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Alone, Not Lonely: Solo Activities that Help Introverts Thrive

by Guest
August 6th, 2020

As the novel coronavirus has made its trip around the globe, worldwide lockdowns have suddenly turned us all into introverts, whether we like it or not. But if you’re a natural-born introvert, social distancing isn’t a burden borne of the pandemic. It’s a mental and spiritual necessity.

Unlike those who’ve been forced to isolate out of fear of the virus, we introverts are uniquely equipped to understand and appreciate the pleasures of solitude. But even for us, the stresses of the pandemic may have become a bit wearing.

And that means you may be finding yourself struggling in your work and your home life, especially if you are telecommuting while you shelter-in-place. It might well be, in fact, that working from home and isolating at home has, paradoxically, taken you away from the solo activities that you used to turn to recharge your batteries and revitalize your spirit.

This article will give you some tips and tricks to rediscover the solitude you need to help you live your best home and work life, even under lockdown.

Get Out There

Even if your community is still on lockdown, that doesn’t mean you can’t get outside and into nature. Studies show that being out in nature makes you happier, more focused, and far less stressed.

And in the age of coronavirus, feeling calmer and more centered is a prescription we all need. After all, with the constant anxiety over the fear of the virus, combined with the pressures of suddenly learning to work, learn, and socialize entirely from home, we’re all, extraverts and introverts alike, starting to bounce off the walls a little bit.

The important thing, though, is to be prepared when you take your outdoor adventure. Make sure you pack the appropriate gear and supplies for your wilderness excursion, and always let people know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone.

Get a Hobby

As hard as life under lockdown might be, even for us introverts, it’s certainly not without its advantages. There’s never going to be a better time than now to learn something or to pick up a new hobby.

You might never have considered metal detecting, for instance, but it’s actually a perfect pastime for introverts. You get to learn interesting new facts about all sorts of things, from geology and biology to electronics and meteorology.

Best of all, you never know when you’re going to stumble on buried treasure — or at least a neat artifact or two!

And if you’re more into indoor hobbies, the options are pretty much endless there too! It’s all a matter of figuring out where your interests and your passions lie.

Love music? Why not learn to play an instrument? Always been a bookworm? Why not try your hand at writing fiction or poetry? Love beautiful art? Grab a canvas and some paints and start creating!

Get Your Tech On

Thriving as an introvert under lockdown means that you’re probably going to have to turn to the same tools that your extraverted counterparts are using to get through the day-to-day. Instant messaging and video conferencing tools, such as Slack and Zoom, are amazing resources for helping you get what little bit of a socializing fix you might need to feel your best. And they’re particularly useful when it comes to telework. They allow you to keep in touch with your colleagues as needed throughout your virtual workday without your becoming so overwhelmed that your energy and focus are drained away.

The Takeaway

It might seem ironic that introverts could be struggling nearly as much as extraverts with life under lockdown. But it’s happening. And that’s making nearly every aspect of daily living all that much harder. The good news is that there are fun solo activities that you can enjoy right now. They’ll help you recharge your mental and spiritual batteries. They’ll help you support the extraverts in your life as they cope with the solitude you’ve always loved. And they’ll help you to regain that focus and motivation you need to do your job, whether you’re working remotely or on-site.

Image by mattlewisid from Pixabay

Indiana Lee is a writer and journalist from the Pacific Northwest with a passion for covering business, social justice, environmental protection, and more. In her off time you can find her reading in her hammock or hiking with her dogs. You are welcome to follow her on Twitter or reach her at indianaleewrites@gmail.com.

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Social Distancing: Introverts, we’re up!

by Hazel Thornton
March 12th, 2020

Social distancingAlmost overnight, social distancing has become a household term. If you haven’t heard yet, it’s a bona fide method of slowing down the spread of disease, namely the Coronavirus (COVID-19). And it has an entire Wikipedia page devoted to it! (If you look at nothing else on the page while you’re there, don’t miss the terrific Flatten The Curve GIF.) Social distancing helps flatten the epidemic curve, so that even if many people fall ill they won’t do it all at once, and won’t overwhelm our medical facilities and resources.

Team Introvert, we're up! Time to help extraverts adjust to Social Distancing during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Click To Tweet

Most of the introverts I know, upon first hearing the term social distancing, shouted in unison (to themselves): I’ve been training for this moment all my life!

And most of the extraverts groaned: Ugh, I’m doomed!

So, Team Introvert, we’re up!

This is our chance to help our poor extraverted loved ones adjust to their newly-imposed exile.

It won’t be easy — there are as many drawbacks as there are benefits of social distancing — but I think we’re up to it, don’t you?

Benefits of social distancing:

  • More time at home doing whatever we already love doing — reading, writing, making art, cuddling with our cats (you know, all the stereotypical introvert stuff)
  • Free pass to avoid social gatherings — no questions asked!
  • Slows the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other communicable diseases

Drawbacks of social distancing:

  • More time at home than we may want. Even introverts need to socialize sometimes! (Have you found your socializing sweet spot?)
  • The extraverts we live with may be bouncing off the walls. (Maybe some of these houseguest tips will help everyone get along.)
  • The extraverts we care about (whether or not we live with them) may need help adjusting to their new lifestyle.

Help your extraverted friends out

  • Suggest ways they can entertain themselves if they get bored.
  • Share informative resources that you have been quietly researching all along.
  • Show them how to download an e-book or audiobook from the library.
  • Tell them about your favorite shopping and food delivery apps that they may not know about yet.
  • Remind them they can still go outside for exercise, or gather in small, well-ventilated groups for social relief.
  • Show them how to network and be productive while working at home, if you (and they) have that luxury.

Take care of one another

  • Reach out to friends and family via email, social media, or — gasp! — telephone. I know, I know….hear me out….if this period of social distancing is prolonged, you might even consider scheduling a regular call or — double gasp! — a video chat. Weekly…daily….it depends on the situation. It may make them less anxious to know how often they can expect to hear from you, and it gives everyone something to look forward to. You can catch up, reassure one another you’re OK, and check to see what either of you might need.
  • Look in on your elderly neighbors. Wherever they fall on the introvert-extravert spectrum they may need help and be reluctant to ask for it.

We’ve got this!

We’ve got skills, and it’s time to support our less introverted friends and family during this health crisis.

What other ways — serious and also just for fun — can you think of that introverts can come to the rescue?

Please share them with us in the comments below.

Rememer: Keep calm….and wash your hands!

Hazel Thornton is a professional organizer and genealogist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico; creator of The Clutter Flow Chart Collection; and author of Go with the Flow! The Clutter-Clearing Tool Kit for an Organized Life. Visit her online at www.org4life.com.

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