Do extroverts need alone time? (A Complete Guide)

In this article, we will answer the question Do extroverts need alone time?. We will do that by defining what extroverts are. We will then explain why extroverts run away from being alone. After this, we will explain why the lack of alone time can be harmful for them. Finally, we will discuss the benefits of alone time for extroverts.  

Do extroverts need alone time? 

Yes. Extroverts need alone time just like introverts. The difference is that the amount of alone time they require is much less than what an introvert requires. Even for extroverts who love to socialize, spending time with people every day can be overstimulating. To release this energy, they need to go away into solitude to connect with themself. Furthermore, alone time can be quite beneficial for extroverts due to a number of reasons. It allows them to connect to themself, engage in self-care, connect with their creative side, value their positive relationships, take a break from social media, de-stress after a long week and finally have the opportunity to process their emotions. 

Extroverts 

An extrovert is a person who enjoys spending time with other people. The way they process information is by talking to other people. Their orientation is external or outwards to the world. You can find an extrovert at a party usually at the center of attention.   They feel most at ease when they are surrounded by huge crowds,  loud noise, and the high energy of people.  It is easy for them to make friends.  Similarly,  studies have found that extroverts are happier than introverts.

Extroverts and Alone time

These people prefer to keep themselves busy in different activities.  Staying alone with nothing to do can be quite scary for an extrovert which is why they overpack their schedule with different social events.  Even though extroverts feel drained by spending time alone,  it is none the less quite important for them to be away from people after a while.

The negative impact of lack of alone time

Not having a long time can have a negative impact on extroverts especially in terms of their physical appearance.  They don’t get to take care of their personal hygiene,  grooming, and dressing.  Over exerting themselves most of the time can leave no time for them to take care of themselves.  Similarly, their sleep gets affected.  They rarely engage in self-care activities.  If this continues,  extroverts may experience burnout at an emotional and physical level.  Due to being overwhelmed and overly stimulated,  they may exhibit extreme behavior due to stress.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

“Time alone—free from technology and goal-oriented activity—is beneficial to extroverts, introverts, and everyone in-between. The main difference is that solitude doesn’t feel vital to the daily emotional survival of an extrovert the way it does to an introvert,” says New York City-based psychologist Sevan Basil, Ph.D. 

Benefits of alone time for extroverts

There are a few reasons alone time is beneficial for an extrovert. We will discuss them in detail as follows:

It gives them a chance  for self-discovery

For extroverts,  being alone away from people can be an opportunity to discover who they are.  They can use this time to understand what they like and what they dislike.  They can try to figure out their values and purpose in life.   It can also enable them to engage in self-reflection and try to get in touch with their emotions,  thoughts, and feelings. 

 Doing this gives extroverts a chance to be more authentic and original.   This is because taking time away from daily responsibilities and obligations can be valuable for them to know themself better. Consequently,  this can help them make better choices and decisions.

It gives them an opportunity to appreciate quality people in their life

Being alone can give extroverts time to reflect and see the world from a different perspective.  It enables them to figure out who their real relationships are and how to contribute to these relationships to make them more meaningful.   They develop an understanding about who they should preserve their social energy for. 

 Being alone gives them the opportunity to make positive changes

When extroverts get the time to be alone, they can slow down and make space for solitary activities. They can learn that they can enjoy their own company and engage in activities that give them a different perspective of the world. A perspective that is more creative and inspirational. For example, they might understand that reading a book can shift their worldview. Similarly looking outside may inspire them to draw something. Listening to music may give them the chance to dance along with it and so on. 

They can start by creating their own version of being alone and figure out the activities that they enjoy.  They can go out on lunches alone or go for long walks.  They don’t have to force themselves to be social with anyone during it.

Getting time alone can help name explore and process their emotions

 After a long time of being busy,  extroverts can finally catch up to the feelings they had been pushing back.  Even though this process can be quite uncomfortable and unpleasant,  it is none the less important to explore and address those unaddressed feelings.  Extroverts need to learn to sit with their feelings and tell themselves that it is worth their time.  Ignoring the problems will not make them go away.  In order to truly heal,  they need to let go of their problems by addressing them. They may find that processing those feelings can be quite cathartic and leave them feeling calm.

 Extroverts can finally practice self-care activities

 Just like introverts need time to recharge by doing self-care activities during their alone time,  extroverts need to do the same. Spending time alone can give them the realization that they have to prioritize taking care of themselves rather than focusing on the needs of other people like always. They can devote this time completely to themself and use it to their advantage. They can regain their energy by doing yoga or getting exercise. similarly, there can go back to nature and feel one with nature.

A chance to take a break from social media

Many extroverts are dependent on social media. Studies have found that excessive social media usage is negatively associated with positive mental health and can contribute to psychological symptoms. It can also release cortisol that can make one feel stressed. Being alone can be an opportunity to take a break from social media and feel much better. They may finally realise that:

‘The more social media we have, the more we think we’re connecting, yet we are really disconnecting from each other’. JR

 Being alone can be an opportunity to destress

 After a long beak of worrying about other people and their needs,  their demands, and trying to fulfill other people’s expectations, extroverts can finally take a break when they are alone.  For once,  they can start to think about themselves and discover that being alone is energizing and beneficial for them at a mental level

In the end, extroverts may finally realize the truth of this quote in their life:

“Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to. Stay home on New Year’s Eve if that’s what makes you happy. Skip the committee meeting. Cross the street to avoid making aimless chitchat with random acquaintances. Read. Cook. Run. Write a story. Make a deal with yourself that you’ll attend a set number of social events in exchange for not feeling guilty when you beg off.”

Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

FAQs: Do extroverts need alone time?

What happens when extroverts are alone for too long?

When extroverts are alone for too long, they feel exhausted, low, and uninspired. They need to be around other people to recharge.

How much alone time do introverts need?

The amount of alone time an introvert requires depends on their needs. At Least 2-3 hours a day can be beneficial for them to regain their energy. 

Can extroverts be loners?

Yes. Extroverts can also be loners even if they are the most social and friendly people with many friends.  

How do extroverts recharge?

Extroverts recharge by being around other people and engaging in new experiences. 

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question ‘Do extroverts need alone time?’. We found that Extroverts need alone time just like introverts. The difference is that the amount of alone time they require is much less than what an introvert requires. Even for extroverts who love to socialize, spending time with people every day can be overstimulating. To release this energy, they need to go away into solitude to connect with themself. Furthermore, alone time can be quite beneficial for extroverts due to a number of reasons. It allows them to connect to themself, engage in self-care, connect with their creative side, value their positive relationships, take a break from social media, de-stress after a long week and finally have the opportunity to process their emotions. 

 I hope you found this article interesting. If you have any queries or comments, please state them in the comment section 😊

Citations

https://www.headspace.com/blog/2016/10/31/extroverts-guide-to-being-alone/

https://greatist.com/live/alone-time-for-extroverts#7

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