They may feel awkward or out of place in large groups. They may also find small talk to be difficult or uncomfortable. Additionally, introverts require alone time to rejuvenate their social energy and may be less interested in attending social events. This can make it challenging to meet new people and make friends.
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.
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.
In reality, introverts deeply value their friendships but also need quiet and alone time to recharge after being social. Being friends with an introvert can be difficult, especially for people who are naturally more outgoing, but it can still be deeply rewarding.
Perhaps the toughest part of being an introvert is not so much talking about yourself, but rather wishing you were better at talking about yourself.
Seek out comfortable people and comfortable places
Introverts prefer to stay in their comfort zones, Dr. Helgoe said, and they also like spending time with “comfortable people,” meaning friends who don't feel compelled to talk the entire time you are together (or expect you to).
For introverts, being alone is like food, sleep, or any other type of replenishment — you can't go too long without it. 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.
Introverts can experience a bit of anxiety when they need to speak in social situations. Introducing themselves, talking to a stranger or public speaking are mentally draining for them. These are the examples of a definitely stressful situation out of their comfort zone.
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.
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.
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.
The popular belief, however, lacks openness in the cultural definition of introversion. The introverts prone to have spontaneous inside conversations are deemed as “anti-social” or “unwilling to cooperate;” those quiet but internally enriching people are stigmatized as “having nothing to contribute” in group work.
If you're an introvert, you struggle with finding quiet time to gather your thoughts, particularly at brainstorming meetings. Find quiet places to think, and take breaks just for a change of scenery and a chance to gather your thoughts. Ask for agendas prior for meetings to help you prepare your key points.
Introverts prefer calm, quiet surroundings and tend to feel depleted after social interaction. They recharge their energy by spending time alone or focused inwardly. Extroverts prefer exciting, lively surrounding and tend to seek out social interaction as a way to recharge their energy.
Being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean you're socially awkward, but the two do sometimes overlap. Certainly, as in my case, the fear of feeling anxious and awkward in social settings can cause us to lean into our introversion.
Not all introverts are the same.
Whenever we think of introverts, we usually think of someone with a shy nature, who is not quite chatty or talkative. Yet, some introverts seem to be pretty talkative. Still, this kind of introvert needs personal time to recharge their batteries.
Introverts are more likely to be effective leaders in organizations that encourage workers to contribute ideas. Introverts' listening skills may draw top results from their teams. 7 Introverts also are observant, noticing details and connections others may not—including contributions that other introverts can make.
Introverts rely on alone time to recharge their social batteries, self-reflect, and process the experiences they have with others. Without proper amounts of alone time, introverts can begin to experience irritability, fatigue, poor sleep, and trouble concentrating.
One of the main reasons some introverts don't like texting is because they don't like small talk — and that includes small talk through texting. When I'm talking to someone about a deep topic or something I'm passionate about, then texting doesn't feel like a burden.
How much alone time does an introvert need? The average amount of alone time needed by an introvert to experience a high sense of well-being is 5-6 hours daily. 68 percent of people( including extroverts) report having gotten (on average) only 3 hours of rest the previous day. This is according to “The Rest Test”.
“Introverts and extroverts are attracted to each other because of the differences,” says Ross. And, in some ways, this can work really well, like when the more introverted person feels like they need more social appointments on their calendar, or when the extroverted person is feeling overwhelmed by their commitments.
Introverts thrive in professions that offer them plenty of space and independence. Most introverts perform better in workplaces with fewer external distractions. Good jobs for introverts include accounting, engineering, and technical writing.