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Original poster

Any introverts out there appreciate this time?

148 replies

slartibartfastsbeard · 08/04/2020 23:37

I'm just enjoying the chance to be at home and not feel exhausted all the time by social interaction. I'm reading but not responding to group chats about having a big get together once this is all over. I'm just relishing the fact that I can now, unashamedly, stay at home for days on end with a good book or box set and not have to deal with the draining effect of social interaction. That's not to say being at home 24/7 with DH and two teenage boys is a bed of roses, and DH being furloughed on basic wage plus a drop in income for me is extremely worrying, but I find I'm more able to deal with the important things now that I don't have to have other people filling my head.

Any other introverts out there feel similar?

OP posts:
Original poster
slartibartfastsbeard · 09/04/2020 00:15

I think we have a huge percentage of the nation's birds here. I love sitting in the garden listening to their conversations.

I'm a professional flautist and also teach flute and piano and I'm surrounded by music making all the time. I love listening to birdsong and get really pissed off if one of the neighbours is playing music in their garden when I'm enjoying some down time. I can cope with children playing noises, just not music. I've often wondered if this is because I'm surrounded by music all the time or if it's part of the introvertism.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 09/04/2020 00:16

I have to say, I've never been so glad to be an introvert. I am really enjoying just pottering around the house and garden and doing what I feel like every day with no obligation to go to work or see other people. Fortunately I live with two other introverts and don't have small children to entertain. I imagine it must be a different thing altogether if you do.

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 09/04/2020 00:31

God, I'm finding it really tough. I'm used to working from home all the time so now I have people on top of me (literally sometimes - ds) constantly. And everyone wants to catch up on video chats. I used to go days without talking to colleagues, now it's at least once a day. Friends who I had perfectly reasonable text relationships with want to do weekly catch ups. A group I used to work with who had tailed off to Christmas cards now want a virtual drinks! I've never been in so much regular contact and I'm drowning under it. I can't wait until social distancing is over and I can go back to ignoring people. Sad

MinnieMountain · 09/04/2020 07:26

No, because I have a 6yo who wants company all the time and MIL has moved in for the duration.

I've taken to having my first coffee of the day in the garden listening to the sparrows.

What a lovely thing you do @slartibartfastsbeard. DH's aunt is a professional flautist and played at our wedding.

naughtycat · 09/04/2020 07:29

I'm loving it. As I said on other thread, but scared about how long it might go on for...but when I stay in the moment, I love it. For the first time in the history of the world, it is totally acceptable to be an introvert

Michaelbaubles · 09/04/2020 07:29

I’m happy not to have to go out and sitting in my garden is more than enough outside for me! However I’m a teacher and miss proper teaching (have started dreaming about it) - although an introvert I enjoy teaching as it’s all very much on my own terms! I do have two young children here who like to be ON me as much as they can which is wearing and when they’ve stopped DP starts wanting me RIGHT NEXT to him so I wouldn’t mind a couple of days where I got locked down all on my own 😂

fairyfingers · 09/04/2020 07:36

Sort of.

Having dh and dds around all the time can be tricky especially as dds understandably want a lot of me at the moment. They have also pushed bedtime back to later than mine in the Easter holiday weeks which is all a bit much.

I am actually yearning for a quiet hour by myself tbh. I seem to have less time than before.

TheMildManneredMilitant · 09/04/2020 07:37

I'm an introvert too but now I feel like I get no time on my own. I live in the suburbs too so while it could be a lot worse there's no access to countryside and solitude. I am daydreaming about spending a week in a tent on my own, in the middle of nowhere.

Sarcelle · 09/04/2020 07:50

Yes, me. Used to be an extrovert but as I have got older all I need are my own 4 walls, a good book, nice food and DH. I miss being able to walk where you want. Luckily we have some good parks near me, no sunbathers etc, just people in the distance walking like me. Some of the streets near me have very large houses with mature trees and lovely gardens, so even if I can't get to the park, I can still see nature and hear birdsong.

I will struggle to go back to an office setting. I hated it before, will struggle to go back.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 09/04/2020 07:59

Yes, I'm enjoying it. I'm on the 'noisy' end of the introversion spectrum but throw ASD in and I am very content to be at home. I am still working, but with a company laptop from my quiet house. I can hear birds tweeting, have my radio on quietly and only need to interact with my work mates once a day. I like them, but some of them are exhausting. I was heading for exhaustion before this actually; low level poorly for months and very tired all the time. Now I feel pretty good.

Somebodystired · 09/04/2020 08:01

Yes, me! I also have struggled with depression and anxiety so find it very surprising that I am coping so well with this, even enjoying it! I have a very loud energetic 3 year old but I am loving every second of this time with him. I haven't raised my voice once in weeks. We are relaxed and calm and loving each others company. I'm also working full time still BUT with a massively reduced workload due to looking after him, no risk of furlough or paycut, and am saving £300 a month on not commuting. I realise this is an incredibly fortunate circumstance but it really takes away a lot of stress.

