The topic of being an introvert as an adult — and how it affects everything from career choices and friendships to social lives and self care — has come up quite a bit in conversations lately with our friends and other women in business. We decided to open up the discussion to you so that we can gain your insight on the subject!

Let’s start with the definition of an introvert. According to VeryWellMind.com, introverts are “people who tend to be inward turning, or focused more on internal thoughts, feelings and moods rather than seeking out external stimulation.” This doesn’t mean that an introvert is necessarily shy, just that they prefer fewer interactions with large groups of people. The website explains that introverts use up energy in social situations and need to recharge by spending time alone, unlike extroverts who gain energy in social situations. It’s important to note that you can lean more extroverted or introverted but still have characteristics of the other in certain situations. 

Many industries require extroverted tasks — from team meetings and presentations to interacting with clients and after work events. These can all be beneficial to our careers, but for those of us who lean more introverted, they can also be draining. At the end of the week we find ourselves feeling exhausted not only because of hours worked but also because of how much interacting with people we’ve done. Come Friday evening and all we want is to be in the comfort of our own home with a book or Netflix instead of joining friends for dinner!

Just because you’re an introvert in an extroverted job doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re on the wrong career path, or that you aren’t good at what you do; it just requires a little more effort than for someone who is naturally extroverted. If this sounds like you, read on below for our tips on how to stay motivated and energized while managing a social job!