Many introverted people do have several close friends, but the fact remains that introverts will always need time to recharge alone. Friends fulfill important social and emotional needs, but interaction can still drain your resources.
However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances. Despite this preference, introverts are often criticized for not attempting to make more friends, and are often viewed as lacking social skills.
You're an introvert
Introverts often favour insular hobbies and need time alone to recharge. This means they have fewer opportunities to connect with others. Their behaviour can confuse people when sometimes they are very chatty and other times they are withdrawn.
Introverts are very loyal friends.
Once they form close relationships, they are unlikely to give up on those friendships in the face of conflict. Since introverts have to use energy for social interactions, they see the time they've spent on a friendship as a serious investment of their time and emotional energy.
Extroverts tend to have a larger group of friends than introverts. Extroverts may want to gather a large group of people together to celebrate their life milestones whereas an introvert may wish to celebrate alone or with one or two others.
Unlike shy people, Introverts are not necessarily bound by fear. If Introverts choose not to speak, it's because they prefer not to rather than because they are afraid. The other side of that coin is that there is nothing basic to their makeup that stops Introverts from talking as much as they like.
Decades of research have consistently shown that extroverts have a significant happiness edge over introverts. They report higher levels of general well-being as well as more frequent moments of joy.
Even though introverted people tend to prefer time alone, they can also experience feelings of loneliness.
Angry Introverts are in a sensitive state, and they can easily become overstimulated by too much social contact. Interestingly, Introverts won't usually respond to their anger by leaving altogether.
People who are natural introverts often feel pressure to change. They worry that they are not outgoing enough, and so sometimes they push themselves to socialize in ways that cause them more stress than enjoyment.
These findings go against the stereotype that introverts are happiest when they are alone. The fact of the matter is that meeting and spending time with others is a happier state than being alone. Not only that, but also when introverts act extroverted, they also report being happier as well.
In a new study, scientists found that the brains of introverts don't pay much attention to human faces, a reason why they prefer to remain alone while their socially outgoing counterparts love the company of others.
There's no doubt about it: Introverts love alone time. And it's not just about relishing an evening alone — introverts need regular solitude to function. Alone time is when we quietly process life, enjoy unaccompanied activities (like reading), and recharge our batteries away from life.
While introverts make up an estimated 25% to 40% of the population, there are still many misconceptions about this personality type. It is also important to note that being an introvert does not mean that you are socially anxious or shy.
Independence. Unique and fiercely independent, introverts are more inclined to let their own inner resources guide them than follow the crowd. We do our best work — and are our happiest — when we have the freedom to explore ideas, spend time alone, and be self-directed and independent.
They are observant and great listeners.
On the contrary, introverts have attractive qualities because they're active listeners. They speak less and listen more, which gets people interested in them. What makes introverts attractive is their ability to observe beyond the words people speak.
Introverts get annoyed by small talk. Since conversations require energy, they often prefer conversations that allow them to go deeper in their relationships with other people. Small talk and vapid conversations about the weather and current events can seem tedious, draining, and even annoying.
While introverts are generally likely to report lower levels of happiness than extroverts, this does not mean that introverts are unhappy. Ultimately, it's important to note the happiness benefits of both introverted and extroverted behavior, no matter where you fall on the spectrum.
Whether it's making small talk to the point of feeling drained or just having a busy day at work, life can be exhausting for both introverts and highly sensitive people. It's not unusual for them to feel quite tired and mentally fatigued at the end of the day, and they may even need more sleep than others.
Introverts struggle with the fast pace of many organizations and offices without walls can be rough for introverts who prefer to go inward to do their best thinking. If you're an introvert, you struggle with finding quiet time to gather your thoughts, particularly at brainstorming meetings.
In a post on Quiet Revolution, Cain confirms what you've probably suspected all along—we act more “introverted” as we age. Psychologists call this phenomenon “intrinsic maturation,” and it means our personalities become more balanced as we get older—“a kind of fine wine that mellows with age,” writes Cain.
This means that introverts may process more information per second than extroverts, which helps explain why introverts are prone to overthinking.
Because they are naturally very observant and thoughtful, introverts are also excellent listeners. Great leaders don't just talk, they listen intently — to their employees, consumers, and anyone else around them. They're vocal about their ideas but are also open to feedback and change.
Overall findings show introverts are more vulnerable than extroverts to depression and decreased mental well-being. Introverts are more likely to be compliant and have lower self-esteem than extroverts, and also have less social support than extroverts, which can be detrimental when experiencing depression.
In short, no. While introverts may need more rest or time to recover following social events, they don't need any more sleep than the average adult does. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you will always need between 7 and 9 hours of good quality sleep nightly to be at your best.