Some of you are extroverts. If you are, good for you! Have fun going to parties and living it up with your massive friend groups and explosive personalities. You all are awesome. This post probably isn’t super relevant to you, though.
Most of the rest of you, then, are introverts. If you’re stuck reading my blog, chances are you’re an introvert anyway. As much as we like people, we need time alone to recharge and chill out. Sometimes a night of staying in our dorm rooms and watching YouTube on our laptops sounds better than going to the Bruin Brawl or Trivia Night or whatever other exciting thing George Fox Activities has planned. Maybe I’m only speaking for myself, I don’t know. But if you think any of the above statements are somewhat relatable, read on for a couple of tips that I use when I just need to introvert for a little while.
Places to hang out:
Optimally, your dorm room. If you have a considerate roommate, or maybe one who is an introvert like yourself, then the dorm should be a great place to hide out and relax. No one to come in and judge you, no loud noises (unless you’re unlucky), and everything you need. Most college students have laptops- which are great to carry around with you, and you can use it on the desk or the floor or the bed or anywhere. There are good places to sit, things to do, and room to just be yourself. You might even have access to a hoard of snacks, if you’re like me and always want to snack on something. There’s always the danger of conversation with a roommate, but if both of you are chilling/working on homework, then a lot of the time the room can be quiet. And if it’s not, there are other options.
The library is also a good place to go, if not the number-one best. It can get a little loud in there, due to other peoples’ conversations, but if you sit by yourself usually no one will bother you. There are plenty of comfortable corners and little secluded places to be alone, even when surrounded by other people. The one at GFU even has a little coffee machine where you can get your caffeine fix if necessary. There are books to read (though a college library mostly has dry textbooks), people to interact with if necessary, and proximity to other places that you can get food if you want. Though the dorm is preferable, the library works well too.
Things to do:
What I usually do when I get some time to myself and need to “introvert” or de-stress is I sit and watch YouTube videos. These can be funny compilations, animations, animals, music, basically anything I feel like at the moment. If I’m not careful I can waste hours just watching “Try Not to Laugh” videos or, more shamefully, “America’s Got Talent” auditions.
Watching videos is fun and can make you laugh, but if you don’t want to feel like you’re letting time slip through your fingers and you still want to relax, there’s always reading a book. Underrated these days, I know, but it was my favorite thing to do as a kid and it still is now. It can be hard for me, as a college student, to get access to my favorite kind of book (a fantasy novel). But if I can get hold of one, it’s worth it. Reading both relaxes and engages your mind, and I can spend hours engrossed in a good story just as well as a lighthearted video. Do whatever your heart desires, though- watching movies, reading books, writing stories, just lying on the floor looking at the ceiling. Whatever you need to do to de-stress.
Things not to do:
Don’t force yourself to spend time with people if you need a little bit of time alone. It’s perfectly fine for you to relax a little bit by yourself. However, that doesn’t mean spending time with people is bad- just make sure to judge whether you need to be with friends or you need some space.
Don’t feel bad for being alone. Humans are social creatures, so even when introverts feel the need to be alone we can still end up lonely. Give yourself time to be apart, to be with yourself, and then seek out the people that you love to spend time with. A healthy balance of social interaction and self-time is key for being a fully functioning introvert in a mostly extroverted society.
In Conclusion:
It can be hard to be an introvert sometimes. Especially in college, when you’re surrounded by people. But it’s definitely doable, and worth the time. Even if you’re not in college, wherever you are in life, make sure to give yourself space if you need it.
Writing Wizard 