Tumbleweed101 · 09/04/2020 08:06

I’m still working but on very reduced hours so feel I’m getting best of both worlds. A little bit of interaction with colleagues that I’m good friends with but lots of extra time at home. No school runs or rushing around, leisurely days without feeling guilty for not going out somewhere. Not needing to dress or tidy for unexpected guests. My children are older so can get on with their own thing and I’ve spent more time with my 19yo dd the last few weeks than I have in a year or so as she’s moved back during lockdown which is nice.

hiredandsqueak · 09/04/2020 08:12

I'm loving it. At home with two autistic (teens and twenties) kids who find social interaction a challenge. They are happy and chilled like never before. I walk the dog once a day and love the fact it's completely acceptable to shout good morning and not stop to make conversation. I miss my older two but we speak regularly and text a lot so it doesn't feel too bad tbh.

supercee · 09/04/2020 08:15

I am loving it. Although I am still working, I'm treating that as an inconveniences as it's so quiet and my colleague seems to be expecting me to provide all the social/emotional aspects he's lacking which is really starting to grate.

Sometimes it's lonely as I'm by myself but I also stress in social situations and like my own company so this period is suiting me fine. I'm concentrating now on cutting down on alcohol, trying to lose right and I'm generally being more productive then before lockdown, even though my life hasn't changed much.

I used to be persuaded (doesn't take much) to go down the pub even when I didn't really want to, which would usually lead to me drinking too much, spending too much and hating myself the day after for a below average night just because sometimes staying in alone isn't that attractive. I'm glad that option has been taken away from me.

cookiemonster5 · 09/04/2020 08:17

Oh yes I love staying home. I'm missing going out for a walk with the pram and zoning out with my music while my toddler naps and I'm struggling to get any time to myself but I'm not anxious over socialising and having to see people.

I had a discussion with my eldest the other week about our ideal places to live. I told him I wanted to live on an island completely alone with no neighbours. He wanted to know why I wanted to be isolated so I told him "I don't like people" Grin

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/04/2020 08:24

I was saying this to DP last night 🤭. I love that I don’t have to have all the small talk daily that I used to endure. Nothing makes me happier than to open my door and find the ringee at the end of my drive waving furiously. Getting a device shoved in my face whilst trying to make the stylus signature look anything other than a blob used to really stress me out. As did all the other people who would rap on the door regularly.

I did used to enjoy engaging with friends in the school run but I didn’t realise how much I hated talking to all the other sods lol.

SallyWD · 09/04/2020 08:27

Yes I'm an introvert and we had lots of plans over the next few months (people coming to stay, days out with friends, visiting family etc). It's really nice to be given permission to cancel all plans and live a quiet life. However I am now constantly with the kids and DH (before I'd have 2 days of quiet time where the kids were at school and I wasn't working) so that's a bit tiring for me.

blackteaplease · 09/04/2020 08:28

God not me I am an introvert but I'm getting very little me time. I am either working from home with interaction with colleagues or on mum duty for my 3 dc. I miss my commute and my pilates class. I get zero quiet at the moment.

mamaduckbone · 09/04/2020 08:42

Me. I keep feeling guilty at how easy I'm finding it.

JohnFinlaysNewTeeth · 09/04/2020 08:44

Yes and no.
Yes because I’m feeling recharged and energetic in my own bubble.
No because the anxiety when life returns to normal will kill me. I already get anxiety belly thinking about it. I’m starting a new job when all this is over too so that’s another major change. The socialisation will be expected relatively quickly with family which is always hard for me, and friends (less hard but still exhausting).

LittleCandle · 09/04/2020 08:55

I'm an extroverted introvert, in that I enjoy the social interaction in my job, but love to be at home and not go out. So I am really enjoying this period to recharge my batteries and stitch and read and stuff to my heart's content. I might not have a job to go back to, as the company I work for is small, but there is nothing I can do about that, so I am trying not to worry.

SockQueen · 09/04/2020 08:58

Not really. 3.5 year old and 10 month old together all the time = no alone time for me!

Dogsaresomucheasier · 09/04/2020 09:07

Even in normal times I’m much better at social interaction online. I think a lot of my colleagues are appreciating me more at the moment.

Rhubardandcustard · 09/04/2020 09:13

Yeah me and my dd both introverts. Her more than me, I think it’s highlighted which friends I really need and appreciate. Dd loving it but do worry that she will find it hard once school starts back as she will be (hopefully) starting 6th form college and most of her close friendship group are staying at her current school. She’s even reluctant to go out on our once a day walks, and worry that avoiding even being near people is going to make our social interactions harder once we are back to normal.

NoSquirrels · 09/04/2020 09:15

What MotherForkingShirtBalls said!
I WFH full time anyway. Now I have to WFH with all the extroverts wanting video chats, the children needing homeschooling or occupying, the husband with competing office video chat needs and No Escape. No cafe for a change of scene, no everyone else out of the house, etc. And I’m working twice as hard and would love to read books, garden, hang with the kids and bake. But there’s no time!
I know I’m lucky really but it is hard in an unexpected way.