Anyone else an introvert but also bored with their own company?!

[Lalallama]

Feeling a bit fed up - I feel as though I waste the weekends thinking I should be doing something but not sure what. DH and the DCs are all quite introverted/shy too so we are often all in the house under each others’ feet.

I think I’d like it if the DCs were interested in a sport or seeing their friends outside of school so I could feel useful driving them around, and knowing they are happy, but they never want to go out. DH is quite happy sitting on his phone all day, I wish he saw friends too but he doesn’t really keep in touch with people.

I like cycling and I’m in a club, and have been out for a long ride this morning, but now just sitting about wondering what to do with myself. I should probably do one of the many jobs around the house that needs doing but I can’t be arsed! I could arrange to see friends but I’m not sure I have the energy for socialising and I imagine they’re probably busy.

This seems to happen most weekends. Keep thinking I should book something to look forward to - summer holiday or visiting friends or something but it all seems like a massive effort. I don’t think I’m depressed, I have suffered with depression before - this just feels as though I’m just a bit sort of lost and not sure what I want/need to do.

I feel as though everyone else, and their families, are out living a fun and interesting life and we do very little and I’m bored, but the thought of having places to go and people to see makes me feel quite stressed. Does anyone else get this feeling?

Yes, this resonates.

Even introverts need social interaction / stimulation. When I’m feeling this way if I can’t make a social plan I’ll tend to arrange a phone call or if all else fails I get out for a walk to connect me to nature / the wider world. Either that or lose myself in a book or binge watching something which seems to provide me some human connections

You need hobbies.

Most of the introverts I know, myself included, are happy by themselves because we have tons of hobbies we feel like we never have enough time to spend on. Learn a language, various art mediums, crafting, cooking, legos, model building, lock picking, wood working, writing etc. You just have to find the right ones for you.

I’m glad someone understands my ramblings! It doesn’t help that I’m quite a ‘doing’ kind of person - I like to be busy, and feel guilty just sitting about. So I feel I should be sorting out the fence that is close to blowing over in the garden or cleaning the car or something, but my motivation seems to have deserted me lately. A walk in nature sounds a good idea - I might do that before it gets dark to try to blow the cobwebs a bit.

Gardening! That’s something I enjoy but I don’t go out there much in the winter, but I should try.

I think Sundays quite often encourage that feeling of malaise too!

Forward planning is key......

Get something in the diary to look forward to every week. The other week we were away. This week we went out to dinner with friends. Next weekend I'm working but seeing another friend for dinner. I've got two theatre visits and a cinema visit in the next couple of months.

Socialising is quite hard work for most people and the less you do, the more hard work it is. Everyone is finding it hard work at the moment after Covid.

You have to just plan things in advance - yes, it is an effort but that's life. You can also factor in guilt-free sitting about time to re-charge.

Sometimes kids need to be encouraged to pick a hobby too and commit to it one a week so that they get used to doing things outside the house.

I do understand how you feel.