How can introverts protect their mental health?
The commonest assumption about introverts is that they hate like talking and they prefer being alone. This is true in some ways. As an introvert, you value nothing more than your alone time. It’s impossible to be at your best when you have not gotten time to recharge during your downtime.
As an introvert, you probably prefer calm, dim atmospheres. Hangouts with just one friend at a cozy shop sounds ideal for you. However, all humans on the planet can be stressed and that also applies to introverts.
Reports from researchers say that introverts tend to have a lower level of happiness. This means that an introvert will have to work harder to manage his or her stress level. This article will show you how an introvert can succeed at stress management and improve his or her overall mental health.
Why an introvert’s mental health matters
Introverts and extroverts have different life experiences. To add to that, western society tends to gear towards extroversion. But introverts can still benefit from stress management techniques that are designed specifically to handle their quiet nature.
So if you are an introvert, you should understand the needs and traits that come with your nature.
The primary goal is for an introvert to manage stress and their mental health in such a way it doesn’t affect your productivity level. The simplest way for an introvert to manage his or her mental health is to counteract some of the ‘sensitives’ that come from being an introvert.
An example of this is an introvert’s tendency to decrease the amount of human interaction, even though strong social support is beneficial and helps to increase the level of happiness and satisfaction.
Ten tips to help introverts manage stress
For 10—30 minutes, sit in a dark, silent room and meditate
You can do this in several places. It can be at work or a party, or during lunch break or when you arrive home, even when you log out for the day. The fact that you can do this anywhere makes it extremely practical.
When going to work, some introverts will wait at the parking garage and sit in their car for some time or at lunchtime find an empty room to eat, some just sit there and close their eyes.
As an introvert, these practices are important because they help you recover the energy from those things that drain your energy, which are noise, lights, and other people.
When you find yourself in a dark, silent place, meditate. It can help boost your resilience towards stress over time and help maintain and refresh your overall mental composure. It can also help to relax you in the meantime. Furthermore, this quiet practice will help you increase your ability to fight depression.
Eat healthily
Depressed people tend to eat junk food. While eating may help, consuming junk isn’t helpful because it could lead to an unhealthy body and worsen depression. So whether you are an introvert or not, eat clean, unprocessed, and healthy food.
This is because it affects your brain health which controls your mood. So when you are overstimulated, taking comfort foods may help trigger positive memories that can drive away feelings of loneliness.
Of course, this isn’t an all-around instant solution to protecting your mental health. However, they can be very effective on those days when your energy levels are at rock bottom. Some introverts can overthink a lot and are easily stimulated which always drains their energy. So eating a meal or taking a snack once in a while can help them find balance.
Dancing can be helpful
How can introverts protect their mental health? Whether it is walking, yoga, or cardio exercise, moving your body in any way is beneficial. But dancing has another aspect it adds to the mix. You may not be good at dancing and not even like dancing, but it is important to dance.
Why? Because dancing alone, in your own space increases the levels of serotonin in the brain. Increased serotonin levels boosts confidence.
So if you feel depleted from a long day of stressful and mentally drawing work, just put on your favourite song and flow to the tune.
How do you do this? Close your eyes and try to sing the song. You can use your powerful imagination to turn your living room into a stage. And because you know no one is watching, you can dance however you feel like and relieve stress.
Take time to gaze at the sky
How can introverts protect their mental health? Going outside to get fresh air can be helpful, but you can go a step further and try watching the sky. Surprisingly, watching the vastness of the sky can help calm the nerves down. It has a soothing effect whether watching from the window or outdoors. It’s easy to get lost in the beauty and vastness of the sky. It fills us with awe.
Take time to focus on something as large as the sky when next you find your introverted soul racing and your mind is drained. Most of the time, you will discover that your thoughts and worries become insignificant, and then your mood lightens.
Reduce the time spent on your phone
How can introverts protect their mental health? Reduce the time spent on their phone. A lot of people have said that decreasing phone time is nothing new, but it’s important. Today’s social media increasingly reflects and affects one’s mood. And introverts are highly susceptible to react to dopamine differently than the average extrovert.
The design of social media influences the dopamine levels in the brain and this is why it drains introverts more than extroverts.
People love social media all over the world because it allows people to be more creative than they could ever be. They could reach people in different parts of the world and it has helped other people in their businesses.
However, be disciplined. It could make you stay awake longer than needed and then waste your time and vitality. You can try using it for just 1 hour a day and then witness how it would help preserve your energy.
Focus on constantly being in a good mood
This can help increase a person’s happiness and resilience. Although introverts tend to experience less good moods in their daily life, you can decide to change it. To learn how to be in a good mood and see how you can be proactive by having a positive attitude. So examine your thoughts and avoid negative thought patterns.
Be creative
Ask yourself, what fun activities do I prefer doing? Introverts are generally creative individuals because it is easy to pick up so many details. It is also harder for an introvert to verbally express themselves, and that is where creative outlets come in to help.
As an introvert, you can push yourself to do something that involves your mind, body, and soul connection. You decide to write a journal or try a new recipe for fun. Just whatever your interests are, do it for at least 30 minutes a day and this will help you stabilize your mind which is a way to have great self-care.
Watch comedic videos or nostalgic movies
How can introverts protect their mental health?
As an introvert it is tough not to take things too seriously. It’s easy to be sitting alone in your downtime and all of a sudden remember something minor a friend did that trouble you, this could make you feel anxious and ungrounded, and it might be difficult to get the thought out of your head.
Luckily the quickest way to feel better is humour. Watching nostalgic humour can help take the mind back to simpler times.
Always show your gratitude
Extroverts may find it easy to quickly let everyone know how thankful they are to those they care about including those they just met, these sorts of expressions may not come naturally.
Expressing gratitude to the people in your life whether loved ones or casual strangers can help give ring benefits such as increasing your life satisfaction, strengthening your relationship with others, and most importantly, improving your mental outlook.
The thing is people who you show gratitude to will feel loved and appreciated and this will build the tendency for them to express their appreciation towards you too. So as you continue your daily life show gratitude to the people you will meet.
When it works for you, be an extrovert
Yes, introverts can act like extroverts. Tis is not the same as being an extroverted introvert. When they do so on purpose, usually, they would get a boost of good mood before they become exhausted.
Although a lot of introverts underestimate the usefulness, they do get positive emotions when they socialize and become the center of attention.
However, know your limitations on social media. You should know the amount of social media time you can handle before it drains you. So try to get more friendly with people and you might even enjoy it.
