Recharging your social battery
These past few months (*cough* years) have been busy for me. With a bustling schedule packed with travel, business commitments, meeting new faces and social engagements - both professional and personal - there’s certainly been no shortage of excitement and engagement. Gathering in person, especially after the pandemic's limitations, has a special charm. Yet, as enjoyable as these events can be, they can also be surprisingly exhausting.
You might be familiar with the concept of a “social battery,” a metaphor that describes our capacity for social interactions. Like any battery, it gets depleted by certain activities and recharged by others, with the draining and recharging factors varying significantly between introverts and extroverts, or even the occasion!
I've found that the pandemic nudged me further towards introversion. Living solo, I’ve grown accustomed to—and perhaps too comfortable with—my own company. This shift means I'm somewhat out of practice with sustained, intense social interactions, and these now drain my social battery more than they once did. So, what’s my strategy for handling this?
It’s all about balance.
I’ve learned to check in with myself and recognise when my social battery is getting low, so I can plan time by myself to recharge. Being aware of this, and putting steps in place to remedy it is still new to me, and it’s become a non-negotiable if I want to perform at my best. Similarly, if my calendar signals a busy social period ahead, I increase my self-care activities beforehand to boost my energy reserves.
Life inevitably brings busy spells where we are called upon to engage and be visible. It’s crucial during these times to monitor our social battery levels and allow ourselves some downtime to replenish. Socialising, particularly with new acquaintances, can be draining (even positive experiences), and prioritising self-care is vital. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup.
Try to take some time and think about how you balance things. What does keeping your social battery charged look like for you? Do you set aside time to recharge? How do you find your balance?
