6 Self Care Tips for Introverts

Hello my lovely introvert friends. If this is you, know you have a special place in my heart. Being an introvert in a sometimes seemingly extroverted world can be a draining adventure. Especially if you don’t take care of yourself. Self care is important for everyone, and we all love self care tips. But, for those of us who are introverts and express energy in different ways, we may need slightly different things when it comes to self care to truly be well.

I have been experimenting with this for a long time. By no means do I have it down to a science yet. But, I have learned a lot along the way. Hopefully these tips resonate with you, or help build new self care habits that allow you to recharge the way you need. We are all different humans, so what might work for me, won’t necessarily work for someone else. It’s important to keep experimenting with new habits and practices. When we find what does work for us, it allows us to bring our best selves to every day. If you’re looking for a place to start or to try something new, welcome! Here are my current top 6 self care tips for introverts:

1. Get sleep

Oh my gosh this is number 1 for a reason. If we don’t get enough sleep, it can only compound the effects of the emotional and mental energy drainers we may experience the next day. The combination of feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted can leave us feeling totally, helplessly “empty,” particularly in relatively “normal” situations.

I also find that when I’m physically exhausted, it has a greater impact on my emotional and mental energy than if I am emotionally or mentally drained first. In other words, my physical energy is an indicator, and often a determinant, of my emotional and mental energy that day. If this is you, make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night, consistently (as best you can).

2. Say no (really, it’s okay)

Seriously, say no to things. It really is okay. I know we hear this all the time, and when you feel like you can’t say no to things, it’s extra frustrating. But, more likely than not, that’s exactly what it is — a feeling. You can say no to a lot more than you think you can, and once you’re able to shift your mindset to see that, it becomes empowering. Protect your time, protect your goals, protect your energy. Don’t say yes to things you don’t want to do, don’t have the energy for, or don’t align with your vision for yourself.

This is one of the harder ones on the list. Many of us have been conditioned to think that we have to be doing certain things to “be successful” or to “be nice” or to “be polite.” Overextending yourself for other people so they can approve of you is not self care, especially when you’re the one who pays for it. If you extend yourself for anyone, make sure it’s you. This will come with practice!

3. Create recharge time throughout the day

Try not to get in the habit of thinking to yourself, “I’ll take a break after I finish this thing.” Chances are you don’t get to it. Or, you just keep adding things to that list, and your recharge time just gets pushed farther and farther down your priorities. Get into the habit of breaking up your day with small energizers, and don’t make them conditional on accomplishing certain tasks. What if you flipped that mindset? Try this instead: “If I take some time to recharge now, I’ll have more energy to do that thing I’m procrastinating on.“

Thinking about self care as an energizer, instead of a condition of productivity, can actually help you be more productive in the long run. Now, whenever I feel I am running low, I stop what I’m doing and I take 10–15 minutes of self care time. Typically, that means popping on a podcast, and going for a quick solo walk around my neighborhood. Find what works best for you!

4. Set boundaries (yes, even with the people you love)

This is probably the hardest one — at least for me. Until recently, I only ever set boundaries when I was just so worn down I couldn’t take it any more. I had to set boundaries because I had nothing left to give, let alone anything left over for myself. This one is tricky because sometimes we don’t know what a healthy boundary looks like until we have someone who can show us. For those of us who are surrounded by people with no boundaries, or little consideration for other people’s boundaries, it can be particularly challenging.

Also, remember that you need to respect your own boundaries. Stop pushing them aside. It’s easy to think that we have to let one go because of someone else or “the situation,” when really its us willing to have an excuse to fall back into a bad habit.

If you don’t respect your own boundaries, you’re telling other people that they don’t have to either.

Boundaries are totally personal and completely dependent on the individual. My boundaries probably wouldn’t make sense for anyone else. They are so tailored to what I need, what I struggle with, and what my goals are for lifestyle changes I’m trying to influence. However, if anyone is in need of some boundary inspiration, don’t despair. Here are 3 examples of ones I’m currently holding myself accountable to:

• At work: No more than 50 hours of work a week. No answering phone calls after 7:00pm. And, no weekend work
• For myself: I close my laptop and put everything away by 10:00pm every night (I struggle with this but try my best)
• With friends and family: If I feel uncomfortable or drained in a situation, I excuse myself and leave. I don’t push through and hope it “gets better”
• When making decisions: If my gut reaction tells me no, then I say no

5. Prioritize daily “you” time

Don’t we all need more of this?? Life can get in the way so easily that we look back and realize we prioritized everything else except for ourselves. We are introverts! We need it! Take what energizes you most and turn it into a daily self care activity. Make sure it is at the top of your to-do list every day.

Mine is working out. Every morning, first thing, I get in a 30–45 minute solo sweat session. When I’m working out, I’m 100% focused on myself and that time is 100% just for me. I put my phone away on DND, pop on my favorite workout playlist, and just go to town. Ugh, I even feel energized just thinking about it! Create that sacred time for yourself every day. Challenge yourself to fit it within the first 3 hours of your day. Start with a reminder that prioritizing and investing in your wellbeing feels good!

6. Have your “emergency pack” ready

Ah yes, the handy dandy “emergency pack.” This is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. When you are in an introvert emergency, are you prepared? Do you know your exit routes? Knowing what you need and what works for you ahead of time can help if your day suddenly goes terribly wrong. Here are a few things in my “pack:”

• Headphones and a calming playlist always at the ready
• A migraine roll-on stick with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender for energy draining headaches
• Starting the day by completing the 3 most important things on my to-do list. So if I lose all energy, its okay if I clear the rest of the day to recharge
• Healthy meals prepped and ready to go in my fridge. This helps so I don’t come home and order Thai food out of exhaustion. Yes, it’s pretty much always Thai
• If I feel nervous or unsure about an event, I plan something afterwards and let folks know before (even if its an “appointment”). That way its not rude if I need to leave early
• I have at least 1 day a week with absolutely no plans or to-do’s. Sometimes I’ll do more depending on how I’m feeling

And there you have it introvert pals! May your days be filled with self care energy and your solo time be as peaceful as your hearts desire.

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Originally published at https://isntshestellar.com on July 7, 2020.