Check out this article by Melissa Howard!
If you asked 10 people on the street how they practice self-care, you’d probably get 10 different answers. Yet no matter how any one person puts self-care into practice, the general idea is the same: It’s all about making time to care for yourself - body, mind, and soul. For introverts, how you do this, what you need from self-care, and even how you think about self-care can be wildly different than it is for extroverts. This is why it’s so important to discover your own unique self-care needs and the best way to make sure they’re met.
Prioritize Your Health
While this doesn’t apply to all introverts, the personality testing blog Truity explains that it isn’t uncommon for people who are introverted to struggle with the idea of putting themselves first. Switching up this mindset takes ongoing practice, but you have to start with actions, and the mindset will eventually follow.
One of the most important things to realize is that staying on top of your health needs, both physical and mental, is not selfish. Start by scheduling regular exercise into your week. A fitness routine will not only benefit your body, but can also reduce stress. If you’re a little short on motivation, a fitness-tracking device can be a helpful aid. By tracking and monitoring your activity, it’ll be easier to set and meet goals, and you won’t need a workout partner to keep you motivated. There are many fitness trackers and smartwatches on the market, including devices that have cool safety features like SOS, fall detection, and heart rate monitoring.
Make Your Home Clutter Free
As an introvert, you may spend more time at home than most. But did you know that a cluttered home can cause stress and dampen productivity? To eliminate clutter, go room by room and sort items as “Keep,” “Donate,” and “Toss.” Give away or get rid of any clothing that you haven’t worn in over a year. Come up with some creative storage solutions; for instance, you can bring in furniture that doubles as storage like a storage ottoman bench (can be purchased for under $50). Once you’ve completed your decluttering tasks, give your home a one-time deep cleaning to make it really shine. You can DIY this job or hire a professional cleaning company (maid services in San Francisco charge an average of $177 per visit).
Do a Self Check-In
Unlike a check-up from your medical or mental health practitioner, a check-in is something you can (and should) do daily, all on your own. As silly as this may sound, consider setting a self check-in reminder on your phone or smartwatch to stop and ask yourself how you’re feeling. Are you tired, energetic, anxious? If something seems off, this gives you the chance to figure out what’s going on and take time to decompress. You may need to unwind, often with quiet activities like reading or doing something creative.
An easily overlooked cause of feeling “off” is a lack of nutrients. Especially if you eat well and exercise, you may assume all your nutritional needs are met, but you could have a deficiency without even realizing it. In fact, USA Today reports that almost 10 percent of Americans have some type of nutrient deficiency. Thankfully, this crucial self-care need has an easy solution: taking a multivitamin. All adults should take multivitamins, at every age, to eliminate those deficiencies. Quality multivitamins can boost your energy, improve gut health, and even have positive effects for your skin.
Be a Savvy Socializer
One common thread that is true for just about anyone with an introverted personality is that some social interactions can leave you feeling drained of energy. However, every social situation is not created equal. You may have to accept certain situations that are draining, like an annual office party you just can’t get out of. However, what you can do is be mindful about who you spend time with and how. Contrary to popular thought, many introverts actually enjoy and are energized by the right kinds of social interactions.
It can actually be extremely empowering to recognize when you have control over certain social engagements. Mind Body Green calls these “high-quality interactions.” This simply means choosing the people in your life who lift your spirit and the situations (like small groups) that are fulfilling - not draining.
On top of everything else, always stay open to possibilities. While a quiet, relaxing evening at home may be your ideal way to recharge, you may find that a coffee date with a good friend is just as helpful. There isn’t a right or wrong way to do self-care as long as you’re doing what’s best for you.
By Melissa Howard
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