If this is your first time reading the term “social battery'' let me tell you about it. Social battery is basically a metaphor for a person's capacity to intermingle with groups of people in one setting. If you’ve been around the interweb, you might come across that term. Often that term also refers to tolerance of someone’s social activity. Just like a battery, it has its own capacity. For introverted people such as myself, it might go out quickly. Today, I am basically sharing what has happened to me thus far when I am out of my comfort zone.
Being social to me is a bit of a chore. I can be social but at the same time, I will sleep for days after a series of socialization. Though I have tried being more and more social just to get out of my comfort zone, I still failed. Lately, I get tired very easily after talking to new people. In Bali, social life is very vibrant. You can literally make any new friends anywhere and almost everywhere you see are extroverted people. Someone can strike a conversation the old fashioned way and bam, you know one more person. For introverts like myself, these kinds of things are okay but really dries out my social battery quickly.
In the past, because I was with a friend, I constantly got exposure to others. I could sustain that but eventually that wasn’t even ideal. I didn’t have my alone time which was really needed. So, I ended up going missing for a few months. I left so many things I used to know and went into hiding again. This time, I want to preserve my social battery and not drain it faster. I learned that I can not constantly be around the presence of others. So, I kinda have a day or two where I just be on my own.
When I do that, I enjoy going out and exploring places even if that means, alone. In Bali, with so many things to do, places to go, cafes to try and visit, it makes things easier. The pictures I shared are some of the places I managed to visit on my own.
When I get bored being with myself and on my own, I’d look for social activities. I enjoy having conversations especially in depth with someone I just met. I love getting to know their aspirations, what makes them who they are, and why they choose the lifestyle they have. Even if there’s a chance that I probably won’t talk to them for more, at least I got a glimpse of others' lives and remember that there’s always something to learn from it. And after my social battery signaling is really low, I retreat.
There are some other ways to preserve my social battery in which among them is simply limiting my exposure to interactions, online and offline. If I do too much, that would not be good in the longer term. The second thing is that having more activities where I am required alone than in the presence of others. The more I have it alone, the better it will be. Sleep is another way to preserve my social battery. It is always refreshing when I wake up especially when I know that I have a good night’s rest. Do you have low or higher social battery?
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 | Mac is a jack of all trades. A typical introvert in love with literature, books, technology and philosophy. She is also so into nootropics, productivity, minimalist lifestyle, cybersecurity, and languages. Other than that, she is passionate about cooking and traveling. In her free time, she enjoys learning various things. If you like her conten |
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Damn I have a low social battery lol and I am an introvert too! 😂
it usually goes out very quickly tbh, so funny bc yesterday I went to this cultural center/museum to see an art "immersive room" exposition (was really cool) with a friend, and after like 2 hours I needed to be alone again hahah
the things is that I'm not only introvert but very anxious, especially socially anxious, after my friend and I got out of the museum he invited me to lunch with his family and his gf's family, a lot of people, and I got so anxious already lol the worst part is that I knew who these people were, I met with them once on my friend's birthday, after 3 hours on the birthday I wanted to go home so bad hahah, and I think this is why I got pre-annoyed and when he invited me, I wanted to go but I wasn't sure if I could stand the situation again, I knew it would be at least 2 or 3 hours of anxiety and didn't want that lol in the end I went to a park to enjoy some nature and feel kinda sad bc of my anxiety not allowing me to enjoy food with other people lol it always takes time to get used to people for me sighs but well hahah I've been trying to work on it and I hope I can overcome it someday :')
Nice post Mac! :)
Your situation is similar to mine. I can force myself but the recharge time is even longer than it should haha. I am sometimes fairly anxious around too many people but I try to force myself. Hopefully you can overcome it one day; it takes time but you'll get there.
hahah we always forcing ourselves :)
and yup, one day for sure!
I didn't know that there was a term for this, so thanks for getting me up to speed. I am also surprised to hear that you consider yourself an introvert, because from (limited) interactions with you so far, I don't really feel that. Perhaps it's the internet and we don't have to be turned on every single second.
I do appreciate how it is though, and I feel the metaphor of the battery works well because I can be very extroverted, but only whilst I have that capacity and it gets burned out quite quickly.
hahahaha yeah, it doesn't show online but IRL, after talking probably about two hours or something, I'd get tired and sleepy. With internet, there's always break in between which is something nice. But even so, making friends is still a challenge because essentially, finding forums or making the first move is difficult for me. Perhaps you're an ambivert somewhere in between? but I think even extroverted person has their limit sometimes.
I feel like I move between extro and intro quite often. Maybe it depends on how much mental energy I have at that particular time, the more I have, the more extroverted I am.
I think the internet has some unexpected consequences in the sense that it is now the norm for people to spend more time away from physical contact. This was already happening before the pandemic, but the lockdowns just accelerated it I feel.
One thing I like about the internet is it doesn't feel like it drains my "social battery" whilst simultaneously allowing me to be somewhat social.
It's always good to take some time for yoself though.
You're right! just as I mentioned in the previous comment, there's break in between which makes online interaction is essentially socializing in energy saving mode instead of full performance. But sometimes, being online can get you as well, balance is key. Thanks for checking out !
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I'm in the same group you're in, I have a low social battery.
Sometimes some people mistake it for me being too proud or something like that, but do I care?
Hell no..
Just like you, sleeping refreshes me and I cherish my alone time so much.
Haha yeah, I've heard instances when people call me too proud or arrogant for not making the move or being quiet/seem not approachable. But honestly,if they find out and make the move, I can talk for hours then go to sleep haha. I learned not to care too much these days and like you, love to enjoy my alone time.
This is more like me too, I've learned to care about how they feel it what they think.
I can't keep on displeasing myself to please others.
This is really my first time reading about the term "social battery" however from what you explained, I have a higher social battery 🤩, I am a type that like to mingle with people especially those I can learn new things from. I make both online and offline friends and most of them has been of a great value in my life, notwithstanding I still my private life, atimes I create time for me and myself alone exploring life and finding new things as well.
Ah I certainly get the social battery aspect! There are times when it gets drained quite quickly but lately mine is always full and I'm ready to experience what there is out there lol.
I'm glad you are able to find a balance though between being social and needing time alone. It's something that many people don't find, sometimes ever!
Hopefully Bali is a place you can spend a lot of time in since it sounds like it's got a good blend for you, socialization but also isolation.