With every bone in my body, I have wished for the ability to carry an endless conversation with a stranger, to stay up late nights getting no more than four hours of sleep and to have the ability to receive energy from being around groups of people. Life would be so much more electrifying, freeing and might even have a touch of mystery. This all is one huge pipe dream for me, however, because all the aforementioned qualities oppose the most obvious reality in my own life: the fact that I am the stereotypical introvert. Don’t misunderstand me, being an introvert has incredible upsides, for instance taking naps, thinking deeply and scarcely being bored. But taking naps is kind of the best part. Here are some crystal clear signs and tips to know that you're an introvert.
1. You hate your phone.
I mean you actually wish your phone didn’t exist. Everything from GroupMe, to Instagram and even just plain old iMessage. You’ve realized that there simply aren't enough hours in the day to text everyone back, and there are too many updates to keep up with. Perhaps the only redeeming value in your phone are two settings -- Do Not Disturb and if you're gutsy, airplane mode (I frequently use both of these).
2. Large groups make you shut down.
Being in a large group is like being a fish out of water. Who should I talk to? How long should we talk? It’s too loud. All these thoughts are kindled in an inner dialogue and you’re probably just counting down the seconds until you can watch Netflix. It’s not that large groups are inherently bad, it’s just that you really would rather not be required to attend.
3. You are incredibly observant.
This isn't to say that extroverts are exempt. However, introverts are extremely mindful of their surroundings. Something as simple as counting the number of red shirts in a room or how many people you ran into that said they were “good” that day. This can often become a hindrance in living simply, but being observant also means you are probably rarely bored.
4. Small talk is the death of you.
Small talk is perhaps the most inevitable bummer in your day to day life. Although it’s incredibly easy to fake your way through a conversation of small talk, but you'd probably rather cut the rhetorical niceties of small talk and discuss something that matters. Getting to the real conversation is the most welcomed aspect of relationships. When the banter stops and the down to earth conversation starts, you often find that this is one of the qualities of being an introvert that truly gives you energy.
5. Time alone is priceless.
At least for me, I count down the days when I can spend a day to myself to go for a drive, or golf, or even read a book. Where time alone can be spent twiddling thumbs for most people, introverts would probably pay to have this luxury. Although this might sound lonely, these days have become the most productive days of my month. They help you gather your thoughts and ultimately reenergize for another week.
