship with your family. Just decrease to an amount that feels better for you.
My environment is mostly negative. It’s a cultural thing in Austria (especially Vienna). Most of the people are grumpy and complain a lot. I’m blocking them with earplugs, so I don’t hear them.
I consciously look for friends who are not part of this culture, so I mostly have international friends. And if someone complains, I’ll try to find something positive.
Because I believe every bad thing has a reason to be in your life. You just don’t see it yet.
The negative culture challenges me to find more positivity. Before going to bed, I think of three things I’m grateful for today. Before starting the day, I meditate and visualize my dream future.
Those 2 habits help me to counteract the negativity around me.
At the end, you’ll have a definitive answer
The goal of practicing to check your energy level is to feel it unconsciously.
If someone asks you to go out with them, you’ll know your energy level and can say with certainty yes or no. And if it’s a yes, you’ll have the energy to listen and be present with your friend.
In this extrovert world full of adventures, events, and invitations, it’s up to you to understand your energy level and decide whether to accept or decline based on that.
Yesterday I declined an invitation to a networking event today because I already spend time with people twice this week and my energy is low. I need to recharge to have full energy again for my weekend plans.
It will take a few weeks of consciously checking in to establish it unconsciously.
But it’s worth the effort.
If you need an accountability partner, you can comment on this post daily with the answers to the questions, or write me a message in the chat.
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