One of the hardest things to explain to people is a process that has been coined “recharging”. Recharging explains what a lot of introverts have to do after being around people for a long period of time. For me, after a long day of being in lecture halls with dozens of people or just being surrounded by people all day, I find myself looking for alone time.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being around people a lot of the time and socializing and all that good stuff.
But I do have my limit. And when it’s reached it’s time to recharge.
There’s a lot of reasons for this “recharging” that many introverts have to do. Some say it’s the result of overstimulation, having to socialize for a long period of time without a break. Michelle Connolly called it “psychological claustrophobia”, where you feel like you’ve been surrounded by a lot of people and under so much social pressure that you just need to find some alone time.
In these cases, you have to find out how to get all the energy that was lost back.
For me, being in my room for a little while and reading or listening to music works. Recharging is different for everyone but what’s important is that you take the time you need to do it. It can be hard to say no to plans that your friends invite you to, especially when it seems like everyone else is going and having fun. But always remember to put you and your mental health first. You’ll thank yourself that you did.
