Extrovert Self Care (Your Social Battery Can Run Out, Too)

If you are an extrovert, many people may describe you as the “life of the party.” You likely prefer making friends with many people and can express your thoughts and feelings with others fairly easily. Because of this, socializing can be a source of energy for you. However, not all social situations are good for extroverts. Like introverts, extroverts have a social battery that can deplete. Here’s how to practice extrovert self care.

Extrovert self-care tips

Read the room

Firstly, extroverts are often stereotyped as being outspoken and confident. However, at times this may come across as rude, arrogant, or annoying to some. While it is important to express your thoughts, it is prudent to assess the mood and situation.

For example, if someone you know is having relationship troubles, now is not the time to bring up the sweet thing your partner did this morning. In addition, if people you know are being laid off, it might be best to avoid talking about your raise (no matter how deserving it may be).

Being too forward or lacking sensitivity can get you in trouble down the line. This doesn’t just happen during interactions between extroverts and introverts, but also between two extroverts. Maintaining healthy relationships and work environments is very important for extroverts to really thrive.

Hit the gym

Regular exercise is important regardless of your personality or body type. Even if you are already in good health, extroverts have additional perks when they hit the gym.

Firstly, gyms, parks, and health clubs are great places to meet new people with similar interests. This can be a source of motivation for extroverts to workout everyday. In fact, having an “accountability buddy” can help you stick to your routine and push you to surpass your limits.

Secondly, proper diet and exercise will improve your shape and mental health. Eating clean and burning calories gets your heart pumping, releases endorphins, and boosts your energy levels. Despite popular belief, extroverts are not always confident and brimming with self-esteem. Therefore, maintaining a healthy figure is beneficial for loving yourself and reflecting it outward.

Get some sleep

Everyone needs good quality sleep, unfortunately many of us have busy lives that make it hard to get enough of it. Sleeping soundly improves our physical and mental recovery. For an extrovert, a good night’s sleep can be the difference between having a disposition like a ray of sunshine or a storm cloud. So, in a sense, the way we should turn off our smartphones at the end of the day is how extroverts recharge their battery.

Engage in healthy debates

Many extroverts have no qualms about tackling problems head on. Depending on the execution, this can spark a healthy debate or an unwanted fight. As an extrovert, it is part of your nature to want to express your thoughts honestly instead of holding them in.

For the benefit of your mental health and saving time, pick your battles wisely. Never let your emotions cloud your judgement and control your actions. Remember that words you say in one moment can always come back to haunt you, especially if you post it on social media. It is not always important to have the last word or jeopardize your relationships just to be right all the time.

If you really need to correct somebody, always use constructive criticism. Avoid personal attacks and be objective as much as possible.

Thinking and speaking about negative things can dampen your mood and eventually drain your social battery. Therefore, it is best to approach every social situation with a sense of poise and rationality.

Keep in touch

Lastly, reaching out to old friends and acquaintances is a twofer for extrovert self-care. Extroverts can bring out the best in others, especially if the other person is shy or feeling down. Oftentimes, introverts consider themselves “adopted” by their extrovert friends.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been separated from friends and family. Because of this, mental health of the population in general has been on a decline. Social distancing may protect people from infection, but the cost is the loss of “skinship” or skin hunger.

Prolonged isolation negatively affects both introverts and extroverts, however, it is likely that extroverts feel the struggle earlier on and more severely. Thankfully, there are smartphones and social media sites available for us to keep in touch without being physically present. It may not be much, but having someone to talk to everyday is essential for an extrovert’s well-being.

Key takeaways

In summary, extrovert self-care prioritizes healthy social interactions over potentially stressful ones. Take a second or two to evaluate the situation and keep your emotions in check. For extroverts, the more you socialize, the more you recharge your battery. However, taking some time to introspect is not reserved for introverts only.

If you find yourself constantly feeling burned out or tired, it may be time to talk to a doctor or mental health specialist to determine the cause.

Learn more about Stress Management here.