The Introverted Owls

With all this talk about isolation and social distancing in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, it was naturally assumed by the entire world, introverts included, that it's the year of the introverts. Endless memes swarmed social media about how an introvert's normal lifestyle has become the new cool. We introverts are guilty of sharing a few too!  It is sufficient for a good laugh in a time of uncertainty. However, as reality set in, it would seem that things are not as rainbows and butterflies for introverts as everyone expected. There is no doubt quarantine is hell for extroverts who thrive on socializing, but you would be surprised how difficult it can be for introverts as well. Check out these 4 misconceptions about introverts in quarantine: 1. Introverts Are Living the Time of Their Lives No, we are definitely not having a blast and living our dream life during this crisis. In fact, it's safe to assume that no one is. The advantage introverts have in such times ...

There are many reasons why it's important to be mindful about what affects your energy . What you choose to eat and whether or not you  exercise are great factors to consider, no doubt, yet most of us seem to forget other equally important aspects. The rhythm of our thoughts, emotions, and feelings go side by side with our energy. The environment we are in and the people we interact with decide how peaceful or how stressful we are .  Stress depletes our energy. Negativity depletes our energy. You could also be giving too much of your energy away to the point that so little or none at all remains for you, which is common for empaths and highly sensitive people . Empaths often experience compassion fatigue , which results from being too empathetic by nature. You could even be feeling what is known as an introvert hangover , which happens when an introvert personality gets too overwhelmed with external stimuli and doesn't spend enough time recharging .  We have to...

Being an empath can be a slippery slope. You don't really acknowledge the complications that come with it unless you experience them yourself, which usually means you've reached your limit or gone way beyond it. If you're a highly  empathetic person , then   you tend to understand on a deep level what other people are going through. When putting it this way, it doesn't seem like it can be an issue. Emotional empathy is beautiful and allows us to truly be there for each other. It allows us to connect; we naturally want these kinds of connections because it makes us feel understood and, most of all, loved . It's something that we need more of in today's society for sure. I believe that with all my heart. However, the phrase " too much of a good thing " applies here perfectly. There is a dark side to having too much empathy and it's a feeling that I know all too well; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! It's referred to as compassion fa...

Yes, an introvert hangover is a real thing! It's not an official term, but it's a common description among introverts . Every kind of introvert can relate to that feeling. The idea might seem extreme to our extroverted friends, but it perfectly describes what we go through when we are beyond our socializing limit. The symptoms of an introvert hangover for me usually start in the form of shutting down. If I reach my limit of socializing for the day and am forced to continue in a social situation, my brain sort of freezes to taking in any new information. I start nodding and agreeing to everything to avoid small talk because I literally don't have the energy anymore to handle it. As a result, I will seem extra quiet to the people around me. When I get home, anxiety kicks in. So, I'm not only experiencing burnout, I'm analyzing every little thing I said and did, which is common with an  empathetic/highly-sensitive introvert personality . At that point, I'm bas...