Self Care for Introverts
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
Self-care for introverts
When we think of self-care, we often refer to practices we engage in to maintain our physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social well-being. This can look like having a reflective practice such as journaling or meditating, making time for our hobbies, spending time with friends, managing our time to get the rest we need, setting boundaries, and even treating ourselves.
I also think of curiosity as self-care, primarily if you identify as an introvert. Curiosity is a natural addition to self-reflection and introspection as it builds on the questions you’re already asking and takes you further in your quest for self-understanding.
Curiosity is the strong desire to know or learn something. It helps us to wonder, to explore, and to gain awareness. It looks like children with an endless list of questions, a baby wanting to touch everything, or going to your school dance for the first time.
As we continue with our lives, we have more responsibilities, become integrated into the structures and demands of work or school, and become so familiar with our world that we might lose touch with the practice of being curious.
One way we can continue to practice curiosity is by regularly spending time with ourselves for an hour throughout our week to do something that intrigues or fascinates us. It can be helpful to create a list of new things you’ve always wanted to try or things that your younger self wanted to try but never got the chance to. This could look like visiting a place you loved going to as a child, going to the farmer’s market or a local event for the first time, or reading a book in a park.
Curiosity encourages openness. Openness towards the things that intrigue us can lead to clarity about the things that matter the most. Openness toward the things that bother us can put a healthy distance from its overwhelming presence. Self-care in the form of curiosity means we get to know our creative and playful selves.
Finding the time to be curious may take some time, but this practice that comes so naturally to children can be worth it.
Chris Datiles is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. As a recovering people pleaser, he supports clients in attuning to their needs, identifying their boundaries, and unlearning old patterns so that they can enjoy their creativity without burning out.