While most people understand that introverts have a smaller social battery than extroverts and aren’t always the most social, it’s not just large social gatherings that are draining. Even small everyday tasks will leave an introvert needing to recharge. Here are some surprising things that drain an introvert’s energy.
1. Being In Crowds
Even if you’re not interacting with people, just being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of city life or grabbing last-minute Christmas presents when the stores are packed solid is enough to leave most introverts overwhelmed. They treasure their peace and quiet, and big crowds offer the opposite.
2. Phone Calls
Although face-to-face interactions drain introverts, talking over the phone is no better. For a lot of introverts, it’s even worse. Since people can’t see your facial expressions, you might have to put more effort into making your voice sound animated so no one thinks you’re being cold. It’s exhausting.
3. Professional emails
While introverts are more than happy to text their friends, having to send professional emails, whether it’s for work or to book an appointment, can also be strangely draining. Although you have more time to gather your thoughts when sending an email, having to watch what you say and wait for a response is draining.
4. One-sided conversations
Introverts might not be very chatty, but being in a one-sided conversation where the other person doesn’t let you get a word in is draining too. Generally, introverts are good listeners, but when someone is talking at you for what feels like forever, it requires a lot of energy to continue paying attention.
5. Plans changing last minute
Introverts have to hype themselves up before doing something. A last-minute change or plan, or worse, spontaneous plans, is a nightmare.
6. Small talk
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Most introverts hate small talk, not only because it can feel performative but because it takes up some of the little emotional energy they already have. They would rather get right to the point.
7. Extremely energetic people
To stress: it’s not that friendly, energetic people have something wrong with them or are annoying. They definitely shouldn’t feel like they need to dull themselves for other people, either. With that said, introverts will feel like they need to match their energy which makes their social battery drain even quicker. There’s nothing wrong with either person in this scenario, it’s just unfortunate.
8. Going to appointments
Going to appointments, like to the hair salon, is another thing that drains introverts. While they would love to get their hair cut in silence, they know it might come off as rude so have to force a bit of chit-chat.
9. Job interviews
Of course, most people find job interviews daunting because there’s a lot at stake. Introverts have been told their whole life that their shy demeanor will hold them back, and sadly, probably did find that to be the case in the working world. In job interviews, not only do introverts have to hype up their skills and experience but force themselves to appear more outgoing than they actually are.
10. Being interrupted
Introverts tend to think about what to say before they say it (that’s not to say extroverts don’t). When an introvert is interrupted they can lose their train of thought and struggle to re-enter the conversation.
11. Children
It’s not that all introverts hate kids. Plenty of them adore children or even work with them. With that said, having children (especially extroverted children) leaves introverts with less time to be alone, which is challenging.
12. Being pressured to talk
A lot of introverts aren’t very shy; they don’t contribute to a conversation if they have nothing meaningful to add. Sometimes well-meaning (but misguided) extroverts will stop a conversation to comment about how quiet the introvert is and ask if they have any thoughts, which forces them to come up with something on the spot. From experience, it feels extremely patronizing; we’re not kids anymore, most introverts will speak up if they have something to say.
13. The first day at a new job
Most people are daunted by their first day at school or at a new job. For an introvert, the change in routine and increased socialization is a lot to get used to. They’re walking into a completely new situation and don’t know what they’re going to get. That’s scary!
14. Sharing space
Introverts need alone time to recharge. So, even if you’re not having a conversation, just being in the room with an introvert while they want to be alone will stress them out. It’s nothing against you, it’s just how they are.
15. Being accused of disliking people
Since introverts might come off flat in conversations, this makes some people worry that they don’t like them. Having to mask more than usual to assure this person that they don’t have a problem not only comes off as disingenuous but is draining. If someone is being outright hostile, by all means, ask them what their problem is. Introverts don’t get a free pass to be rude, but if an introvert just seems withdrawn, it’s nothing personal. Unfortunately (at least in my experience) things get strained because it’s impossible to convince people that the problem is you and not them.
16. Keeping in touch constantly
Although introverts prefer to keep in touch via text, even that can get overwhelming sometimes. Messaging an introverted friend multiple times a day can overwhelm them because they feel like they need to give an immediate response. Everyone has different limits so be sure to ask about theirs.
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