It’s been a full season, vacations, conferences, public speaking, family get-togethers. All really good things. Things I’m grateful for. But if I’m honest, my introvert side is starting to protest a little.
If you’re like me, you might be someone who can show up, be “on,” carry conversations, and even lead the room, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy or that it doesn’t come with a cost. I’m the textbook version of an extroverted introvert. I love people. I love meaningful conversation. I love connection. But I also need space, quiet, time to think and just be.
So, what do you do when life doesn’t allow for much recharging? When you’re in a season of nonstop engagement, but your soul is begging for stillness?
Here are a few things that help me:
- Keep a little time for yourself – every single day.
For me, it’s getting up early. Having my cup of coffee before anyone else is awake. Taking a walk. Letting the silence fill me before the noise of the day begins. It doesn’t have to be long or perfect. Just something that’s yours.
- Remember: it’s temporary.
Not every season is this full. It helps to remind myself that the quieter days are coming. That I will get time to breathe again. This isn’t forever.
- Stay off your phone.
I know it feels like an escape, but it’s not. Scrolling adds more noise, more stimulation, more pressure to perform or compare. It doesn’t recharge you…it drains you. When I’m feeling overstimulated, I’ve learned to put my phone down and do something grounding instead. Read. Walk. Pray. Sit in the quiet.
- Leave a buffer.
If you can, give yourself a day (or even a few hours) between big engagements. Don’t go from one high-energy moment to the next. That space in between matters more than we think.
- Be honest about your needs.
You don’t have to explain your whole personality, but it’s okay to let people know: “Hey, this is how I work, I just need a little quiet to recharge.” The more we normalize that, the easier it becomes to take the space we need without guilt.
- Honor your energy, not just your schedule.
Just because it fits on your calendar doesn’t mean it fits in your capacity. Pay attention to your energy levels. Learn to say no, or not right now, when you feel yourself running on empty.
- Find one familiar face.
At big events or gatherings, you don’t have to work the entire room. You don’t need to be everywhere. Find one or two people you feel at ease with. Meaningful connection is always better than surface-level small-talk.
- Create little transition rituals.
After high-energy moments, I like to decompress with small rituals: changing into comfy clothes, lighting a candle, putting my AirPods in and playing my favorite songs, or journaling for five minutes. These things help me shift gears and come back to myself.
- Refill your soul, not just your calendar.
Not all rest is created equal. Do the things that truly fill you back up, whatever that looks like for you. A walk in nature. A nap. Prayer. A favorite book. Time alone without having to explain why. You don’t need to earn it. You just need it.
If you’re in a season of showing up, leading, and doing all the things…I get it. I’m in it too. You don’t need to choose one or the other, but make sure you create time for both.
You can still show up, but don’t forget to still protect your peace.