Introvert Brownie leaders... If you have the energy to engage

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

I can't find the guides etc section so posting here instead...

I'm home from Brownies a shell of a woman. Don't get me wrong, the girls are fantastic and the other leaders are great, but ye gods it's simply exhausting and I am utterly worn out when I get home. I try to do the admin parts of the meeting (doing the register, setting up activities, etc) as a way of managing myself, but of course engaging with the girls is the priority. This evening was particularly draining as we have a large new cohort who needed a lot of tlc (which I of course gave) after the Halloween break.

A Friday evening meeting is never going to help things, but since I can't change that, if any introvert leaders can tell me how you manage, I'd happily take any advice!

I'm a rainbows leaders (and will be a Brown Owl in September), but there's no way I'd do a Friday meeting.
Why can't you change it? We're going to adjust both time and days when we take over. It has to work for the volunteers running the meeting.

We have 4 leaders and take it in turns to actually run the meetings. We all have our own style, I'm much more energetic that everyone else and quite like to get them enthused and lively. 2 of the other leaders are quieter and just do more relaxed activities.

Unfortunately Friday evening is the only time we can have access to the hall we use, so changing the time/day isn't possible. And we don't have enough leaders (or parent helpers) to alternate meetings. It's something we keep promising we'll do once we get more on board and would it really help all of us tbh.

It's not the activities or the girls themselves that exhaust me, it's being around other people (any people who aren't my own children, and even then I need a break from them!) who need me for extended periods and the two hours a meeting takes is full on and draining. Believe it or not, I'm considered a people person and I work a room well, but it leaves me worn out. I'm only a leader a couple of years so maybe it will come with time, but right now any other introvert survival tips would help!