For introverts, micro-charging consists of small things that add a small boost to the energy cup, such as snacking on an energy bar.
I’ve known for a long time that I am introvert who needs time to recharge. And by “filling time” I mean the time spent filling my social glass. All introverts have a need to be alone and recharge for social interactions. We can retreat for whole evenings, weekends or even individual trips to recharge our energy. I especially like living alone because it gives me more time alone to simply enjoy my company.
Over the years, I’ve realized that I need more than big blocks of social time. This was especially true when I worked in an “extroverted” position which required hours of meetings with clients and colleagues and the dreaded never-ending small talk. To balance things out, I’ve started incorporating what I call “micro-top-ups”—little things that add a little refill to the glass, kind of like how snacking on an energy bar gives you a temporary boost. It does not replace large filling periods (the “meals” of the day). More like snacks between meals. I snack almost every day and I also microcharge almost every day.
Here are seven ways I micro-charge throughout the day and how you can use it to top up your social glass with small refills.
7 ways to micro-charge as an introvert
1. Spend time in nature – take a walk during your lunch break.
When I worked in an officeI always tried to leave my desk for 15 minutes a day and breathe fresh air. I was lucky to always work near a park where I could relax. There is something about the openness of a public park that I love as an introvert. If you don’t have a local park, try a walk around the block or to the nearest store.
Breathe deeply, look at the landscape around you, and make a mental note of what you see. It’s an almost meditative practicewhich gives not only a social cup level, but also an actual physical boost. Nature naturally recharges introverted people — you’ll see!
The key to this recharge period is not for that talk to him anyone. Walking briskly, as if it knows where you’re going, makes you look busy and makes people less likely to approach you. This is also helped by placing the earphones over the earphones or plugging in the earplugs.
2. Read a chapter of your favorite book (instead of engaging in social media).
I love to read, and over the years I’ve found that escaping into someone else’s story is a nice break from my own. Besides, you’re really nobody there is to speak because reading is a very solitary activity. Chapter lengths vary, as does our reading speed, so you can set a goal to read a chapter of a fiction book, or perhaps part of a non-fiction book. You can read something light, romantic, difficult, mysterious – the possibilities are endless!
You can also recover the apparently “wasted” time in this way. With a book close at hand, on your phone or in your bag, you can easily read a chapter doomscrolling on social mediawhich can increase introverted anxiety.
3. Prepare a warm drink, such as a cup of soothing tea.
For many people, hot drinks are the basis of the working day and an ideal moment to recharge. It is not unusual to excuse yourself to make a hot drink and they give me a few minutes of peace.
Even if a colleague is lying in wait while you make a drink, still have a hot drink at your table. You can spend many little moments simply enjoying your drink, breathing, inhaling the vapor and blocking out the noise around you.
Do you ever struggle to know what to say?
Someone asks, “Why are you so quiet?” A co-worker corners me when you are exhausted. A friend strives to plan you don’t have the energy for it.
Later he thinks I wish I had said something.
I’ve been there too. That’s why I created it Confident introverted scripts.
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4. Drink lots (and lots) of water.
Getting and drinking lots of water is like making a hot drink. He pauses to grab the glass of water, then take his time sipping. Besides, it is Good for you! It may not change your life, but it gives you a moment to be away from people. And as an introvert, that time is golden.
Drinking lots of water also leads to the next point…
5. Take lots of bathroom breaks.
Another escape I used to implement (and still do at social events) is to make regular trips to the bathroom, even when I didn’t need to use the facilities. I would simply go into a booth, sit down, and take a minute to do some breathing exercises, stretch, or close my eyes and escape somewhere else for a minute. (It’s no secret that we introverts are big dreamers!)
In the current climate, your excuse is to simply wash your hands. No one will suspect that you keep disappearing because everyone does these things. You can simply do them as a bit of an introvert and use them as a mini recharge period.
6. Practice box breathing (which you can do anywhere!).
Meditation and breathing techniques can be overwhelming if you haven’t done them before, but box breathing is one of my favorites and it’s super easy to do.
Box breathing includes simply breathe in and out for four beats (counting silently in your head) and hold your breath for four beats – inhale, hold, exhale, hold, repeat. You close your eyes and imagine that you are drawing the first line of a box, and then each subsequent line until the box is completely formed in your mind. Keep breathing like this, drawing boxes, until you can run away from people without noticing your absence.
Breathing helps calm your nerves, but it also helps you escape to a place where there’s no chatter to engage you. As an introvert, this is a dream come true for me. (I’m sure you can relate!)
7. Listen to an audiobook or podcast.
There’s an almost unwritten rule that you shouldn’t talk to someone when your headphones are on (or turned on). As an introvert, I take advantage of this by wearing headphones every moment I want to recharge.
Commuting, daily walks, and lately I’ve even started plugging in headphones while shopping are excellent opportunities for mini charging. Anytime I’ve downloaded an audiobook to my phone and just plug in my headphones and continue the chapter while I’m doing the activity.
Listening to an audiobook keeps me away from conversations, allows for a mini recharge, and I find myself “reading” more books than ever before. Total win-win. If you like podcasts, it worksalso. Anything that takes your mind off the current overload will work. 
