a day in a life as an introvert

you don’t have to be an extrovert to be happy

[jazzdacanay]

Don’t worry, I'm Fine 

As an introvert, I always appreciate the people who still try to talk to me even though I barely talk to them. I like it when they make the effort to talk to me, even though I may look unapproachable. I’m definitely not the ideal kind of friend. I disappeared a lot. I’m barely available. I find comfort in being distant, especially when dealing with my own struggles. It’s my coping mechanism. But I always try my best to be there for my friends as much as I can. 

Normally, I'm not in the mood to go out whenever my friends ask me to hang out, but after getting to bond with them, I find myself grateful to join them. Being with your friends can also recharge your energy in ways you never expected. Suddenly, you will feel that life is worth living again. If your friends want to hang out, I suggest you go for it and challenge yourself to go out of your comfort zone sometimes. 

At the same time, it also means a lot to us introverts when people respect our personal space and do not take our silence seriously. Instead of asking, "Why are you so quiet?" Try understanding that your introverted buddies are just normally silent rather than assuming they're sad or that they're upset. They are used to silence, which doesn't imply that they aren't paying attention. 

[jazzdacanay]

Introvert self-care without feeling bad about it 

As an introvert, I have fun doing things my way. I don’t feel the need to justify it. I just want a bit of time for myself. That is what I'm craving. I'm not lonely, and I choose to do this. Being alone is my form of self-care, and I have my own concept of how to define "fun." I crave peace to the point that I am unbothered by the things that are out of my control. I guess I'm proud of myself for not caring about my insecurities and what people think of me anymore. I care less about the things that are not good for me and just focus on myself.  

Craving for peace sometimes urges me to stay up and go outside between 1 am to 5 am and sit out there and watch the moon and the stars so I can be in complete silence with the world. As much as I want to fix my sleeping schedule, I cannot seem to do so because I like to stay up late at night when people are asleep, because that is the only time that I can finally have my peace and alone time.  

As an introvert, I usually spend most of my time in my room. I rarely go out; some people even described me as lazy. But remember, it's okay if you don’t have the energy to do things. You’re not lazy, you only have a certain amount of energy and right now you are using it all to survive.  

[jazzdacanay]

Tell me you’re an introvert without telling me you’re an introvert

It’s been raining a lot in the Philippines these days. I love being able to wake up to the sound of rain and the chilly air. But on the other hand, it can be quite stressful, especially if I need to commute to get to school. Speaking of commuting, having to say "para po" to the driver when riding a jeepney is a challenge for introverts. Like me, I became anxious because I was afraid of not being heard or needing to shout.

I dislike having to be the center of attention, which is possibly why I don't like to talk much; I would rather listen. Sometimes I even start a conversation with someone just to let them continue and listen to them talk. As an introvert, I also dislike crowded areas, yet I enjoy the sense of being at a concert and screaming my lungs out without the feeling of someone judging me. It's just me in the audience, singing along with our favorite artists alongside thousands of others. Although after such a social event, I find myself mentally and physically exhausted, requiring myself to rest and recharge.

Text >>> over calls. I prefer texting rather than calling, maybe because when texting I have more time to think through what to say and I can freely choose when to respond. I usually need to think things through before I say them, so whenever I order food at the counter, I always practice what I'm going to say or what I'm going to order first. However, when introverts feel at ease with someone, which for me usually takes months or even years, we actually become more talkative and confident.

[jazzdacanay]

Want to know more about your personality? 

Do you consider yourself an introvert? Not sure if you are one? Well, it is important that you know more about your personality as it can be beneficial for your self-awareness, personal growth, and even career choices. For this blog, I will share with you 2 websites where you can answer questions to know more about your personality.  

First is 16Personalities. This is a free MBTI personality test based on the personality theory created by Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs. This is to help us learn about the various personality types in everyone else and that there are no "better" or "worse" personalities. The MBTI test allows us to identify our strengths, how they may differ from others, and what career suits our personality. While seeing my results from this test, I realized that if you are an introvert, it is possible that part of yourself has an extrovert side.  

The second website is ktestone. It includes different types of tests such as personality character tests, couple character tests, love character tests, and many more. Answering the questions will not take much time, and the results are worth it! So, relax, and let's start our adventure of self-discovery! Remember, the results can be changeable based on your present personality, so I suggest you take these tests from time to time.  

