How many times in your life have you been asked, “Are you an introvert or an extrovert?” This is a common friendship-building question and one used to help individualize substance abuse treatment here at The Right Step. While we may have a sense about how we prefer to engage with the world, how much value do we place on its answer? Beyond adding the answer to your dating profile, do you actually use the knowledge of how to recharge based on the answer? And are there really that many differences between introverts and extroverts when it comes to how they recharge their energy?
How Do I Know if I’m an Introvert or Extrovert?
The way we’re wired as humans, there’s a huge temptation to want to categorize our experiences into boxes that can be easily explained. We want neat little files. Like what’s “good” versus “bad”. Or “right” versus “wrong”. And our personality characteristics face the same fate. But introversion is on a spectrum and the most telling difference is how long you can go before needing that ever-precious “me time” and what activities might be your go-to. For those in recovery, it’s important to have a sense of what fills you up to make you you’re best.
Today’s blog is for extroverts, introverts, and in between. We are offering up 12 ideas that will help you recharge your energy. All so you can build on the practices you learned in treatment.
How to Recharge on the Extroverted Side:
Plan something fun to do
Going to karaoke or spending a night out with friends can help you recharge. Even just plan to get lost in a new part of town with your bestie. It’s both spontaneity and companionship that will feed your inner extrovert, so let curiosity lead.
Join a group exercise class.
Whether spinning, kickboxing, Zumba or a HIIT training class, connect with others while you connect with your inner power.
Join a book club or online book community.
Don’t just read a book; talk to someone about it! Extroverts love to recharge through conversation. Share your thoughts about the characters, the storyline, the world the author created and get swept up in the magic of a good book together.
Do some people-watching from a local cafe, bookstore, or as you stroll through the city park.
Strike up a conversation if it suits you. But otherwise, just enjoy the feeling of being blissfully alone while surrounded by others.
Clean house.
Nothing feels quite as good as connecting with your inner Mr. Clean while you crank up the tunes and belt out your favorites.
Take a social media break.
Social media can be the exact thing draining your extroverted energy by offering up false connections in the place of deep and meaningful ones.
How to recharge on the Introverted Side:
Connect with someone on a deeper level.
Just because you may not be up for meeting people you don’t know or know all that well doesn’t mean there isn’t power in cultivating deeper connections to help you recharge.
Spend time in nature.
Whether you’re alone or with someone whose presence allows for a comfortable silence, the nature scenes around you are enough to restore that deep sense of awe within you.
Curl up with a warm cup of coffee or tea and dive into an old favorite.
Embrace the cozy lifestyle and dive into the world of a fantasy novel or compelling story that allows you to get lost for a bit.
Rewatch one of your favorite movies or series.
Let the nostalgia of an old favorite wash over you, and enjoy the comfort of knowing exactly what will happen next.
Do a jigsaw puzzle or some Sudoku.
Maybe it’s a physical puzzle, or maybe it’s a video game that has your attention. Either way, recharge your emotional meter by exercising your intellectual one.
Do a solo exercise like yoga or workout DVD.
Lean into your physicality to help you replenish your body confidence and feel proud of how you’ve spent your time.
These are all just suggestions to get you started! As you’ve learned along the recovery journey, it’s all about discovering what works best for you. Whether you compile your own recharge checklist combining elements from both the extrovert and introvert sides or stick to the term that helps you make sense of yourself—it doesn’t matter. Be true to what feels right for you, and consider that there may be more than one way to recharge your battery.
If you’ve been through treatment at one of The Right Step Centers across Texas, you may already be aware of our alumni program available for free to the alumni of all Promises Behavioral Health facilities.
Let Us Help You Recharge today
Our alumni coordinators and treatment team are passionate about providing resources that help you stay focused on your recovery while enjoying yourself. Contact us by calling 844-665-5837 to learn more about our events, activities and programs.
