6 Signs Of Being An Introvert

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Do you prefer cosy nights in, snuggled under a blanket, reading your next favourite book, or binging the current hit series? Or the thought of socialising with a group of people simply exhausts you, let alone doing it. If you find yourself in any of these scenarios, chances are you might be showing signs of being an introvert.

While introversion is typically mistaken for shyness and solitude, it is a unique personality trait that speaks volumes about how you interact with the world and where you draw your inspiration from. Moreover, since this topic has garnered much attention in recent years, many people keep asking themselves, “Am I an introvert or an extrovert?”. To provide some insight into the matter, today I will focus on the world of introversion, taking note of what it is, its unique types, as well as the signs of being an introvert.

What Is An Introvert?

An introvert is a person who displays signs of introverted behaviour, meaning that they get stimulation from internal sources, like feelings and thoughts, instead of external ones. Typically, these people are quiet and don’t like to socialise with too many people. They prefer spending time in a close-knit community instead of going out of their way to make new acquaintances. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case.

Generally, people are separated into two social categories – introverts and extroverts – the former taking 25 to 40% of the population. But in reality, since the two groups are polar opposites, most people fall in the middle since they can display behaviour from both traits. The main difference is that extroverts focus on the external environment and the people around them, making them outgoing and active. In contrast, introverts are more inclined to focus on their internal thoughts and feelings and are usually socially isolated.

Types Of Introverts

The spectrum of introversion is pretty broad, and in most cases, people will exhibit both types of personality traits. The behaviour, however, is based on their personal liking. For that matter, Jonathan Cheek, a psychologist and researcher, has developed a STAR model of introversion and has separated introverts into four types:

Restricted Introverts – these people tend to get lost in their thoughts and are inclined to overthink. As a result, decision-making is not easiest for them, and making up their mind may take up a long time.
Social Introverts – or so-called extroverted introverts, this group like to socialise and spend their time with a small group of people they feel comfortable with.
Anxious Introverts – nervousness is a common occurrence for this type of introvert, and they tend to avoid social interactions because of it.
Thinking Introverts – similarly to restricted introverts, they spend a lot of time in their head but can make decisions rather quickly. Usually, they express themselves better creatively.

Introvert Characteristics

Now that you know the fundamentals of introversion, you might be more aware of some signs of being an introvert. Let’s delve into some introverted personality traits to provide more clarity on the matter.

1. Solitude Above All

In most cases, introverts prefer spending their time alone or within a small community instead of socialising with large groups of people. They feel comfortable in the silence and tranquillity, which allows them to recharge and reflect. As solitude is a prominent sign of being an introvert, people who lean towards it use this time to make decisions, as silence can be quite stimulating.

2. Endless Train Of Thought

As previously mentioned, introverts love to overthink – and most of the time, they’re unaware of it. One of the reasons they might be so quiet constantly is that they are thinking of the outcomes of their situation. Usually, this can be pretty hard to turn off, as they often find themselves thinking of something embarrassing that happened five years ago – and they simply cannot let go of it.

3. No Desire For The Limelight

Unlike extroverts, introverts usually find themselves in the back of the crowd. The thought of being the centre of attention can be terrifying for them, and they like to cover up by being quiet and shy. In that regard, they like to communicate their ideas face-to-face, without an audience, and have no desire to expose themselves publicly.

4. Social Interactions Are Draining

Since introverted people like to spend their time alone, being social with people is not a priority on their to-do lists. When they need to interact, the action can often lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Although it may feel like they’re displaying antisocial behaviour, know that introvert burnout is real and quite common. In such cases, some introvert hobbies like solo hiking, camping, gardening, creative writing, scrapbooking, pottery, sewing, etc.; can be incredibly helpful to recharge and soothe their being.

5. Small Talk Is A No-No

Introverts prefer their conversations to be insightful and thought-provoking, typically on the topic of something they’re passionate about. Alternatively, small talk and a simple “What’s up” is something that they tend to avoid, simply because it’s meaningless. Additionally, introverts can get afraid of striking up a conversation and might come off as shy as a result of not engaging in small talk.

6. Planning Instead Of Spontaneity

Since introverts tend to be inward-turning, they usually like to have their time planned down to the T. Typically, they know what their day will be like, where they’ll go on vacation months ahead, etc. That said, being spontaneous does not come off naturally for them. It’s not that they’re not adventurous, just the thought of engaging in activities that feel unfamiliar can cause anxiety and get overstimulating. If you have any introverted friends yourself, make sure to notify them ahead of time, and pick activities you know they’ll surely enjoy.

As you can see, many characteristics can be signs of being an introvert, and I hope to have clarified them. Although they might seem timid and hard to get to know, introverts have many positive qualities and can be pretty easy to get along with – they just need time to come out of their shell. If you feel introverted yourself, don’t see your personality traits as flaws – your characteristics are perfectly healthy, and there’s nothing wrong with spending time with yourself. In fact, it’s encouraged!

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