Do abbreviations like ENTP, INFJ or ISFP seem familiar to you? These are Myers-Briggs Type Indicators, and you have probably seen someone set one of these as their Instagram or Twitter bio. The first letter indicates whether you are an introvert or an extrovert. Although, people often misunderstand that you are either an introvert OR an extrovert.
The reality is that everyone is introverted and extroverted. It’s just that we all have a preference for one over the other. It’s also true that a lot of introverts present themselves as extroverts, and other people mistake them as such. Maybe these people even believe that they’re extroverts.
Battery Drainage
The most telltale sign that you’re an introvert is that you have to recharge your social battery after being around people, even those that you’re comfortable with. This is because introverts get their energy from being by themselves. According to Carl Jung, the psychologist who proposed the theory of introversion and extraversion, introverts focus more on their internal world. While the stereotype is that introverts are wallflowers who are usually alone, you enjoy socializing, but you feel drained at the end of the day. Meeting new people makes you feel even more drained, and you dread the thought of having to engage in small talk.
Party of One
Another sign that you’re an introvert is that you prefer to be in your own company. Don’t get me wrong, introverts enjoy spending time with friends, but instead of going out, your idea of a good time is spending your day at home reading a good book or catching up on your favorite series. Doing these things is crucial to recharge and feel energized. Extroverts, on the contrary, don’t appreciate downtime and get bored being by themselves.
Thinking Before Speaking
Someone’s first impression of you might have been that you were intimidating or unapproachable. It’s not that you’re a snob, it’s that you have an internal monologue about the right things to say. People who don’t know you would describe you as quiet and shy. Introverts are often reserved and calculated. You like to fade into the background than be in the center of attention. Fading into the background makes you feel comfortable since you can observe people from a distance and adjust how you act.
If you find yourself contemplating on whether you should answer someone’s call or not, you’re an introvert. You probably let your phone ring a few times to mentally prepare yourself for the conversation. The same goes for your messages. You see the notification, read the message, but you don’t reply until later when you have the energy to.
The Need to Disappear
Hectic schedules and busy environments leave you feeling disoriented and overwhelmed. Too much socializing and chasing deadlines stresses you out and you feel the need to balance this with solitude. You tend to avoid situations that involve too much stimulation.
Pay attention to whether you’re expending or gaining energy from being around other people or being in social situations. If you find yourself relating to these signs, look out for yourself. It’s okay to say no to things.