Self-Care for Introverts: Tips & Ideas to Restore Your Energy

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Have you ever felt like you’re running on empty? Like there’s just no energy left to go about your day? If so, then this post is for you and will provide ideas for a great introvert recharge.

This article will talk about self-care for introverts, both tips and ideas, that they can follow in order to restore their energy.

Introverts often have a hard time managing their own well-being because they are often drained of energy by social situations and overstimulation.

By following these self-care tips and ideas, you’ll be able to feel refreshed and ready for anything!

What Is An Introvert?

First, before talking about self-care for introverts, I wanted to explain a little bit about what an introvert is. You reading this might be an introvert and already know what it means, but someone may be reading this to understand a loved one a bit better.

An introvert is a person who derives their energy from being alone or spending time with smaller groups of people. Introverts are not shy, but they may come off that way because social situations can drain them.

Another thing to know about introverts is that even though an introvert spends most of their time by themselves, it doesn’t mean they’re lonely or unhappy!

As an introvert, I love spending time alone but I also love connecting with my favorite people. It’s a delicate balance!

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Self-Care Ideas for Introverts Who Want to Be Alone

Read

Reading is one of my favorite things to do for self-care as an introvert. I actually got the idea for this blog post from reading the book, Self-Care for Introverts (get it here).

As an introvert, I love spending time by myself and reading is a great way to do that. Even if you don’t have the book (and even if you’re not an introvert), there are plenty of ways for introverts to spend quality alone time with books!

Some ideas include:

– Taking yourself out on coffee dates at your favorite bookstore

– Setting up a cozy reading area where you can be alone (or close to it)

– Hiding out in the library on your lunch break or after work ( I used to do this all the time when I was in school)

There are plenty of options for introverts who love books and spending time by themselves. Just find what works best for you.

Watch TV or Movies

Just like with reading, I love watching movies and television shows and getting immersed into a good story. As an introvert, I tend to watch shows and movies by myself. But I love talking about them with other people.

And just like with books, introverts can watch TV and movies alone at home or they can go out to the theater! I grew up going to the movie theater at least twice a month so it’s something that will always be a part of my life.

Watching a movie with a friend or family member is also a great way to stay connected without having to have a super intense interaction.

Write or Journal

Writing is one of my favorite self-care practices as an introvert. I love writing in a journal because it’s something that only I have to know about and can do when I’m alone or with people.

In fact, this blog post all started from me wanting to write out some thoughts in my journal! Introverts often feel like their ideas are worth sharing but they sometimes lack the confidence to present them.

Writing is a great way to build confidence and share your ideas with the world! Even if it just stays in your journal.

If you’d like to try guided journaling, check out my journals, the Self-Care Journal for Young Adults or the Self-Esteem Journal.

Meditation

Meditation is another one of my favorite self-care practices. I meditate at least once a day and on some days, it’s the first thing that I do in the morning!

As an introvert, I love meditating because it’s something that can easily fit into my routine without needing anything but myself. And even though you might think meditation is about clearing your mind, it doesn’t always have to be that way.

My favorite way to meditate is to do tapping or Emotional Freedom Technique. Emotional Freedom Technique is a way of applying pressure on acupuncture points on your body. It’s a great self-care practice for releasing limiting beliefs, anxiety, and just about any other emotion you’re feeling!

Introverts (and everyone else) can benefit from meditation!

Cook or Bake

Cooking or baking is a wonderful self-care strategy for introverts because not only are you making delicious meals, you can cater them to your own tastes.

I love spicy food but not everyone does. When I cook for myself, I can cook something spicy, eat it all by myself, and enjoy every bite!

So if you find yourself alone for the day or night, go ahead and get in that kitchen. You’ll be feeling better before you know it!

Always feel free to share though! I often cook huge meals because that’s the way I was taught. Cooking for one person is so hard. So I usually share the meals by dropping them off to my family. They always appreciate it.

Take A Nap

When all else fails, naps are always there for me. I love napping because it’s a way to recharge and restore my energy, especially if I’ve been social that day. Sometimes after being social, I don’t even want to text anyone.

So taking a nap is the perfect way for me to “restart” my day. And napping is a great self-care strategy for introverts because it’s something you can do all by yourself!

In fact, I’m going to go take a nap right now… 😉

Taking a little break is always good for the mind and body so take advantage of your alone time! If you need some sleep tips, this post is fantastic.

Self-Care Ideas for Introverts Who Want Connect With Others

All of these ideas can be helpful for introverts who want to spend quality time with others and not drain their energy.

Text or Message a Loved One

Messaging and texting have been a gift from the Universe for introverts. No longer do we have to spend time on the phone or go see someone in person to connect with them.

Introverts can send a few messages back and forth throughout the day with someone they love. It’s such an easy way to stay connected without having to spend too much energy.

Plus, you get to control how long your conversation is since people don’t keep texting forever like they would on the phone or in person.

If you do have to talk to someone on the phone, feel free to set a boundary and tell them you can only talk for X amount of minutes. It will feel hard at first to do, but you’ll be glad you did.

Try a Goup Fitness Class

Moving your body in a way that feels good to you, is an important part of self-care. If you like moving your body, but don’t like doing it alone, a group fitness class might be the right fit.

For introverts, it can be hard to just walk up to someone and start chatting, but if you’re doing the same thing together, it can be much easier! This is actually an idea from Self-Care for Introverts that I really enjoyed.

It motivated me to try a group fitness class. It was so nice to connect with people and be able to strike up a conversation about what we were doing in the class.

You can try a swimming class, yoga class, kickboxing, anything that you think might be fun!

Join a Facebook Group

The best thing about Facebook is the Facebook Groups. I’ve joined many Facebook Groups and met a lot of wonderful people through them.

The only thing with Facebook Groups is that you have to make sure the people are genuine. It can be easy for some groups to turn into a place where there’s tons of drama happening, so be careful.

But if you find a group full of amazing members who are always supportive and inspiring, it can be incredibly helpful!

Go to a Park

Sometimes I want to be around people but not actually **interact**. If you’re an introvert, you know the feeling.

If you just want to be around people, going to a park is a wonderful option. Bring a book, your headphones, or a journal, find a bench or picnic table, and just enjoy the fresh air!

People won’t expect you to interact with them like when going to a restaurant or a coffee shop.

Another great way to be with people but be alone is going to the movies by yourself. Grab your favorite movie snack and a seat. No one will bother you while you’re watching a movie!

Take a class (in person or online)

Taking a class, just like taking a fitness class can be much easier for introverts to do than just having a conversation with a random person.

You can take an online class where you discuss the topic with other students in a forum (or even a Facebook Group). I took an entire degree’s worth of classes online so it definitely can be done!

Or you can sign up for a class at your local community center or community college. They often have classes that aren’t for credit like public speaking, creative writing, or even wine-tasting.

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There’s no wrong way to take care of yourself. You might find some activities work better than others but everyone has different needs so keep trying until you find something that fits your lifestyle perfectly.

These ideas will hopefully help you find the best way for you to spend your time and energy with others without draining too much from yourself.

What are your favorite self-care ideas for introverts? Let me know in the comments!

And don’t forget to check out the book too!

If this post helped you, consider buying me a coffee!

Briana Hollis is a licensed social worker and self-care coach. She earned her Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University in 2014 and her Master of Education from Tiffin University in 2019. She has spent the last 5 years working in crisis intervention.  Her passion for serving others is the heart of this site. She started Learning To Be Free to assist others in bringing freedom to their lives.

Briana is also the author of The Self-Care Journal for Young Adults.


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