by Michaela | Mar 27, 2017 | Blog, introvert energy, introvert mind, Introvert problems |
When you’re an introvert like me, you spend a lot of time feeling overwhelmed. Who can blame you? Introvert overwhelm is a natural side effect of being an introvert in an extrovert’s world. As an introvert, you are more easily overstimulated by things like noise, crowds, and bright flashing lights. You wish you could press pause on life, so that you can take it all in and process the chaos. Because here’s the thing about introverts. We process more information at a given time than extroverts. Our mind is like a high-end computer that can hold a whole lot of data. We take in so much information that we need more time to make sense of it all. Unfortunately, time is in short supply in our fast-paced world. And introverts are suffering for it. Signs that you’re struggling with introvert overwhelm: You feel chronically exhausted, even when you get enough sleep You’re constantly irritable and on edge for no apparent reason You often zone out and shut down at work or social settings You feel mentally fragmented, as if your thoughts have gone through the shredder I’ve been there. In fact, I used to live in a constant state of introvert overwhelm. Everyday, I felt like I was swimming against giant waves of overstimulation. The people, the ever-growing to-do lists, the constant noise pollution, the crowds — it was all too much. Nowadays, I’m much better at keeping introvert overwhelm at bay. I’ve learned the secrets to prevent it, as well as how to curb it the moment it starts to set in. In case you’re struggling with introvert overwhelm,...
by Michaela | Mar 20, 2017 | Blog, Introvert confidence & communication, Introvert Health, introvert mind |
When you’re an introvert living in an extrovert’s world, it’s easy to get thrown off balance. Luckily, there are tried and true habits that mentally strong introverts use to stay on track. Because here’s the thing. We introverts get overwhelmed by things that extroverts thrive on. They crave the buzz of constant socializing, and busyness. Meanwhile, the chaotic pace of modern life makes us introverts want to hide under a blanket all day. Not only that … The demands of daily life can turn our mind to mush. We come home after a long day feeling mentally exhausted and defeated. It’s tough to have a resilient mindset when you’re constantly battling introvert overwhelm. Thankfully, there is a better way. Developing the habits of mentally strong introverts can mean the difference between limping through existence like a battered old street dog, and feeling a sense of confidence and control over your life. I should know. I’m an introvert myself. And I’ve been on this earth long enough (32 years now) to understand that our mind is one of the few things we have control over. This is good news for introverts, who spend a whole lot of time prancing through our vast mental landscapes. The tricky part is knowing how to stay mentally strong no matter what daily challenges we face. It turns out that habits and mindsets have a whole lot to do with it. That’s why I’m revealing … The 10 habits of mentally strong introverts “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the...
by Michaela | Feb 8, 2017 | Blog, Business/leadership, introvert energy, introvert mind, Introvert problems |
If you’re an introvert, you know how it feels to be too tired after work. After a long day slaving away for the man, you come home with mush for brains, and zero energy. This is frustrating for many reasons. First of all, there are a lot of things you need to do when you get home. There are animals and loved ones to tend to, friends to call back, neighbours to hide from. But here’s the problem. All of the above tasks take energy. And when you are an introvert who works in a draining environment, energy is one commodity that is in very short supply at the end of the day. Thankfully, there are ways to refill your energy tanks when you are too tired after work. Many of these after work recharge tips are things you can easily slip into your daily routine. Before I share my top tips, as well as a summary infographic, I want to ask you something important: Do you know why you feel too tired after work? For introverts, this is an important question with an answer that is more layered than you might think. Sure, work is stressful and demanding for anyone — that’s why they call it “work”, right? But for introverts, it’s more than that. For introverts, going to work is a daily battle with overstimulation. The reason has to do with the way an introvert’s brain works in comparison to an extrovert’s. In the 1960s psychologist Hans Eysenck proposed that introverts and extroverts have different levels of cortical arousal (the speed and amount of brain activity). Introverts...
by Michaela | Oct 28, 2016 | Blog, introvert mind, Introvert problems |
2 am knows all my secrets. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that I’m an introvert. We introverts crave the absolute solitude that only the cloak of night can offer. While others are snoozing soundly, dreaming of showing up to school naked, we are wide awake. And enjoying every minute. I used to think that my strange sleeping patterns were just a glitch in my internal clock, something I could fix with practice and determination. But now I know that there are just too many factors that keep an introvert like me awake at night. Quiet house, loud thoughts Since nighttime is usually the quietest time of day in any home, it is also when we introverts hear our own thoughts most clearly. When the lights go out, our brain turns on. We think about our problems, our projects, our passions, and our people. While others stay up to canoodle with their partners, we whisper sweet nothings in our own ear. We must copulate with every idea, dream, and worry until our brain puts on its flannel pyjamas and says it has a headache. Secret conversations Late at night is also when we have the best and most honest conversations with ourselves. Some might call this weird, or even crazy. In truth, our inner conversations are what keep an introvert sane. Unfortunately, they also keep us sleep deprived much of the time. On top of our own thoughts, we have another more sneaky adversary on our quest for eight hours of good night’s sleep. The sneakiest sleep thief This particular obstacle has gotten...
by Michaela | Sep 18, 2016 | Blog, introvert energy, introvert mind, Introvert problems |
Staying home is meant to be bliss for an introvert. But this isn’t always the case. Often, our sweet solitude turns sour. And here’s the most annoying part: Our staycations and hibernations are foiled by something we feel like we have no control over. Something that is both our greatest ally and our most feared opponent. Have you guessed what I’m talking about yet? It’s our own mind, of course. The minute we take some precious introvert “me time”, our brain starts making us feel guilty about it. Introverts don’t trust ourselves The problem is, we don’t trust ourselves. We think that one night in will multiply to six, then ten, then before we know it we are Forever Alone and surrounded by cats. There’s another, more painful reason for our guilt. We think that alone means selfish. And selfish means bad. And bad means unloveable. We really can’t help thinking this way. This simple train of logic was branded on our innocent introvert brain before we could even speak. It’s all so sad because being alone is a necessary perk of being an introvert. We can plug ourselves into solitude and magically emerge recharged and ready to take on the world again. So, how can an introvert shed the guilt, and actually enjoy staying home? 3 Steps to get rid of introvert guilt: Find the source of your introvert guilt. Do you feel guilty because you believe that liking your alone time is selfish? Do you fear that you’ll love hibernating so much that you’ll never want to emerge from your cave? Do you believe that others will judge you for...
by Michaela | Mar 24, 2016 | Blog, introvert energy, introvert mind |
I’m writing to you from some place special today. It’s a place that is near and dear to my heart. I’m curled up in a blanket with a hot mug of herbal tea in hand, the ocean within view, and my writing apparatus at my fingertips. In other words, I’m in my happy place. We all know the saying, “happiness is a state of mind”. For introverts, the right environment is key for creating the right state of mind. We need to find our own little introvert friendly happy place. In our happy place, there is probably something soft and cuddly – a blanket, an animal friend, a big comfy couch. there is also likely something that tickles our brain cilia, like music, art supplies, or a pen and paper. Let’s be honest, Netflix is probably accessible, too. We might have a view of nature from our happy place. Perhaps it’s even situated smack dab in the middle of nature – say, under a tree, or on the shores of a private beach. The important thing is that our happy place allows us to retreat from external reality and focus on our internal world. The obstacles to happy No matter where our happy place is located, there are sure to be some obstacles to getting there. Often, the obligation monster creeps up on us the moment we even think of retreating to our happy place. “Oh, but you have too much to do to take a break,” he says. In our culture, we are told that solitude is a sin. Taking time for yourself is unproductive, and therefore, should be...
