Introvert Things I Am Thankful For in 2020

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Growing up, I always felt different. I hated public speaking and reading out loud in class; I could count the number of close friends I had on one hand; and during recess, I preferred to sneak off and read a book in the school library rather than play outside with the other kids. As an adult, I realized that these were all introverted tendencies. The year 2020, despite its craziness, has been a breath of fresh air for the introvert inside me for the following reasons.

Full-Time Remote Work

I was lucky to be able to work from home during the pandemic and for almost five years prior to the pandemic. However, I did work in an open office environment in the first three months of 2020, and I remember the challenges it presented. It took a lot of energy for me to make constant small talk with coworkers, attend back-to-back in-person meetings, and keep a cheerful demeanor throughout the day with one distraction after the other. Now, working from home, I can better organize my thoughts and be more productive. Also, rather than coming up to my desk, coworkers are more likely to shoot me an email after I ignore their phone calls.

Fewer Invitations to Gatherings

This year, there were far fewer social gatherings overall, and it was also easier to turn down any invitations from friends and family with the excuse of COVID-19. For me, gatherings (defined as face-to-face meetings with more than one other person) only serve as a waste of time, and superficial conversations only serve to annoy me. I would rather do almost anything than chat about the weather with people I barely know. In the past, I felt obligated to attend gatherings when I was invited, and my schedule was always packed with them. In 2020, I was glad to have more time alone for relaxation and self-reflection. My introvert battery has never been more full.

Online Take-Out and Delivery

Talking on the phone is the bane of my existence. When ordering take-out or delivery, I always check to see if a restaurant has an online ordering system first. Sometimes, when they don’t, I choose not to order from them because it is not worth the effort for me to call in my order. Thankfully, this year restaurants have been more on board with online ordering, and I have had a plethora of options to choose from for both take-out and delivery.

More Quality Time with Pets

My dog, Chomper, has never been more happy than he is this year. At the beginning of 2020, poor Chomper would wait for me by the door for 9-10 hours during the day while I was at work and commuting to/from the office. And then after work I would stop by home for a brief stint before I headed out the door again to go to the bouldering gym or to the movies. Over the last nine months, Chomper and I have had plenty of quality time together. I am happy to say that the little guy and I are now closer than ever after our daily cuddles and playtime.

Ability to Be Myself

Living in an extroverted world, we introverts have had to hide our true nature up until now. Social pressures have caused us to go beyond our comfort zones to attend happy hours and social events, when much of the time we would have preferred to stay at home. There are some things that I miss, but many things that I do not. And, this year during the pandemic, I have never felt more like myself.