[jazzdacanay]

Finding Comfort in Everyday Life 

I always find myself rewatching the same show over and over again. Do you also find yourself choosing to watch the same show instead of finding new ones? As an introvert, watching movies and TV shows is one of my daily hobbies. However, instead of exploring and watching new shows, I often find myself coming back to my comfort show.

I started watching "Friends" when I was 15 years old, and now that I’m 20, this show remains to be my comfort blanket. I have watched this show for the nth time, and sometimes I even leave the show playing in the background and use it as a podcast when I am cooking or doing household chores. Others may find it weird, but if we’re talking about comfort, it has to be this show! 

At first, I found this show boring because it was my first time watching a show set in the 90s and it consists of 10 seasons with 236 episodes. But as time goes by, this show has become my comforting friend. For me, Friends is more than just a TV show, but a glimpse of what life would be like. It shows conflicts in adulthood and experiences in the real world. Also, each character has different, unique personalities that represent a side of us. I basically grew up with these characters, and I relate to their lives very much. 

My favorite line in the show would be “Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it.” You can feel at ease watching this show because they mainly tell you that there will be many hurdles that you will encounter in life and that there is no need for you to rush if you fall behind. What’s more important is that as you go through these challenges, having a friend who is there for you will help you lessen the burden, and suddenly you’re all set in life. 

If you’re looking for a new show to watch for your introverted time, I suggest you watch Friends! It combines all those moments of comedy, love, laughter, and sadness into one. And each episode will leave you with a life lesson. 

[jazzdacanay]

Even introverts need friends 

It's quite difficult to be an introvert. Even though I want to be sociable, friendly, and outgoing, I find it challenging to get over my shyness and introverted behavior. Making new friends is not something I do well. I don’t talk to someone unless they approach me first and because of that, others also find it hard to get to know me. Despite how welcoming some people are, I need some time to build a connection with them that is strong enough for me to feel at ease.  

There may come a point when you realize that you've lost some of your friends, but remember, aim for quality over quantity. You don’t need a lot of friends, just the real ones. Someone who accepts your personality for who you are and those with whom you can have comfortable silence with. Never feel as though you need to change who you are or your personality for the sake of keeping a friendship. Creating friendships doesn't require you to act like someone else you’re not.  

It may be awkward at first, but the awkwardness will go away in time. You'll feel more at ease the more time you spend with them because building genuine and long-lasting relationships requires time and effort. You'll look back on it and be glad that you did. "Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life." — Amy Poehler 

[jazzdacanay]

Being an introvert is completely normal. 

I once felt ashamed for being an introvert. Wanting to be like other people that have no problem with socializing. I wanted to have their social energy and be very outgoing. I am jealous of them for having so many friends and looking so happy. But now, I am starting to get used to it and realized that there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert. 

Throughout my life, I've been hearing a lot of “you’re so quiet” or forcing me to speak and that makes me feel self-conscious. Allow us to be silent at such moments because it's what we need to be comfortable. Yes, we consciously choose to avoid interacting with people. However, this doesn't make us antisocial; rather, it makes us selectively social. Introverts are usually more comfortable with their close friends, and we take a lot of time to get to befriend someone.  

I usually recharge myself by having quality time alone and focusing on my interests and hobbies. So, if you're an introvert, you can ease up knowing that you're normal. Accept your introversion, respect your needs, and look for ways to grow and flourish in your own genuine way. If you know someone who is an introvert, I hope that you don’t misunderstand them. 

[jazzdacanay]

Are you an Introvert? So am I!

Hello Friends! This blog is dedicated to introverted people like me and to remind you that there is nothing wrong with being quiet and spending time alone. I have been an introvert for most of my life, and based on my experiences, there are a lot of challenges and struggles to deal with. But do not worry, because I know that you will get better like I did! For the next few weeks, I will be posting here my life experiences and lessons that I have learned. So, stay in touch with me! 

To give you a bit of knowledge about what my blog will be all about, here are some facts about introverts: Being an introvert is not all about being shy and quiet. Sometimes it is about social battery, peace, and vibe. Introverts prefer a more private environment and need plenty of time alone to feel more comfortable. We also need a lot of time to gain energy to socialize with people. I would like to remind you that we don’t hate people; it’s just that our social battery is easily drained, and we would rather spend our time alone. 

Through this blog, I want to inspire people, especially those who feel that they are out of the ordinary.  

Feel free to message and interact with me! I hope my blog interests you and follow me for more!