I am a bona fide introvert. I need my alone time, and sometimes people don't understand that. I go to class all day for two days a week, and on the days I'm not in class, I work all day at a job where I am constantly talking to people. Being around people for such a long period of time literally every day is draining. After all of that interaction, I need time alone. It's not that I don't like people or that I don't like being around people, but the energy it takes for me to be personable and engaged all day is draining, and I need to recharge by being alone for a little while. It may not make sense to people who aren't introverts, but I promise it's not just me.
I love social interaction, I really do. But I can only handle so much of it. There comes a point in the day where talking to more people will put me in a bad mood. It's not that I'm trying to be mean or unfriendly -- it's actually the opposite. By spending time alone, I am sparing you the tired and weary conversation that would inevitably come out of me pushing my social limits. I know myself, and I know when I need to retreat to my comfort zone and just sit in silence. I need alone time, so I can recharge and get ready for my next social encounter.
Being an introvert is not all about being a party-pooper who loves to be alone. When I am out and about with friends, I am so lively and energetic. I love parties and group hangouts, but the best part about being an introvert is that I also love just sitting around doing nothing but watching Netflix in the dark. There's nothing wrong with us introverts -- we just interact with the world differently than our extroverted counterparts. Introversion isn't simply about being shy and nervous around people, and that's a common misconception. Being an introvert is all about how you respond to different situations in the world around you.
Honestly, small talk frightens me. I would much rather sit down and have a deep, intellectual conversation with one person than have mini conversations with five different people. Because of this, I know a few people very well rather than knowing a ton of people on a surface level. The best part of being an introvert, for me, is never being bored when I am alone. I am content with spending time by myself; whether it's writing or reading or just sitting in silence, I find out new things about myself. So, basically, if you have an introvert as a friend, don't be offended if they need some alone time. It's not personal against you (most of the time) -- their alone time is just how they recharge from too much social activity. Most of society is catered to the more extroverted crowd, so grant us introverts our alone time.
