There's no doubt about it: Introverts love alone time. And it's not just about relishing an evening alone — introverts need regular solitude to function. Alone time is when we quietly process life, enjoy unaccompanied activities (like reading), and recharge our batteries away from life.
How much alone time does an introvert need? The average amount of alone time needed by an introvert to experience a high sense of well-being is 5-6 hours daily. 68 percent of people( including extroverts) report having gotten (on average) only 3 hours of rest the previous day.
Contrary to popular opinion, hanging out alone can mean all sorts of fun activities. It may not be the most favorite thing for an extrovert to do, but an introverted person will enjoy every single minute of a chill, at-home activity such as reading a book or watching a movie alone.
While too much socializing is overwhelming, solitude is intrinsic to regaining that spent energy. After being alone, introverts feel strengthened and restored, ready to face the world again (or at least Zoom). No one, regardless of their personality, can bounce around all the time.
These findings go against the stereotype that introverts are happiest when they are alone. The fact of the matter is that meeting and spending time with others is a happier state than being alone. Not only that, but also when introverts act extroverted, they also report being happier as well.
Introverts are not the type to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Instead, we often have our guard up, and it can take a lot of one-on-one time for us to finally let down those walls. This can make dating difficult, especially when the other person wants to know more than we're willing to share.
According to a study published by the Health Psychology journal, introverts are more likely to suffer from sleep deprivation than extroverts are. They are also more likely to have a lot of nightmares or periods of wakefulness. Because of this, introverts are more likely to feel more tired or less alert during the day.
However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances. Despite this preference, introverts are often criticized for not attempting to make more friends, and are often viewed as lacking social skills.
2. Observing Versus Seeking. It's not that introverts don't want attention; they just don't seek it out like extroverts. Introverts are observers rather than attention seekers, which is very useful in making people feel heard...
Overall findings show introverts are more vulnerable than extraverts to depression and decreased mental well-being. Introverts are more likely to be compliant and have lower self-esteem than extraverts, and also have less social support than extraverts, which can be detrimental when experiencing depression.
Introverts are easily distracted by external stimuli and while they might be too nice to say anything, get very frustrated with constant interruptions when they are trying to concentrate.
You feel really tired or extra anxious.
Since introverts get their energy from being alone, too much time around people is incredibly draining, and over time, it can take a tremendous toll. Social exhaustion might show up as severe fatigue, extreme anxiety, crying more often, or resentment.
If an introvert doesn't get that, their energy levels deteriorate, leading to mental and emotional (as well as physical) exhaustion. This can lead to feelings of numbness, irritability, or depression. Too much socializing and insufficient alone time is similar to too much work and too little self-care and playtime.
You might feel physically tired, stressed, angry, or irritable. Social exhaustion can feel like hitting a wall. You may feel as if you don't have the energy to get out of bed, let alone be in a room with other people.
But simply put, introverts just aren't as interested in pursuing the things that extroverts chase. Having a less active dopamine reward system also means that introverts may find certain levels of stimulation — like noise and activity — to be punishing and tiring.
Overwhelm can happen to anyone, but it's a bit more common for introverts and highly sensitive people to find themselves in an overwhelming situation. If you're an introvert, you're naturally wired to lose energy when socializing or in busier environments.
Are introverts clingy? Introversion isn't a sign of clinginess either way, explains Aaron. An introverted person can be clingy or prefer distance, same as any non-introverted person.
This means that introverts may process more information per second than extroverts, which helps explain why introverts are prone to overthinking.
This means introverts may process more information than extroverts per second, which helps explain why introverts may be prone to overthinking.
Studies have found that introverts get more easily distracted than their extroverted counterparts. Because of this, they might be annoyed when someone steps into their office for a quick chat. They also get annoyed by interruptions when they speak. Extroverts are often guilty of interrupting others while talking.
Studies showed that introverts tend to have lower self-esteem than extraverts (Bown and Richek, 1969; Tolor, 1975; Cheng and Furnham, 2003; Swickert et al., 2004).
Independence. Unique and fiercely independent, introverts are more inclined to let their own inner resources guide them than follow the crowd. We do our best work — and are our happiest — when we have the freedom to explore ideas, spend time alone, and be self-directed and independent.
Morning types are more concrete, logical, introverted and self-controlled. Evening types are more creative, risk-taking, independent and impulsive.
Casual sex is sometimes a no-go.
In other words, according to Dembling, introverts “like to jump into the deep end.” Rather than devoting their time and social energy to someone they're never going to see again, introverts commonly favor being around those they've cultivated an intimate, personal relationship with.
Introverts tend to draw energy from going inwards and being on our own whereas as extroverts tend to draw energy from things that are external to their mind. That is why overly stimulating environments can be energy draining for introverts, leaving us feeling tired, lacking in energy and even stressed.