Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?

Have you ever taken the Myers-Brigg’s type indicator test? It’s basically a personality test that reveals differing psychological preferences in how we perceive the world and make decisions and can be scarily accurate! It’s also become hugely popular as a management tool within the workplace as it creates awareness of differing personal and professional traits and encourages a greater level of understanding amongst teams. I was offered the chance to attend a workshop last week where we discovered what “type” we were and how our type should be treated by others. It also taught us how to identify other personality types and how best to manage them which in an close work environment can be testing even for the best of us! It was an intense day full of psycho-analysis but by the end of the workshop I discovered I was type “ESFP” which can be broken down as: E = Extraversion (how I focus my attention and get my energy) S = Sensing (How I perceive or take in information) F = Feeling (How I prefer to make decisions) P = Perception (How I orientate myself to the external world) This will all sound like a lot of mumbo jumbo if you haven’t taken the test before but I found it unbelievable how accurate the “type” I was given fitted me and made me realise that I’m not a scatter brain because I don’t care, it’s my type! I also found that ESFP’s are true helpers and eternal people pleasers which wasn’t a huge surprise (my name is Greek for “helper of mankind” for frig sake) and that they love to lift others’ spirits with their contagious good humour and their irrepressible joy of living (you’re welcome!). The not so great side of an ESFP is that we can be a little too sensitive to criticism and avoid conflict at all costs which can be tough trait to have at home and at work for both us and everyone around us. Aside from finding out that I am a needy wuss, another thing I found super interesting was how my own definition of an extrovert and introvert was all wrong. I had long assumed that extroverts are the super confident socialites who have no problem with talking in a crowd and that introverts were the typical shy mousey-types that cower when spoken to. All wrong! Being an extrovert or an introvert is actually the way in which we gain our energy and isn't at all about confidence. Extroverts gain energy from being around other people and might find their energy levels are zapped when they spend too much time alone. I identified hugely with this because while I do look forward to a quiet evening at home now and again, I notice that I become a bit down when I do this too much. This is especially wearying during the winter when we all tend to retreat inside and social gatherings can become less frequent (Christmas craziness aside). Introverts on the other hand gain energy from being alone and tend to feel drained after spending a long time in a large crowd. Introverts are stimulated much more easily than extroverts so being amongst a big group of people might feel a little overwhelming. This doesn't mean they're shy or that they avoid social situations, it just means that being alone with their thoughts can be as restorative to them as sleeping and are a necessity for them to recharge their batteries. Of course there are the ambiverts amongst us who feel that they fall in the middle. In fact, most of us actually are ambiverts because if we fell at at the extreme end of extraversion or introversion we might be a little wacky! Either way we will still be a little more on one side than the other and so should address this side of our personality when we are feeling low and in need of a recharge. We should prioritise those moments we know will lift us out of the funk we are in, especially at this time of year when the dark evenings can drag us down a little. Here are a few tips, whether you're an extrovert or introvert, on how to recharge those batteries this winter.

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5 Ways To Gain Energy This Winter

Extroverts

1. Become a hostess/host once a week and invite a different group of friends over for dinner. I love having people in my house for food and I've decided to try and host friends once a week for a big meal and lots of conversation which I know will lift me up, especially in the middle of the week when I'm feeling meh.
2. Join a club whether it's a book club, wine club or friggin' Stranger Things club. I joined my office book club as a way to get me reading more but it's also something I look forward to because it helps me break up my week with interesting conversation. Do a little digging and get yourself out there (I'm going to Mel Wiggin's Assembly Gatherings this winter because being around creative people is a sure fire way to inspire the bejaysus out of me).
3. Stop eating lunch at your desk! I can do this out of bad habit but when I make a conscious effort to eat step away from the computer and eat with friends I have so much more energy in the afternoon.
4. Get your partner and friends involved in decorating the house and wrapping presents this festive season. Blast the Christmas music, get the mulled wine on and the fire lit to fill your house full of festive cheer.
5. Volunteer for a worthy cause whether it be at your local homeless centre or charity shop. Whatever it is, ensure you are engaging with people that you know you can help and who might help you too.

Introverts

1. Prioritise social events with people who make you feel comfortable. You know those mates you've known since you were a cub and can still make you laugh until your sides hurt? Make plenty of time for them this winter and decline invites to events that fill your tummy with dread.
2. Go for a solo walk on your lunch break. Fill your lungs with fresh air and clear your mind of all the crap you've just had to listen to all morning. You will feel so much better.
3. Introduce a social media ban after a certain time in the evening and stick to it. Your mind can't focus when you have too much stimulation so try and hide your phone in the next room when you're trying to dive in to that good book you're reading.
4. Block book at least one evening a week to do nothing over the festive period. This time of year can become a bit manic so be kind to yourself and give yourself the time you need to unwind.
5. Make Christmas shopping fun by treating yourself to a little afternoon on your own. Get your list written down so you don't go a bit mad in the shops, treat yourself to a hot chocolate (or something stronger) on your breaks and finish the day with a wee pamper (I've been dying to try the Jo Malone counter in House of Fraser for ages!)

I hope you find these tips helpful this winter but in the meantime, take the quiz and let me know what personality type you get - I'm fascinated to know who everyone is now! If you read this then you might also like this.