World Introvert Day

Hey guys,

Today is World Introvert Day so a massive shout-out to all of the wonderful introverts out there!

I did one of those Myers Briggs tests for work once (it was in aid of a team-building collaborative work day) and found out that introversion and extraversion aren't about whether you're shy or outgoing, they're all about where you get your energy from.

Introverts are (from a social energy perspective) self-sufficient. They can replenish their energy stones in total isolation from those around them (which I think is pretty amazing). Apparently (as an extrovert), I gain energy from being around other people which seems like a great thing. I'm a pretty gregarious gal so the hypothesis rang true to me but I've come to realise two very important things.

1) I'm a bookish content creator BECAUSE I'm an extrovert!

Honestly, I now think that I started making bookish content (on TikTok) as a way of interacting with people (and replenishing my energy stones) remotely.

I found lockdown really isolating and became incredibly jealous of those who seemed to be breezing through the enforced isolation with ease (who I can now identify as introverts who managed to thrive whilst I seemed to flounder). I really started feeling low and was practically chomping at the bit here in my house.

From the moment I started interacting with 'the bookish folks' online I saw a notable improvement in how I felt. I'd come away from my own comments section feel invigorated and found that communicating with people in this new manner made me start feeling like my old self again.

2) Extroverts can burn out too.

Since I've started paying attention to the way that interacting with other people makes me feel, I've noticed that I do actually start to 'bum out' when my social battery is low. I think it has to do with energy gained vs. energy expended.

When I'm around people irl I can feel myself expending energy - like I'm entertaining them and there's an energy bar above myself that's ticking down.

Now, no one insists that I entertain them. I just feel pressure to come across as interesting and engaging and I know that that's totally on me and not from anyone else.

This creates a big paradox for me where I need to be around other people to recharge my energy stores but find myself expending energy whenever I'm around others irl.

Connecting with people remotely does seem to keep me licking over nicely though, and I think it actually makes the quality of my in-person interactions better too!

To conclude, I guess I'm pretty jealous of introverts in some senses and not in others. I wish I could be as self-sufficient as they are but also wouldn't have felt the need to find this online community of fellow book lovers if I'd been anything other than the bookish extrovert that I am.

I'm sure that most people assume that all readers have to be introverts but I guess I'm here proving those people wrong.

So, here's to being an extrovert surrounded by (and sustained by) all of the wonderful bookish introverts out there. You all amaze me!

xoxo Christiecloggs xoxo