Social exhaustion can make you feel tired, dull, and irritated.
Here’s how to manage and prevent it.
Some people, especially extroverts, can be energized by social engagement. The same amount of social engagement may alternatively be exhausting to introverts.
Although introverts might enjoy socializing, they use a lot of energy attempting to function in socially demanding situations, which results in social exhaustion.
When you’ve socialized to the point that you can’t do it anymore, it’s called social exhaustion or social burnout. Social exhaustion can also be called introvert burnout or introvert hangover.
Even though it isn’t a recognized medical condition, both introverts and extroverts may experience it.
You may feel tired and fatigued as a result of your body’s emotional and physical reaction to social overstimulation. You might feel physically tired, stressed, angry, or irritable.
Social exhaustion can feel like hitting a wall.
You may feel as if you don’t have the energy to get out of bed, let alone be in a room with other people.
Signs That You’re Becoming Socially Exhausted:
Getting to the end of social exhaustion can feel as though you are about to have a breakdown.
Both extroverts and introverts can experience social fatigue, but since our society emphasizes social interaction and stimulation, you may not recognize the signs until you’re in the middle of burnout.
Here are some common signs of social exhaustion:
– detachment from other people
– inability to focus
– intense headaches or migraine attacks
– low energy or fatigue
– difficulty sleeping
– emotional meltdown
– irritability
– depression
– anxiety
When introverts don’t get enough alone time, it’s easy for them to become overstimulated. Research estimates that social interactions extending over 3 hours can lead to post-socializing fatigue for some people.
Social exhaustion doesn’t develop suddenly.
Being aware of and attentive to your mental health can help you see warning signals early and prevent burnout later.
The early signs of social burnout include:
– being unable to sleep
– feeling mentally unwell
– feeling overly reactive
– having low energy
– not performing at your best
The signs of social burnout, that appear later on include:
– feeling hopeless and helpless
– losing motivation
– feeling detached
– feeling depressed
– withdrawing
No matter your personal situation, there are some strategies that can help you avoid exhaustion. Remember that these advice-giving tips require time and practice.
As you try different approaches, you need to pay close attention to how you typically handle overstimulation and and feelings of burnout.
Identify Your Main Triggers
What triggers you might not trigger someone else. Spend some time thinking about the circumstances and people who exhaust you.
The following are some typical causes of social exhaustion:
– feeling obligated to speak to a lot of people
– attending family reunions and holiday parties
– needing to socialize for work
– attending large events
– participating in group projects for a long time
Learn How To Set Boundaries
Even extroverted people experience fatigue if their schedule is jam-packed with continuous social activities. Learn how to say “yes” to social gatherings that you will actually enjoy and “no” to ones that you know would emotionally drain you. You can also consider setting limits on the amount of time at social gatherings.
Schedule Alone Time
To make time for yourself, intentionally distance yourself.
Make sure you have at least 10 to 30 minutes each day that are all yours, whether you need to do this at work, school, or home.
Knowing that you have this time might give you something to look forward to if you’re feeling overwhelmed. It can help you get through difficult times throughout the day.
Tips To Recover From Burnout
Recovering from social exhaustion is possible. If you ever feel burned out, these activities can help you restore your energy levels so that you can recover:
Speak With Someone About It
Speaking with others may seem contradictory given that socializing is what causes social burnout.
However, it might be helpful to discuss the social tiredness with a spouse, family, friend, or therapist.
Find a person who can listen attentively without becoming distracted or making judgments. It can be refreshing to spend time with loved ones in a positive and enjoyable environment.
Practice Self-Care
You may define self-care in a variety of ways.
Pay attention to your body’s signals and trust your instincts.
Self-care activities include baking, cooking, listening to music, dancing, working out etc.
Anything that might ease your exhaustion and reduce your stress levels may be effective.
Take Time To Reset
Online socializing may be equally exhausting as having social interactions in person, because we use our phones a lot of the time.
Social media is overstimulating, yet you’re still interacting with people in some manner. To recover from social burnout, consider taking a break from social media and spending some time with yourself.
Practice Journaling
Try writing down your feelings as you go through this healing process.
One study discovered that keeping a diary for one month can help with anxiety and depression symptoms.
Writing down how you feel can be a helpful and effective way to process your exhaustion.
Journaling is also another way to recognize situations and people that can trigger negative emotions.
You can review your notebook periodically, to identify what triggers you, and to start creating measures to prevent future harm from them.
Next Steps
There are resources available to you if you’re suffering from severe social burnout.
Talking about your exhaustion with a mental health professional can be a good idea too.
Put your attention on taking care of yourself.
Please take alone time when you need it, and start journaling your emotions to descover why you are triggered by some people and situations.
While these can seem small steps, they can help you identify the cause of your social burnout and find practical solutions.
Nonetheless, speaking with a therapist can be liberating as you will have someone to support and help you through the process.
Bloogit can recommend you a great therapist and a counselor. If you are interested to know more please write us via the About Bloogit, with the words: “Hey, I wanna know more about the counselor you are recommending on your site,” and we’ll get back at you as soon as possible.
