Identifying as an introvert or extrovert can help you understand how you interact with the world. But we know that social rest is important for everyone. As our world becomes more and more connected via technology and social media, social rest has become more difficult to achieve. This can lead to exhaustion and even burnout. So here are 7 ways to get more social rest.
- Unplug. Over the last few decades our world has become more connected. While this has allowed for relationships to strengthen, it has also made it more difficult to truly take time for ourselves. So unplugging and taking the time to be off of our phones, laptops, and other devices has to be a priority and intentional.
- Don’t let yourself always be available. Similar to the point above, we are often expected to respond immediately, whether by text or phone call. Always being available to others is stressful and does not allow us to really relax. So setting a boundary, even if it’s just reminding yourself that you don’t have to reply, can help to remove some of that pressure.
- Alone time. Alone time can be difficult to come by, but taking a break from socializing is one of the best ways to recharge your social battery. If you’re the type of person who consistently says yes to every outing, give yourself permission to take a break.
- Say no. So many of us put pressure on ourselves to never let other people down. This can lead to saying yes to things that you don’t actually want to do. It’s just as important to acknowledge our own needs as it is to spend time with others. So, next time an event comes up and you don’t really want to join, go ahead and say no.
- Social rest doesn’t always mean separating yourself from others. Social rest can also happen when you’re interacting with people. The key to this is making sure that the time you spend with people is focused on connecting and being authentic. Finding and nurturing real connections with other people is one of the best ways to ensure that you are getting proper social rest. This could look like a phone call to a family member, getting coffee with a friend, or even sitting down and focusing on the conversation with your partner.
- Evaluate who in your life gives you energy, joy, and positivity. Sometimes we have relationships in our lives that are exhausting. It can be worthwhile to take a closer look at why those relationships are tiring. We should always be aware of how our relationships are affecting us.
- Distance yourself from negative and draining relationships. This is, in my opinion, the most difficult option on this list. It’s hard to admit when a relationship has gone from improving our lives to making them more difficult, particularly if you’ve known the person for a long time. While it shouldn’t be our first option, this should be considered if you can pinpoint that the issues you are facing are coming from one specific relationship.
The point of social rest isn’t to isolate yourself from the rest of the world. Instead, social rest should help us feel more connected, both to ourselves and others. Since the reasons we need social rest can vary widely, you also have a lot of solutions. Being intentional about the quality of the time that you spend with others can help make sure that the socializing you are doing is already restful. Next time we’ll cover emotional rest!
