Self-Isolation as an Introvert: Advice for Others
Last month, Friday nights began with getting off work at 4:00 PM. Then being home by 4:30, in the gym by 5:00, and back in my apartment with a completely free night ahead of me by 6:30. All that was left was deciding if I would spend the night reading, maybe outlining a story or article I wanted to write, or watching a movie or TV series.
I’m an introvert. I enjoy spending time with myself.
I live alone. So yes, a normal Friday night included no interaction (besides texting) with other humans. I loved it. Now, I’m being forced to live my Friday’s every day of the week. I’d say I’m more prepared than most to self-quarantine and spend 95% of my time inside my apartment. Despite this preparedness, I’m already sensing changes in myself. I’m doing things I used to avoid, and becoming more social. So good changes.
I used to make excuses as to why I couldn’t Skype with someone. I’d let my phone go to voicemail before sending a text asking “what’s up?”
Now, I’m setting Skype dates. I’m recording myself and sending mini-vlogs to friends. I’m becoming more extroverted.
I’m not afraid of spending the next few months alone. I know how to survive on my own. I know how to keep myself busy and do things I enjoy. I’m going to double-down on my hobbies. I’m going to be selfish with my time, because I can.
For those of you who are struggling, here’s some advice that may help.
Reflect on Life
I mean this as both the life you’ve lived, and the life around you. Once this situation ends, the world is going to be a different place. You’re going to be a different person. Use this time to think about who you are and who you want to be. Have some quiet time to yourself. Turn off spotify, pause the TV, hell, go to the bathroom without your phone. Be alone with your thoughts. It’s not as scary as you think.
Work On Your Relationships
This is honestly a little ironic for me to mention. I am terrible at keeping up relationships. I don’t reach out to people, they reach out to me. That’s a fault of mine, but this is a time I’m going to try and make up for it. I’m reaching out to people I care about to just say, “hey.” Check-in on the people you care about. You’ll feel less alone.
Enjoy Your Guilty Pleasure(s)
If you’re like me in that you care about being productive and making the most of your time, you probably have tagged some things you enjoy as being a waste. Well, we have time for those things now. I’m guilty of emotionally punishing myself for playing a video game for a few hours straight, or letting a weekend go by without writing something new. During this self-quarantine/self-isolation time, I’m going to try and be less critical towards myself. Now more than ever we need to be gentle with ourselves. If something makes you happy, do it.
Take a Vacation
No, do not leave your home. But yes, take a vacation from the world. Turn off your phone, ignore social media, and take a full 24 hours to truly isolate yourself. I’ve been spending way more time on Twitter since I self-isolated. It’s so easy for us to connect that even when we don’t leave our home we still aren’t truly isolated. I’ve done this before, turning off my phone and ignoring the outside world, and the feeling I have at the end of those days is amazing.
Find a Routine
If, like me, you’re lucky enough to still have a job and be able to work from home, your routine is semi-defined. But, you now have more control over your daily routine, and can even experiment with a new one. Is taking a shower right after waking up the best thing for you? Maybe try waiting a few hours and using it as a break in your day. As someone who would print to the furthest printer just to get in a short walk, I’m now able to try things like doing 15 body squats after using the bathroom, or 15 push ups every time I fill my water bottle. Now’s the time to make a big change to your routine, or a small one. It’s your choice. Finding a routine is about trying different things, that’s both the irony and beauty of it.
