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- How to recharge your work & social batteries
Welcome to The Introverted Path!
In today’s email:
Why is recharging important?
Tactics to recharge your work and social batteries 🔋
Links to other content I enjoyed this week
Let’s dive in 🤙
Why is recharging your batteries important?
Let’s recall from last week the definition of an introvert:
“Someone who prefers calm, minimally stimulating environments. Introverts tend to feel drained after socializing and regain their energy by spending time alone.”
One of the common traits across introverts is that we can easily feel drained by social situations. And this can be true for extroverts as well.
The reality is some people thrive in social situations, some enjoy them in moderation, and others try to avoid them altogether.
I fall squarely in the middle camp: I enjoy them in moderation. I would bet most introverts are in the same boat. Now, not all social situations are made the same.
When I am with a group of close friends, I typically have plenty of energy. These are people I am comfortable with. There isn’t as much pressure or BS small talk.
If I am attending a work conference or large social gathering, it can be much more exhausting. Meeting people for the first time, trying to navigate group conversations, and deciding what to do with your hands can all be overwhelming.
The 🐐 race car driver, Ricky Bobby.
I’ve found some habits that have really helped to keep me recharged and in the right mindset. Some of these I am still working to incorporate more regularly. Others, I make a habit to do daily.
5 ways to recharge 🔌
1. Walks outside
One of the things that has become a staple in my daily routine is finding time to walk outside. When the weather is nice, I’ll get up early before I start my work day. If you can’t do that, look at your calendar the night before and find 30-45 minutes that works for you. It is one of the most simple things you can do, but in my opinion it is the most effective.
A bonus for getting up and walking in the morning is that studies have shown getting sunlight early in your day is great for your circadian rhythm and helps your sleep patterns. Dr. Andrew Huberman has been shedding a lot of light on this topic lately (pun intended).
Pro tip: Try leaving your phone at home when walking. I enjoy listening to podcasts or music when I walk, but sometimes leaving my phone at home provides a relief from the anxiety of constantly getting messages.
2. Books > social media
Remember how I said some of these habits I am still working on? Reading is one of those things we all know is good for us, but it is hard to get started.
There was a study that looked across 200 self-made millionaires and found that 86% had a regular reading habit. Not to say we all need to model our lives after millionaires, but I do think it is telling that this group of successful people all prioritized reading.
I’ve found that reading fiction books has helped to get me back into reading. Recently I have finished a number of science fiction books that keep me entertained. After doing that, non-fiction has become easier to get through.
Something else I have started doing is noticing every time I reach for my phone. Instead of just involuntarily grabbing it, make a point to think before you do it. And then ask yourself if you really need to look at something, or if your time could be better served doing something else, like reading.
3. Exercise
Exercise refills my cup more than anything else. I grew up playing all kinds of sports and have worked out consistently since I was in high school. Exercise boosts your feel-good endorphins and can help take your mind off daily stresses.
I have been big into hot yoga for the last few years and cannot recommend it enough. It really strikes all of the things I am looking for as an introvert: isolation, movement, and self-reflection. When you are going through the practice, it is only you and your mat. Nothing else to distract you. This has allowed my focus and productivity to greatly increase during my work days.
It sounds counterintuitive, but research has shown that physical activity boosts your energy. When I exercise during the day, I also find it much easier to fall asleep at night.
4. The power of saying ‘No’
Feeling empowered to say ‘no’ is one of the most liberating things you can do.
We’ve all been there - you get invited to something and you’re indifferent about it. You had been planning to hang out at home all night, but you’re feeling peer pressured because all your friends are going. Maybe you end up going, but are just thinking how you would rather be relaxing at home.
This applies to both social and work situations. Knowing when you have enough on your plate and not taking on new work projects is a crucial skill as well. If you spread yourself too thin, you end up doing a bunch of things average, versus doing a few things great.
I love this quote from James Clear 👇️
“In other words, saying no saves you time in the future. Saying yes costs you time in the future. No is a form of time credit. You retain the ability to spend your future time however you want. Yes is a form of time debt. You have to pay back your commitment at some point.”
5. Cooking 👨🍳👩🍳
One of the things that helped to keep me sane during the COVID lockdowns was cooking. My girlfriend and I would pick out different recipes and spend 1-2 hours each night cooking. This is a great way to decompress after a work day as well.
This also doesn’t need to be a multi-step dinner recipe. I’ll frequently throw on a podcast when I go to make breakfast and enjoy the alone time. This allows me to step away into my own zone for a bit.
My thoughts 💭
These are just some tools that work for me. The key is to find what works for you and try to incorporate that into your life. By allowing time for ourselves, it makes us better prepared for more social situations.
If I know I have a wedding on a Saturday that will occupy my whole day, you can bet I’m on the couch watching a movie on Friday night. That way I am recharged and ready for a big social event like a wedding.
And when I do that, I find I’m much more excited for that big activity.
Challenge for the week 🧠
If an appropriate opportunity arises, practice saying ‘no’. Protect your time, it is the most scarce resource we have on this planet 🌎️
Links that I enjoyed this week 💥
That’s it for today - hope you enjoyed this weeks newsletter!
Next week’s preview: Introverts as leaders, and examples from recent history
Best,
BG