Celebrate Introverts
March 16th – 22nd is National Introverts Week.This week is all about celebrating introverts and breaking the stereotypes and stigmas associated with introversion. Author Matthew Pollard (The Introvert’s Edge), founded this week to encourage introverts to be proud of themselves and to prove they can be just as successful as their extroverted counterparts.
So, what is an introvert? Introverts, as described by dictionary.com, is a shy person, or a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings.
Well, this doesn’t make us sound good at all! Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/) has a great list of personality traits that are common to those of us who are introverts.
You prefer time to yourself
Staying in with a good book, crafting, watching movies or any other solitary activity is an ideal way to spend time. MCLS can help with all of these activities, with both materials in our branches and through our virtual branch. You can stay curled up on your couch, under your weighted blanket, and read your fill of magazines and eBooks, or maybe stream a movie or TV show.You are drained by social interactions
A night out can be fun, but you may need a day to recharge before being social again.You prefer working alone
Group work, or open office layout, is overwhelming. Sometimes we’re at our most productive when we can sit alone and just power through a project. The library has books to help you find jobs that are perfect for introverts, or how to make a busy office work for your introverted needs.
You have a close circle of friends and like it that way
You’d rather spend your time with only a few choice people instead of big groups. What about hosting a dinner party to let your friends know how much they mean to you? Here are a few books to help:
You are introspective and curious
Introverts do a lot of thinking and research. Whether it’s a big life decision like buying a house, which brand of dog food is best for your four-legged friend, or trying to find the best meatloaf recipe, introverts will research just to see what information is out there. Head to the library to do that research! We have buying guides, Consumer Reports, and our reference staff can help you find resources for any topic of interest.You’re accused of zoning out a lot
When things get too stressful, chaotic, or uncomfortable, introverts tend to let their minds wander.You prefer writing over talking
Sometimes you just don’t have the energy to hold a conversation, or it might be easier to write out your thoughts instead of speaking them.The Library can help you here too! If you need help we have a number of online options that take away the pressure of talking to someone. Using the help page you can email the reference staff if you have a reference question, or the IT staff if you have a technical question. You can also request an interlibrary loan or suggest items for purchase.
You ‘feel’ more
Studies have shown that introverts feel emotions more deeply and are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health conditions. The library has books and other materials on different mental health conditions, as well as staff willing to help you find resources at the county and state levels. Mercer County’s Department of Human Services has a Division of Mental Health, and you can find a number of resources on their website.--
Just remember Introversion/Extroversion is a spectrum. You have true extroverts, then down the line there are the introverted extroverts, ambiverts, extroverted introverts, and then true introverts.Introverted extroverts and extroverts who enjoy spending time alone and may have a number of introverted traits, but where as an introvert recharges by being alone, an introverted extrovert needs to go out and soak up energy from the very things that drain an introvert.
An ambivert is someone who is right in the middle of an extrovert and an introvert. They are perfectly happy in a group or alone, and when they are drained either option recharges them.
An extroverted introvert could seem to be extroverted on the surface, always on the go and being extremely social but then, being an introvert, they will shut themselves off to recharge.
If you are a fellow introvert, use this week to embrace what you have achieved in your life and don’t feel bad about taking the time you need to recharge, even if that means cancelling plans.
For those extroverts, take some time to acknowledge those introverts in your life. If you have plans with them this week, maybe reach out and let them know it would be okay if they need to cancel.
Find more on introverts in our catalog.
- by Amelia R., IT Department, Lawrence Branch
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