Introvert Archives - Redefining Quiet

Do Introverts Lack Initiative?

Have you ever felt the pressure to take more initiative? Maybe evaluations you’ve received at school or at work have given you good marks in the “works well independently” category but said that you need improvement in the “takes initiative” category. Or maybe you just feel slow to act compared to other people who always seem to jump right into action and take advantage of the principle of “the early bird gets the worm.”

Whatever the cause, a lot of us introverts have the sinking feeling that we’re not taking initiative enough, and we often find ourselves feeling pressured to take action before other people call us out for being too slow or for not making the first move.

The big question, though, is whether or not we introverts really lack initiative or whether it just seems like we do because of our preference to think first before acting.… Continue Reading

10 Confusing Contradictions About Introverts

Posted by Lori Elliott • 0 Comments

Whether we want to admit it or not, we introverts can be pretty confusing people. And it isn’t just extroverts that we confuse either. We confuse ourselves just as much as anyone else.

Part of the reason why our introverted personalities can be so confusing is the fact that we’re often misunderstood since we don’t fit the extroverted ideal, but another part of the reason for this confusion is the fact that we are full of contradictions. We contradict ourselves all the time, even when we don’t realize we’re doing it. (I’m starting to confuse myself just trying to write these down! They made so much more sense in my mind . . .)

Everyone is different, of course, and these might not all apply to every introvert out there, but, in general, these are some of the most common contradictions that can make our introverted personalities so confusing at times.… Continue Reading

How to Use Technology Without Feeling Overwhelmed (For Introverts and HSPs)

Posted by Lori Elliott • 1 Comment

In my last post, I talked about the fact that a lot of what we think of as relaxing (watching TV, browsing pinterest, checking facebook, etc) isn’t really as relaxing as we think it is. Since most of us use computers, smartphone, tablets, and TVs every day, and since technology is an inevitable part of our modern world, it’s important for introverts and highly sensitive people to learn how to use these devices in a way that won’t leave us feeling overwhelmed.

While it’s important for extroverts and non-highly sensitive people to manage their technology use wisely, too, it’s especially important for introverts and highly sensitive people because we are more easily affected by subtler forms of stimulation and because we reach the point of overwhelm much sooner.

These are some of my favorite ways to use technology without feeling overwhelmed, and, even though each of these are just small changes, they can make a big difference in the way that technology use affects us.… Continue Reading

Are You Really Relaxing as Much as You Think You Are?

Posted by Lori Elliott • 4 Comments

Relaxation is a pretty big deal for introverts and highly sensitive people. We need our downtime and our quiet times to recharge our energy. Especially on busy days or times when we’ve reached our threshold for overstimulation overload, we really need some time to rest and relax.

The problem is, though, that a lot of the time we think we’re relaxing when we really aren’t.… Continue Reading

Three Ways to Know You Are An Introvert

Posted by Lori Elliott • 0 Comments

With all of the misconceptions about introverts, it can be a little bit confusing sometimes to figure out if you really are an introvert or not. And, especially if you’ve heard a lot of negative myths associated with introverts and have tried to behave in a more extroverted way in order to fit in with “normal” people, you might think you’re an extrovert when you’re really an introvert.

Not every introvert is exactly the same. We all have our own unique personalities, and there are varying degrees of introversion, too. Nobody is 100% introverted or 100% extroverted either. In general, though, these three questions can help you decide if you fall into the introvert category or the extrovert one.… Continue Reading

Category Archives: Introvert