Introverts how do you get your downtime?

nola1202 · Aug 11, 2011

I get out of the city and go for a long hike with my dog. Sometimes a invite a friend, but mostly I like to be alone. I end up sleeping a lot too, leads to depression and dreading going back to work. When it gets cold I'll be reading books, doing needle work and drawing. Maybe go out for coffee with a quiet friend.

How bout you what helps you recharge?

MunoRN, RN · Aug 11, 2011

I've found working nights is more conducive to introverts (I'm an INFP), I can handle the atmosphere of days but I do find I need to make more of an effort 'recharge' - a trip to the bathroom for a couple minutes of guaranteed alone time, for instance. Working ICU is also better for introverts, an unconscious patient in the middle of a quiet night is about as good as it gets for us. Working nights also gives me an excuse to be up late on my nights off and do things introverts enjoy, like grocery shopping at 1 in the morning.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2011

I've found working nights is more conducive to introverts (I'm an INFP), I can handle the atmosphere of days but I do find I need to make more of an effort 'recharge' - a trip to the bathroom for a couple minutes of guaranteed alone time, for instance. Working ICU is also better for introverts, an unconscious patient in the middle of a quiet night is about as good as it gets for us. Working nights also gives me an excuse to be up late on my nights off and do things introverts enjoy, like grocery shopping at 1 in the morning.

I agree 100%. I am a MedSurg nurse and I agree that the floor can be very stressful for introverts, but it is better on nights because we tend to work more autonomously anyhow.

My mom doesn't get why I like to grocery shop at 4 AM. Have you ever shopped at 4PM? THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE STORE! I'm kidding (mostly) but I think being around people burns me out a lot more than stress from my actual work duties.

Those who know me and love me are well aware that I occasionally "hermit out," especially if I've worked several days in a row or I've been visiting with friends for a few days. One of the most unintentionally cool things I ever did was stay by myself in a hotel. Unintentional because I was stranded in Tampa overnight, but it turned out to be awesome because I could do WHATEVER I WANTED. (And yes I did jump on the bed for about 30 seconds haha.)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2011

I'm a hardcore introvert who functions best on night shift: few doctors, fewer visitors and family members, many of the patients are sleeping, no management, etc. Therefore, nights offer far less stimulation for me.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2011

PS - I am an INTJ. Apparently we are less than 4% of the population!

Guest717236 · Aug 12, 2011

Horseback riding, love trail riding - its my stress reduction technique...

rn/writer, RN · Aug 12, 2011

INTP here. I work noc shift and MUCH prefer it to days with all the traffic--both cars and humans. I'm 90% introvert, so alone time is very important to me. I use it for reading, writing, computer stuff and just being. When dh is home a lot, I take long hot baths and read in the silence.

I also like to shop during odd hours. DH and I sometimes go out for breakfast after work (he's a confirmed third-shifter, too), or we'll do lunch and an afternoon movie when the theater is nearly deserted. Once in a while we end up going out on a Friday night or shopping Saturday afternoon and we just cringe and say, "Oh yeah, this is why we stick to off hours."

Once a year, dh joins some of his siblings and other family members at his sister's cabin about six hours away. It's a little too primitive for my taste, so I stay home. There are times when I go an entire day (or longer) without uttering a single word. An extrovert would probably start fidgeting and foaming at the mouth. I just sigh with deep enjoyment and reach for my book.

stellarweb · Aug 20, 2011

I get out of the city and go for a long hike with my dog. Sometimes a invite a friend, but mostly I like to be alone. I end up sleeping a lot too, leads to depression and dreading going back to work. When it gets cold I'll be reading books, doing needle work and drawing. Maybe go out for coffee with a quiet friend.
How bout you what helps you recharge?

I like long hikes too. Just looking at the greenery is so soothing.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Aug 20, 2011

I'm an INFJ and I'm extremely introverted, but I also suffer from SAD and could never work nights without getting seriously depressed. I come home and I have to have complete quiet- no people around me, no TV or music, and it takes me at least an hour to wind down. I stretch my muscles, stress-eat , and read blogs on the computer, make lists, or journal about my day. Sometimes I take my dogs for a walk but even that can be too stimulating. If I don't get enough alone time after work I shut down when I have to interact with people. For instance this afternoon some friends were hanging around outside and I went in the house for 45 minutes and forced myself to go out and interact with them but I found myself sitting around like a zombie so here I am inside again!

I wish i knew a better way to relax and process, because sometimes I feel like I'm still wound up at bedtime.

Ireanne · Sep 8, 2011

During the shift, I find that I do a lot of internal counting. I still wear the mask of the attentive, caring nurse, but in my head I slowly count to ten. This gives me the mental space to prioritize the social demands of the moment. No matter how stressful the situation, no matter how many people are competing for your attention right NOW, the moment will pass. If this doesn't help, the linen closet is always a refreshing place for a quick thirty second break from the demanding chaos. Also, day shift is too much for me. Too much.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2011

Also, day shift is too much for me. Too much.

Day shift is a bit much for me, too. I know that night shift is more difficult to work when one has a family life or active social situation, but I prefer working night shift to maintain my sanity. Day shift feels like organized chaos to me. There are way too many people with far too many demands during daylight hours, and I feel as if I am being pulled in multiple directions.