Introverts everywhere would agree that life is a constant balancing act. We enjoy going out, hanging with friends, attending concerts and events -- but it quickly saps our energy. The toughest part is that oftentimes, extroverts don't understand how these activities can make us so tired. To make matters worse, most of the people we interact with have misconceptions about what it even means to be "introverted." From two textbook introverts, here are a few things you should know about us:
1. Being an introvert does not equal being shy.
"There's no way you're an introvert, you're so outgoing!" Contrary to popular belief, outgoing introverts exist -- and are a lot more common than you'd think! Introvert is not synonymous with "shy" and extrovert does not mean "outgoing." Introvert/extrovert are simply ways of describing whether or not a person is energized from spending time alone versus spending time with friends.
2. Small talk is to be avoided at all costs.
Small talk is utterly painful. We would much rather have meaningful conversations with people we know instead of forced chit-chat with strangers.
3. We. Hate. Crowds.
One of the most frustrating things ever is when we're hanging with a couple of good friends and then more people join. Suddenly, we feel like we can't get a word in edgewise and end up spending the rest of the evening quietly listening to everyone else joke around. If you're an introvert you've probably found yourself in a similar situation, but don't worry, you're not alone!
4. Very stimulating situations are absolutely exhausting.
Concerts, parties, dances (prom, especially) oftentimes make us so worn out that we are physically ill the next day. That's why we have to prep beforehand. Caffeine, naps, and ibuprofen are our best friends.
5. We hate being asked, "Do you even talk?"
YES WE TALK, but not to people we don't know! Just ask our BFFs -- they'll probably complain about how there's no shutting us up once we get going.
6. We can be leaders, too.
We might not be the loudest in the room, but a lot of us love being in charge! The difference is that we usually lead by example rather than with our words.
7. Our social lives are a balancing act of wanting to stay in, but knowing we should go out.
We really do love spending time with our friends and going out to parties, but every invite comes with the same internal argument: do we go out or stay home watching Netflix? Our alone time is a huge energy booster and truly invaluable.
8. People assume you're standoffish when really you're just brooding.
Oftentimes, our resting face is confused with disinterest, anger, or sometimes even confusion. About 99 percent of the time, we're actually just listening intently, or we're lost in our own thoughts. Either way, don't take our resting face personally!
9. You hate showing up to events alone.
Before we show up to any sort of social event, we have to know all of the details. Who's going to be there? What's an appropriate time to show up? What do we wear? If we don't walk in the front door with someone we know, we at least have to know ahead of time if someone familiar will be there when we arrive.
10. Being introverted is often viewed negatively by society.
Because most people use the words "introvert" and "shy" interchangeably, being an introvert is not usually considered a favorable personality trait. One of the worst things ever for us introverts is when people try to get us to "break out of our shell" as if that will somehow turn us into extroverts. Sorry, everyone, but that's not how it works.
Introverts know better than anyone that there's nothing like than curling up on the couch, sipping hot cocoa, and watching movies. Despite the struggle, we love who we are and wouldn't want it any other way.
