Working full time as an introvert...
Lately I've been finding it increasingly more difficult to get through a five day working week without feeling socially and mentally drained.
As an introvert I have benefited from working from home once a week (as I've mentioned in a previous post) giving myself time to recharge and focus in a familiar environment, thus allowing me to operate at max capacity in the office.
As of late however I've been needing to be in the office more often than not and haven't had the opportunity to do so.
By mid week i'm already starting to feel the effects of being social; by the end of the week it's clear i'll need to spend my weekend recovering from the energy exertion of constantly being around people.
I've been looking at improving my mental well being in order to build up my social resilience.
Although movies often portray eating lunch alone in a bad light (the Mean Girls lunch scene springs to mind) I've actually found it really helpful to take half an hour out of my day just to breath and unwind. No phone, no social media, no people - just sitting alone with my thoughts and taking the time to enjoy my meal.
Granted, some days it can mean I dread going back to a buzzing office environment; however more often than not the time alone has topped up my social tank and given me a bit of a boost to tackle the rest of the day.
Another idea I've been toying with is meditation.
Introverts are known for being comfortable inside their own thoughts and so after a long day of being around people I crave this calm. I have found that meditating even for five minutes at the end of the day helps me to switch off and the peace of being alone with my own thoughts helps me to feel refreshed.
I'm on day four of meditating and I can already feel a difference in myself, and a more noticeable calm around socialising at work.
As an introvert, I know i'm always going to find it difficult to be around people for such a large period of time and so finding ways to help myself recharge is key to ensure I am performing at my best.
I'd love to know how other introverts recharge and manage their energy levels when working full time, and I hope my coping strategies are helpful to any introverts out there that experience similar struggles.
Get some head space,
Illesse x
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