It was World Introvert Day recently and now that most of the UK is in another period of lockdown, it’s a good moment to work out how, and how much, to interact with others, especially if you are working from home.
Research by JohnHackston of the Myers Briggs Company found that people with an introversion bias were less likely than extraverts to “miss having people around them”. This may mean that introverts can cope more easily with the social isolation of working from home.
Introverts tend to carry on working until they are too drained to connect with their friends and family. But they also need some interaction and connection with others to relieve stress and build their resilience. As we enter more weeks and months of lockdown, take a moment to reflect on how to sustain your social and work connections in a way that works for you.
Here are some tips for introverts:
- Although you do your best work when you are able to concentrate deeply for sustained periods, give yourself breaks too – this will refresh your brain and give you renewed energy.
- Plan in times to talk to friends and family on the phone, or online – put it in your calendar to make sure it happens. I had an online party for my birthday with champagne and photo quiz!
- Break up your day with walks if you can – being outside has proven benefits for mental health and it gives you a chance to recharge, especially if you have had a lot of online meetings.
- Let your work colleagues know when is the best time to talk to you – if, like me, you do your best work in the mornings, encourage them to contact you later in the day, when you won’t mind the interruption.
Learn more about how to adapt to introversion and extraversion from my book.