AIBU to ask if you get your energy from being with others or being alone?

[PippaParsnip]

For me, it's being alone.

I love my husband. He's amazing. We get on really well. But I just want to have the day to myself. My kids are older - one is working but lives at home and the other is a young teen. Again, he's fine but annoying in the way that teens are

I work from home and I'm used to being at home ON MY OWN. I get stuff done, I like having the house to myself, I just want to be on my own.

Instead I've had months of DH working from home too for the lost part, the youngest learning from home and the eldest working shifts so in and out

I've realised I need to be alone to gel energised. How about you?

I’ve realised that I need to be alone to feel energised: my DH works a lot of evenings and I’m with the kids all day so I’m used to that time in the evenings. I find it difficult having guests for too many nights and often end up going to bed early to have a bit of time to myself

Alone, but I need people too, to stop me going at 100 mph in my thoughts.

Yep - I hear you. I used to have 9-3 on my own all the time. DH usually works 8-4 ish and I drop my youngest at school for 8.50 and then I work/ be on my own until 3.15 ish

And now - always someone here. And you can't bite someone's head off for simply living in their own home can you?

Both really.

I often feel energised after being with others, but I also feel energised by being alone at times.. I feel I need a good balance between the two.

Both - but I need time in my own every day.
I've lots of friends, loving family etc but have always needed space for me on my own.

Distinctly 50:50. I love my own space but I get bored after a while. I’m most motivated with work once I’ve had a meeting with someone and can chat through some ideas.

Without any meetings I can often sit there for hours at a time completely unmotivated and unable to do anything. It’s very weird.

Both. I love social events and spending time with people; I love being in the office and the camaraderie of all my colleagues (and really miss it currently.) But I clear my head when I’m out running alone or on my cycle commute, and can recharge inside.

Me too I definitely need more alone time than time with others. I think I'll be a hermit in my old age

I need to be alone and recharge regularly although if I'm alone for a full day I start getting anxious and overthinking.
When we are all together at home on a weekend I need to slope off upstairs alone for an hour at some point.

Alone. I've got better. I used to need 2 full hours alone every day. Now am better and even find 1-1 quite energising. Groups finish me off though.

Definitely get my energy from other people and really struggling with months and months of working at home. I'm one of those people (getting my hard hat on) who goes to the supermarket for my mental health.

I need both.

I enjoy my own company and need to just be on my own sometimes to just be. Even if others are quiet it's not the same.

OTOH I love going out, I'm very sociable at work, I love going to festivals gigs cubs pubs etc. Drinking dancing laughing. Sometimes being in a big anonymous crowd and dancing.

So I've got the worst of both at the moment. WFH full time, kids at home etc. No real downtime.

Never going out either.

Bleh.

I definitely need time alone to recharge. Lockdown with young kids and a dh working at home has been hard. I am not usually antisocial but keep getting invited to zoom catch ups with people who are bored and craving company and I just dread it. I do do it still as I know lot of them are lonely and need company but am dreaming of the day lockdown ends and my dh can go visit his parents with the kids for a night leaving me alone.

Alone time! I've worked from home for years and am a loner by nature. I'm finding the current situation VERY trying!

I need some time alone. It’s the definition on introvert v extrovert- where you get your energy. (Although people confuse it with being shy v outgoing). I am an outgoing introvert who likes people 😁 but I get exhausted if I don’t get alone-time.

I get my energy from being with others, always have done, preferably a variety of my friends family and colleagues rather than just DH and DS but Ill take them as I would not cope with lockdown on my own.

Sociable but extreme introvert here, and the lack of alone time in the house is really having an impact (DH also currently working from home and two teens online schooling). It doesn't help that my job is a solid day of interacting with other people so no respite there.

I need a few hours each week at least just to put enough fuel in the tank to get through the next week, and of course right now it's just not happening. The only thing keeping me sane is getting out for a walk most days, but it's not enough as there are still other people around.

I get my energy from being with others.
A small amount of alone time is very enjoyable but then I get sluggish, depressed and unmotivated.

My energy comes from my alone time. I'm a massive introvert. And an occasional exhibitionist

Alone.

I am a confident and outgoing introvert.

Massively prefer my own company.

Alone, definitely! That’s the definition of introvert if I’m not wrong. And extroverts get their energy from socialising. Ambiverts are a mix.

Alone.
Love my husband.
And children.

But definitely SELECTIVELY, friends can energize me...particularly those that crack me up with humour combined with razor intelligence.....

Definitely alone. I like being around people but its not relaxing.

I need both. This year has made me realise just how much I need other people. But I also need some time every day to myself or I can't process everything properly.

I need people. Specifically my friends or siblings. None of whom I’ve seen properly in months so I’m struggling.
I can manage time alone if I have a book if I’m at home or audio book if I’m moving around. Otherwise I just get miserable and binge eat.