What do you need to recharge and feel refreshed and renewed?
Chances are good you may know if you tend toward extroversion or introversion.
Introverts tend to need time alone to recharge their batteries.
Extroverts prefer to spend time with others to fill up their gas tanks.
Ambiverts need a balanced amount of alone time vs. time with others.
We are all wired differently and we all need different things to fill up our cups. It’s important to remember that what you need may be different from what others around you require to feel fulfilled and nourished.
This past weekend turned out to be the perfect weekend for my little family. Because we weren’t together but we each had our needs met!
In my family, we have 2 extroverts and 1 introvert. It can make for a challenging dynamic on weekends when we are deciding what to do. Two of us (me and Riley) want to be out and about in the world and one of us wants to do solo projects and have his own schedule (poor hubby gets outnumbered most of the time!).
My daughter, the most extroverted of the three of us, got to spend the weekend with her grandmother who lavishes her with attention. My mother-in-law invited my daughter to come visit her for a few days in Bristol, Tennessee. They had a blast visiting with neighbors and cousins and doing non-stop super fun activities that only grandmothers have the patience for (let’s make 3 different kinds of pancakes—with peanut butter, with Nutella, with strawberry jam—and see which ones we like the best!). My daughter came back happy and energized from all of that interaction!
Meanwhile, my husband, the lone introvert in the family, enjoyed a quiet weekend at home by himself. He enjoyed going to the farmers market, doing yard work, running errands, and he even took himself to a local brewery and watched a game on TV. He didn’t connect with any friends or even family members. He just enjoyed quiet time to himself because that’s what he needed.
The extrovert in me treasured hanging out with some of my best friends in the world in my heart-home of Asheville, NC. We went hiking, ate great food together, enjoyed cocktails, and wandered around downtown. We went to some of my favorite places including Mast General Store, Tops for Shoes, Chevron Trading Post, The French Broad Chocolate Factory, and the River Arts District where I got to see and hang out with one of my favorite artists, Lori Portka. We stayed up late into the nights talking about the important things in life…love, friendships, spirituality, creativity, and community. I returned home with a happy heart!
Now I wouldn’t want to spend every weekend spread apart like that because I love spending time with my little family, but from time-to-time, splitting up and getting each of our own needs met is beneficial for the whole family! When we reconnected, everybody had a full gas tank again. Woo-hoo!
So, think about yourself and the people that you connect with regularly—whether it’s your life partner, your kids, your parents, your neighbors, or your best friends. What do they need to recharge and what do you need to recharge? Plan your time and activities accordingly and see how it helps to bolster the important relationships in your life.
5 Ways for Introverts to Recharge When You’re “All Peopled Out”
- Create your own schedule—not one dictated by other’s needs.
- Enjoy alone time and being an observer vs. feeling like you have to participate.
- Go for a hike or walk alone.
- Stay home and read, watch TV, listen to music, or meditate.
- Hang out with a select small group of friends—maybe just one or two others.
5 Ways for Extroverts to Recharge When You’re Feeling Depleted
- Plan a regular get together with friends or family.
- Attend a weekly exercise class or participate in a team sport.
- Talk on the phone with your friends—don’t just text. Video calls are even better!
- Go to a concert, a movie, a restaurant, or a mall. Be around the energy of others to lift your vibration
- Volunteer to help out at social events at work, at school, at church, or in your neighborhood. Being around others while helping others creates a win-win!
What’s one thing you’re going to commit to as a recharge ritual in the coming week? Leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to cheer you on!
Elizabeth
P.S. If you struggle with your self-care and meeting your own needs, why are you tolerating that? Stop it! I can help you put yourself first again with a powerful coaching session to help you get unstuck and help you put yourself back at the top of your priority list! Let’s talk!