For introverts, the holidays can feel like a marathon of social obligations. A Christmas drink here, a Christmas dinner there and yes, the New Year is yet to come. How do you make sure you maintain your energy during this busy festive month? A few tips to do it your way.
Build in relaxation moments
As an introvert, you are more sensitive to stimuli in your environment than extroverts. This causes you to quickly lose your energy at busy times with many social contacts. It is therefore very important to replenish your energy on time, in order to keep your spirits high.
Especially during the holidays you have many of those busy moments. So make sure you alternate those moments with charging moments. For example, take a long walk through the forest prior to the Christmas dinner, or put on your running shoes for a round of relaxation through exercise. And make sure you have at least one evening during the week of the Christmas drink on which you can shamelessly "cocoon" with a good book or a tv show you like.
Go into depth
Because introverts need more reflection and deep conversations, an event with only schmoozing can be very frustrating. However, you can influence that. Instead of talking about work or the weather, enter into a conversation about what really matters. Be genuinely interested in the other and also tell more about what moves you.
You may think that not everyone is open to that, but you will be surprised by what happens when you tell a story you’re really passionate about. This will have people really listening to you, making them willing to go into depth with you.
Be yourself
As introverts, we tend to apologize for not saying much and not taking up so much space in a discussion with more extroverted people. However, this is a natural consequence of how introverts and extroverts make conversations. Where extroverts talk and think at the same time, introverts’ talking is preceded by a thinking phase. That is why it is more difficult to respond quickly, especially when we are talking with extroverts.
If you get comments such as, "don't you have anything to say?" or "don't you find it interesting?", don't be fooled. Explain that you are wired in a different way and that you need a little more time in a conversation. Also claim that space by thinking explicitly about your answer so that it is visible you’re thinking about it and stop someone who’s trying to interrupt you with a remark like "wait a minute, I am thinking about my answer". If you do this consistently, people will at least become more aware of it. Ultimately, that can lead to different behavior too.
Take breaks
Is your head completely full after the umpteenth disciussion at the Christmas table? Or is New Year's Eve just a bit too crowded for you? Then make sure you insert short breaks. Look for an empty space in the house to have five minutes for yourself. For example, do a relaxation or meditation exercise. Or just dream away and think about your upcoming vacation or last trip.
You will be amazed of what five minutes of relaxation can do on a busy evening. It is of course not the same as a real moment of rest as described above, but it can certainly help to keep your energy at an acceptable level. In any case, make sure that you take a longer moment of relaxation at a later time to fully charge again.
Do you want to learn how to create a moment of rest with the help of meditation? Then come to one of the events in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Breda. Nanja van Zundert teaches you various breathing and relaxation exercises to apply when you need it.
