Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Has lockdown turned us into introverts?

36 replies

NannySEN · 15/05/2021 23:15

Now that things are getting back to normal ish, I feel like I’m missing out if I say no to plans. But, as much as I’m jealous of seeing everybody’s fun plastered all over Instagram, I don’t seem to have any interest in meeting up with anyone. It seems like such an effort to get dressed up now whereas I used to love it. A friend asked me to go meet her for a coffee in two weeks time and honestly I just felt like saying no. At the same time, I’m incredibly bored so really need some social interaction, not sure what’s going on! Maybe lockdown has turned me into an introvert. Anyone else?

OP posts:

MsOgyny · 15/05/2021 23:18

I always was an introvert. I seem to have turned into a recluse

SGChome20 · 15/05/2021 23:22

@MsOgyny me too!!

Accidentallydeletedoopsss · 15/05/2021 23:22

Oh definitely!

JoanOgden · 15/05/2021 23:23

I used to be an introvert but lockdown has turned me into an extrovert! I want to spend every day seeing people and ideally snuggling them.

saraclara · 15/05/2021 23:27

Exactly that. I miss people, but I've not managed to summon up the impetus to contact anyone. And when something was arranged I had no enthusiasm for it at all, and would happily have cancelled if the friend wasn't having a really bad time and the guilt would have been worse.

It worries me a bit. I really hope I get my mojo back at some point.

TedsWeeDonkey · 15/05/2021 23:39

I was one anyway and have enjoyed the pressure being off re socialising. Have realised I don't need to see people as much as I did before. The thought of having to get dressed up to go out... no thanks.I also feel weird about having people round and in my space, as a family we've all liked having our space to ourselves.

Original poster

NannySEN · 15/05/2021 23:46

Yeah I’m the same, I have no interest in hosting ever again. According to some personally test I did yonks ago, I’m 71 percent extroverted, maybe they were wrong!

I think it’s down to laziness for me, once I get that mojo back I’ll probably become my extroverted self again.

Interesting to see how different people have been affected though.

OP posts:

OccaChocca · 16/05/2021 00:02

Introvert here.

What I've really loved about this period is not having to tell people what I'm doing at the weekend. I am acutely aware that I am a bit of a dullard but I really don't like having to share that with my work colleagues!

SarahAndQuack · 16/05/2021 00:09

I do know what you mean. I do find myself avoiding things out of a weird kind of anxiety.

But no, lockdown didn't turn me into an introvert! I always thought I was quite introverted and I was quite happy with a lifestyle that meant I could go for days and sometimes weeks not speaking to anyone except DP and DD. But lockdown made me realise how much I depended on being able to break that pattern and be sociable, too!

Hughbert · 16/05/2021 00:10

Another always introvert. I think I have learned that I need to now learn how to say no without feeling guilty or mean or rude, because I feel so much more balanced now and I cannot go back to people pleasing.

ChinOfThanos · 16/05/2021 00:12

I've been wondering this about myself too

SinisterBumFacedCat · 16/05/2021 00:19

I always was an introvert! I have missed things like going to gigs and dancing but realise now I could happily never go to a pub or a works night out again.

NuffSaidSam · 16/05/2021 01:15

I think I've gone slightly the other way. Was a massive introvert before, but now a bit more extrovert (or at least feeling the need for company more than I did before).

Blueberry40 · 16/05/2021 04:48

Have always been an introvert and feel bad saying this as I know many have struggled but lockdown has been a huge relief to me. It’s also reinforced how little I need the company of other people apart from my DP and children.

Things going back to ‘normal’ actually fills me with dread. I haven’t missed socialising or being in the office at all. I’ve gone from feeling completely burned out and constantly knackered to feeling quite content and much more balanced.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/05/2021 07:41

Not me. I've always been an extrovert and am even more so now. I've got things planned for every single weekend up until August and I bloody hope we can do them! Next weekend I'm out for breakfast and dinner on Saturday, then a bottomless brunch on Sunday. Cannot wait.

Original poster

NannySEN · 16/05/2021 08:37

@Waxonwaxoff0 wow go you! I used to be like this but just don’t seem to want to do those things as much as I used to. I think the problem is that I’m gone off being social by night as it revolves around drinking mostly, I’d prefer a bit more balance. Need some social by day ideas maybe?

OP posts:

TheMotherlode · 16/05/2021 08:45

I’m a strong introvert but feel the opposite to you. I’m so looking forward to seeing family and friends. For me though introversion doesn’t mean not wanting to be social, it just means I’m happiest if I do that in small doses. So I’d love to meet friends for a couple of hours for lunch, but then go and do my own thing for the rest of the day. And introversion for me has never meant wanting to just stay in the house, I think that’s a total misconception, I love being outdoors.

newnortherner111 · 16/05/2021 08:54

Is it that it has turned people into introverts, or just brought it our more? People who are pleased there is no hugging, pleased not to attend social events that they went to but never really enjoyed, or even glad to have not gone abroad on holiday because they secretly hate flying.

GreenClock · 16/05/2021 09:12

I think it’s less about introversion and more about being free of social obligations. I’ve seen multiple threads on this topic over the last year. People aren’t willing to return to the liunch-every-other-Sunday-with-sister-and-BiL (for example) commitment because they’ve realised that actually, they didn’t really miss it and they prefer a more relaxed approach to weekends despite being very fond of the people concerned. I also think that many people quietly enjoyed the pared-down Christmas of 2020.

Tal45 · 16/05/2021 09:30

Introvert here. Lockdown has made me want to get out in the world more and do more - just not necessarily with other people.

Bigbluebuttons · 16/05/2021 09:33

I’m fairly reclusive in my natural habitat but now I’m like an anchorite. Julian of Norwich had it bang on.

Winkywonkydonkey · 16/05/2021 09:33

Extroversion is a relatively stable trait so you wouldn't necessarily become more introverted on the scale by a significant amount. Trait activitation theory suggests certain traits are activated when situations are supportive of them though, and in lockdown extroversion wasn't particularly relevant! So I suspect once you have more of a chance to see people then you'll want it more. You still have that base preference for being around a lot of people (introverts do like socialising just not in huge numbers) but you need to get back in the habit of it.

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 16/05/2021 09:39

Introvert here. Lockdown has made me want to get out in the world more and do more - just not necessarily with other people.

I feel exactly the same as this. I’m desperate to get out and explore, I feel like a caged animal.

colourchanginglipstick · 16/05/2021 09:42

@Blueberry40

This describes how I feel perfectly! I really dread the return to the office and the return of that exhausted feeling again. I always knew I was introverted but didn't realise how content I was alone. I haven't been bored either and have been doing loads, just not with people!

MrsBarnstable · 16/05/2021 10:50

I am forcing myself to go out. I'm quite happy with my own company but ultimately I know I have to get back to some sort of normal

Flip

1 2