How to survive quarantine when you’re an extrovert

07/04/2020
Qezz Gill

Qezz gives tips to those who thrive around other people for staying sane during lockdown.

Being a good citizen and maintaining your sanity at the same time is a huge battle right now. We recently found ourselves in a lockdown to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, and now it seems we are living in a future history textbook. For some this has been a time to thrive: saving lives by staying indoors? Who would’ve thought? But for extroverts, it’s challenging.

People are having very different social distancing experiences. I discussed this with few family members and friends that are scattered around the country, and through my conversations, I found myself wondering how the extroverts in my life are doing right now. They thrive in social settings and excel at physical communication, so how are they coping?

I’m someone with both extroverted and introverted tendencies. I love to socialise, work in groups and just simply be around bodies. I also thrive in my own company and love alone time where I can self-reflect, relax and get creative. From speaking to extroverted friends and family I quickly became fascinated with the routines and coping mechanisms they are using to staying sane during the pandemic. Answers varied from dancing around the house, to creating video content to share with friends, to using apps like Zoom to have the conversations they aren’t having in real life. I also spoke to some that are stuck at home with families they don’t connect with, which is affecting their productivity and sanity.

These conversations have inspired me to build a guide to help those that are struggling with this sudden change. I hope they help you to remain connected and to experience this massive change in a healthier way.

Make time for self-reflecting

Usually, extroverts can find it hard to delve deeper into their inner selves – but doing some self-reflection can be deeply satisfying and important. Having a strong relationship with yourself is very significant. It helps you navigate your way through important stages in life, work and relationships. Use this time to explore yourself and the things you care about. There is a website where you can do a personality quiz called 16 personalities which gives you an elaborate lists of answers about your work style, relationships, individual traits, strategies and more. These results can help you think about what your priorities are during this time and can help you set achievable goals for the future.

Learn a new skill

Extroverts love to explore new things. If you’re struggling to keep focus – learn a new skill! Udemy is a website with over 10,000 courses covering Photoshop, video editing and coding. Also, many universities are offering free courses you can do and use your qualifications on future CVs. Learning a new language or skill if you have the time has never been more appropriate.

Carry on the party

Socialising in groups and attending events is a vital part of an extrovert’s life. That doesn’t have to stop – you just have to socialise online. If you’re concerned about not being able to use your inbuilt energy by physically being at events, worry not – many club nights are still happening. The Instagram live feature allows DJs to go live and carry on the party like before. Booty Bass is based in Bristol and they do a two-hour live session on Thursdays which caters to all extroverts and music lovers.

Practise self-care

Listening to your body is incredibly important. If doing a two-hour intense facial care regime followed by a home workout isn’t your thing, don’t let Instagram influencers make you feel guilty. Develop your own self-care regime. It can even be simple as drinking wine and dancing in your room. Self-care is a personal experience and you can create your own routine.

Making new connections

Extroverts excel at juggling lots of friendships and they make connections easily. As well as staying connected to your loved ones online, this could also be a great time to build new relationships. You could start with getting your LGBTQ or BAME friends and creatives in a group chat and communicating similar experience and struggles. It can be a great way to feel connected to communities you care about. There are also concepts like film and book clubs in Facebook groups that are happening during lockdown which are great to get involved in – joining communities you relate to can help reduce the isolation you may be feeling right now.

Sense of community and social interaction is incredibly important for extroverts to feel normal. By maintaining those connections and taking time for yourself, you can come out a more developed individual with even more skills and connections than before. Stay safe and stay social!

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