How to Socialise as an Introvert

Chapter

Oct 21 2016

Gold Tape

How to Socialise as an Introvert

Like Rory, my social behaviour at school was frowned upon.

After being in class with the same groups of kids all day, I chose to spend my breaks by myself, reading, journaling, or even doing homework. Throughout my entire childhood, I accepted this as weird. Nerdy. Socially awkward. Insert negative connotation here.

Lunch? Check.

Book? Check.

Headphones? Check.

So for most of my life, I believed that I was abnormal and anti-social.

Then at university I found myself connecting with so many amazing people. My lunch calendar filled up with 1:1 appointments with these people. I would spend my mornings in the library, meet a friend for lunch, then dive back into my work in the afternoon. And it worked.

It took me a while to realise that introverts have different social needs.

Being an introvert means that I recharge best by myself, while extraverts recharge best around others. It doesn’t mean I’m a social anomaly. It does mean that I spend time differently with people than may seem ‘normal’ – which is silly, since at least half the population are introverts like me!

How to Socialise as an Introvert:

Lunchtime reading/walkman-listening club, anyone?

xandra-signature

P.S. Another alternative form of socialising that I swear by

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