4 Ways to Survive and Thrive as an Introvert in the Workplace

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Being an Introvert in the Workplace

Every day around lunchtime, my palms got a little sweaty.

This was the time of day that always got a little awkward for Introvert me in the workplace. Okay very awkward.

I was working as a receptionist for a corporate real estate company, and things were going great.

I didn’t understand this at the time, but having a receptionist job as an introvert can be extremely draining.

Workplace Lunchtime Introvert woes

Oftentimes all the ladies would leave the office and go to lunch together. When I first started working there they’d ask me all the time if I’d like to join them.

Do you know I NEVER went with them, not one single time? And I worked for this company for quite a few years.

Why didn’t I go? They were all nice enough, it’s just, if you know introverts we’re very picky about who we willingly choose to spend our free time with.

They were all extremely extroverted. And I knew I’d be way more stressed than relaxed during a time where I was supposed to be refueling for the remainder of my work day.

As an introvert, my energy gets zapped in social settings.

After a while they got the picture and stopped asking when they learned I’d probably never join them.

What was great is that they never made me feel bad for not going, nor treated me differently or anything like that.

Cool thing was there were plenty of us who’d eat lunch at our desk or leave and go to lunch alone, like I did most times. So I didn’t stand out too much, thankfully.

But I’ll never forget how I felt when they asked. I knew I’d never say yes.

I’d get nervous because I worried what they’d think about me. And what they thought about me preferring to eat lunch alone all the time, unless there was a corporate lunch I had to attend.

I worried that they’d think I was weird, or mean, or anti-social.

I worried that they’d talk about me or that I’d get a bad annual review. Lunch time legit gave me anxiety.

Your peace is not in their head, stay out of theirs

Did you know if you want to keep peace in your life, it’s not inside someone else’s head? Your peace is inside your own.

I just saw a video the other day by Dr. Bertice Berry. She told a story about her son when he was little.

Her son said something about a teacher that he shouldn’t have. Dr. Berry had him write an apology letter to the teacher, but the Principal taught her a really interesting lesson.

She told her the apology letter wasn’t necessary because they teach the students they can think whatever they want, they just can’t share everything they think.

We’re all autonomous beings, we can independently think whatever we want to think in our brains. But it’s not our business what other people are thinking in theirs.

So staying out of other people’s brains in a good way to keep your peace.

The corporate world is stressful enough in and of itself. Try to do whatever you can to maintain a peaceful state within yourself.

Sure they may not understand why you need to spend your lunch alone sometimes, they may even talk about you. But do they live inside your body? Are they living your life? Are they living inside your brain?

Are they experiencing overwhelm and drain after the weekly staff meeting?

Are they completely exhausted after writing up the report or barely making that deadline?

Do they feel like they won’t make it through the rest of the day and contemplating taking half a sick day because they’re already exhausted halfway through?

Nope! They are not you. And if you don’t take care of you, who will?

Take advantage of your breaks/lunch hour

Take your full breaks and lunch times. I know it can be tempting to skip lunch, especially if you’re a hard worker like me.

When you’re in a groove and you don’t want to stop, I get it. But listen: just stop.

Your breaks are just as important as your work. Your work will still be there when you get back, and you can get right back into the groove you were in.

Your employer will not be thinking “Oh she’s such a hard worker, she doesn’t even take her lunch.”

Your employer will be thinking, “If she gets sick in the next couple weeks, I know why. Eventually, she will learn.”

You have GOT to take breaks. Mentally, physically, spiritually, you need to give your brain time to recuperate.

Listen to your body

Listen to your body. What makes you uncomfortable? What makes you break out in a sweat? What gives you anxiety and wrecks you peace?

The answers to these questions will lead your body to where it wants to be.

I’m not saying you should never be uncomfortable. We all know it’s a part of life.

But if the majority of your life is spent with overwhelming anxiety, you have to listen to you body and make some changes.

Anxiety, discomfort, inner turmoil, these things do nothing but break your body down over time. It’s so important to take care of yourself and pay attention to how your body feels.

Don’t overthink it

I sometimes read a Dr. Suess book to my kiddo, it’s called “Oh the Thinks You Can Think.”

I promise it lightweight gives me anxiety just reading it, and as I’m typing this I’m wondering if we should ix-nay this one from our book arsenal for mental health reasons.

Cause chile, Introverts be thinkin. And we don’t need any extra help from Dr. Suess to “think the thinks” even more than we already do.

I know, I know, it’s easier said than done. It’s a classic Introvert trait to think and think and overthink things.

You think about what you said in the meeting after you actually worked up the nerve to speak.

You think about what that person thought of you when you said no to her when she asked if you had time to add one more project to your plate that day.

You think and overthink about your performance review that’s coming up, or already passed.

It’s so easy to cycle into overthinking at work. My advice is DON’T. Half the time the things you’re thinking, nobody cares about. Because nobody cares like an Introvert cares, especially if you’re also an empath like me.

In Conclusion, be you

You are amazing just the way you are. Be you.

It matters not what people think about you. As long as you’re doing your job, and you’re doing it to the best of your ability, you’re doing great!

Yes, be a team player. Yes, find ways to improve your company. Yes, aim high and achieve greatness.

Also, you can do these things and more as an Introvert.

Just by being you.

And being fine with just being yourself, just the way God made you.

I have more tips and personal stories about being an Introvert in the workplace in my ebook, “Life as a Quiet Introvert: Learning, Accepting and Being Comfortable with Who You Are.” Check it out here!