A few interesting articles have come out recently regarding introversion, including this interview on NPR. I had the chance to work with the Myers-Briggs personality test when I was in physical therapy school. I took the test, and it confirmed what I already suspected, that I was indeed an introvert. Many of today's work places are not designed with introverts in mind. My day job is in a wide open space with very little privacy. I think I cope with it just fine, but by the time I get home, all I want is to curl up in a corner by myself for a little while. Not easy to do with a toddler around. Impossible, in fact. The next best thing is hanging out in the backyard and letting him run around with the dogs while I decompress.
So I don't find it surprising that my major outlet is writing. It's solitary, requires silence (for me at least... I know some writers who need noise or music), and allows me to hang out in my head for a little while. Bliss! And I enjoy social media because it allows me to connect with people at my own pace.
It's been interesting watching my 2 year old develop. He's a bit like me in that it takes him a while to warm up to situations, and so I suspect he might be an introvert also. I wonder how he'll do in a school system that seems increasingly geared towards extroverts.
The best explanation I've heard is this: Extroverts are energized dealing with other people, while introverts expend energy dealing with other people.
ReplyDeleteCaring for Your Introvert
Excellent description, Comic Guy. And thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteI've taken the Myers-Briggs test and I was smack dab in the middle of the continuum between introvert and extrovert, which sounds about right. I thrive on getting up in front of groups of people, but one on one drains me, although if I had to spend my entire day performing, presenting, etc, that would drain me, too. Too much solitary time is also draining. I need a delicate mix of upfront and solitary time. Ironically, many people who meet me think I'm quite extroverted when they meet me.
ReplyDeleteDid I just use meet twice in the same sentence? Argh!
ReplyDeleteSusan, LOL at the second post! Interesting that one on one time drains you. And when I met you, I had you pegged as an extrovert, but now I can definitely see how you fall in the middle.
ReplyDeleteRebecca, I'm a incoming PT student. Do you think PT is a good profession for an introvert?
ReplyDeleteHi Sophie! First of all, congratulations on your acceptance to PT school. That's quite an accomplishment.
DeleteTo answer your question, yes, I do believe that PT is a good profession for an introvert. I still enjoy it after 13 years, and I consider myself very introverted. My boss is also an introvert, so I think that helps.
I think it takes a little bit of work for an introvert. I wrote another blog post in which I went into more detail. I hope some of the tips work for you:
http://rebeccarolandwriter.blogspot.com/2013/02/for-introverts.html