Introverts often need to recharge their energy levels by spending time alone. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t need to take care of themselves. Building a self-care plan can help introverts maintain a healthy mindset and lifestyle.
Here are some tips that introverts can use to create an effective self-care plan (bonus: a lot of these can be practiced in solitude, reinforcing and maximizing alone time).
Increase Physical Activity for a Health Boost
Physical activity is essential for maintaining good health, both physically and mentally. Regular exercise can help reduce stress, improve mood, and boost self-confidence. As an introvert, you may prefer to exercise alone or in small groups. Try adding more movement to your day, such as taking a walk during your lunch break or doing some stretching exercises at home.
You can also try low-impact activities like yoga or swimming to increase your physical activity without overstimulating yourself. Don’t forget to make it fun! Don’t strain to get the pose just right or go for the extra weight. Let your body guide you and work out your smile muscles too. I personally love ecstatic dance practices and just shaking my limbs and body.
Engage in Mindful Practice for Relaxation
Mindfulness is the practice of being present at the moment and observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This practice can be especially helpful for introverts, who often spend a lot of time in their heads. Practicing mindfulness can help you reduce stress, improve focus, and increase self-awareness.
There are many ways to practice mindfulness, including meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises. One of my favorite tools to encourage building mindful habits and build new neural pathways is by frequently stimulating these “muscles” via a system called Positive Intelligence. Another favorite is brewing your cup of tea (or coffee) with intention, creating a self-care ritual, or engaging in a tea ceremony.
Get Sufficient Rest
Getting enough rest is crucial for maintaining good health, both physically and mentally. As an introvert, you may need more downtime to recharge your energy levels. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night and taking breaks throughout the day to relax and recharge. If you find that you’re struggling with sleep, try incorporating relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises into your routine.
Bond With Nature to Rejuvenate
Spending time in nature can have a calming effect on the mind and body. Whether it’s taking a walk in the woods (aka forest bathing), spending time in a garden, or just sitting outside and enjoying the sunshine, connecting with nature can help reduce stress and anxiety. As an introvert, you may prefer to spend time in quiet, natural surroundings. Try incorporating a daily nature walk or spending time gardening to get some fresh air and connect with the natural world around you.
Strengthen Social Bonds
While introverts may prefer to spend time alone, nurturing relationships is still an important part of self-care. Good relationships can provide emotional support, reduce stress, and increase happiness. Make sure you’re maintaining healthy relationships with the people in your life, whether it’s family, friends, or romantic partners. You may need to set boundaries to ensure that you have enough alone time, but make sure you’re also making time for social connections.
One of the lessons of COVID that we experienced collectively in the recent past is that humans really are social creatures. Even introverts benefit from social relationships and community support. According to the CDC, “social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.” (1)
Find Addiction Support
For introverts, addiction can be a severe concern as they tend to rely on drugs or alcohol as an escape mechanism to deal with social anxiety and other challenging emotions. It’s crucial to seek help if you’re struggling with addiction. There are several alcohol and drug treatment centers that are free and offer reliable support and treatment for addiction. If you’re battling substance abuse, it’s important not to hesitate to reach out for help.
Enjoy Solitude and Deepen Self-Trust
Finally, one of the most important parts of self-care for introverts is spending quality time alone. This may mean reading a book, taking a bath, or just enjoying some quiet time. It’s important to set aside time each day to recharge your energy levels and do something that you enjoy. This will help you maintain a healthy mindset and lifestyle.
As much as we focus on physical health in the Western world and conventional medicine, one huge element that’s consistently and paradoxically not addressed is deepening intimacy with one’s own physicality. Most people are not comfortable in the skin they’re in, simply because they don’t take the time to observe and connect with their bodies.
Most of our physical touch and intimacy comes from romantic and interpersonal relationships. We’ve been taught to internalize shame when it comes to being naked, dressing in a way that calls attention to us (especially for women), and around our cycles (for menstruating women). We have been groomed to repress our sexuality and pleasure portals, with or without a partner.
This is a taboo topic that makes society uncomfortable, but how unnatural is it to not know one’s own body?
I invite you to challenge the paradigm and really explore what your body looks like on the outside, and how it is feeling to be in your body, or to pay attention to the sensations that you notice throughout your day.
You can view our body as either your jail cell that doesn’t function the way you expect it to, or you can start to see it as a gateway to experiencing this life through our physical senses!
Learning about yourself allows you to deepen self-trust. When you dare to go to vulnerable places, you can unlock the key to ultimate self-care, love and liberation.
Self-care is crucial for everyone, especially for introverts who may need more time to recharge and regain their energy. By implementing the tips and strategies discussed in this guide, introverts can prioritize their well-being and improve their overall quality of life.
Remember, taking care of yourself should always be a top priority, so make sure to carve out time for self-care and prioritize your mental and physical health.
Works Cited
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25663].
