I’m an outgoing introvert. I like hanging out in small groups, for a while, and then I like to come home and get into my sweatpants. You may or may not find me wearing those same sweatpants the next morning at work, in our home office. If I STILL have those same sweatpants on that evening, I know things have gotten out of hand and it’s time for me to go for a bike ride, meet a friend for coffee, or just take a shower.
It’s not just good hygiene. It’s good business.
I learned early on in entrepreneurship that it’s super important to be intentional with your schedule, especially as an introvert. As self-motivated as I am, too many office days in a row make me feel depressed. Too many meetings, shoots or events in a row drain me. Balance is king. It keeps me sane, and it forces me to get outside of my comfort zone and outside of myself!
Introverted entrepreneurs! Ditch the sweatpants and ditch the comfort zone. Staring at your computer won’t spark any creativity. I know you might just want to be alone. You might already have a long list of reasons why it’s okay that you’re a shut-in. BUT IT’S NOT OKAY! Being around other people can be hard work for us introverts. But we have to use our strengths to our advantage (small groups & one-on-one conversations), rather than letting our weaknesses (ginormous networking events or ANY room full of more more than 5 people) get the best of us.
A few tips for introverted entrepreneurs:
- Hang out with other creatives, in small groups.
- Make yourself go to one event a quarter that leaves you craving sweatpants and alone time.
- Just listen. Be a sounding board for someone without co-workers.
- Have coffee with a new social media friend. One-on-one dates aren’t so bad!
- Invite an entrepreneur friend (or a small group) to your place to work.
- Only schedule meetings on one or two days a week, so you can keep your energy high the other days.
Introverts! What else do you do to make the most of your work days and sanity?
