When rest is exhausting: how introverts can recharge their batteries

Introverts are familiar with the feeling of needing another holiday after their holiday: too many meetings and impressions. A holiday that truly recharges their batteries is organised differently. With references to research, we explore where introverts can relax and what types of leisure activities restore their energy rather than drain it.

How introverts differ from extroverts and ambiverts

Introverts and extroverts were first described in 1921 by psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung in his book Psychological Types. An introvert is not someone who is shy or avoids people: they recharge by turning inward — to their own thoughts and feelings. An extrovert looks outward, interacting with events and their surroundings.

Later, psychologist Hans Eysenck added a physiological basis to Jung’s concept: according to this theory, introverts have a higher baseline level of cortical arousal, so they reach the threshold of sensory overload more quickly. For extroverts, on the contrary, an intense environment — noise, intense communication, new information — is a source of emotional uplift. Studies confirm that their dopamine system reacts more actively to communication, motivating them to interact with people more often.

Why classic leisure activities are not suitable for introverts

Most common holiday scenarios — noisy groups, entertainment in public places, constant change of impressions — can be tiring and quickly exhaust introverts for two reasons.

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Sensitive nervous system. Socialising, especially in large groups, creates many auditory and visual signals that the brain has to work hard to process.

Energy depletion. Psychologists say that intense socialising requires a high level of cognitive resources — tracking speech, emotions, context, and keeping up with the pace of conversation. Even an evening in pleasant company can leave introverts feeling drained.

This does not mean that they do not want to go to concerts, cafes or parties — introverts also find these things interesting and enjoyable. But while an extrovert can spend time in a noisy crowd after work and feel mentally refreshed the next day, the opposite personality type will need time to recover after such an outing.

How to tell when an introvert is overwhelmed

A special nervous system is another factor that exacerbates ‘social exhaustion.’ It is described as fatigue from communication, also called ‘introvert burnout’ or ‘introvert hangover.’ This is not a medical diagnosis, but a real experience that anyone can encounter.

Signs of social exhaustion:

• irritability for no reason;
• a feeling of inner emptiness;

a desire to limit contact — not responding to messages, cancelling meetings, avoiding conversations;

physical symptoms — a feeling of heaviness in the head, fatigue, headaches, difficulty sleeping.

People describe this state as follows: they don’t even have the energy for enjoyable activities, they want to turn off the sound, put their phone away and stop responding to any requests. The overload is also noticeable in behaviour: procrastination arises, a desire to postpone any decisions, shut oneself in a room or go for a long walk alone.

It is important to understand that this is not a sign of weakness or social incompetence, but a signal that resources are depleted and need to be replenished. Below are three steps on how to do this.