Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom

Solitude matters, and for some people, it’s the air they breathe. – Susan Cain

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms Blog

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogPersonality typing is currently a popular topic of discussion, and the most basic categories we sort humans into are Introverts and Extroverts. There is quite a lot of misconception about these these labels :: many assume extroverts are loud, outgoing, and always the life of the party, while introverts are quiet, shy, socially awkward homebodies. As with any stereotype, there are people who do fit these descriptions, but loud vs quiet and outgoing vs. shy isn’t necessarily how we label people as an “extrovert” or “introvert”.

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogIn reality, these labels describe how a person recharges. In the most basic explanation, introverts recharge by spending time alone, while extroverts recharge by spending time with people

As mothers, our extrovert or introvert tendencies have a huge impact on our parenting. Our little people have the uncanny ability to zap the energy of all of us, but introverted moms have a unique struggle. We love and adore spending time with our children, but they also drain us. We need lots of time alone to replenish our energy, a commodity in short supply when our children are young and so incredibly needy.

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogI struggled for a long time balancing the needs of my small children while also meeting my own need for alone time. I used to feel incredibly guilty for wanting to get away from my kids and wander through Target alone while listening to a podcast through my earbuds. I finally had to accept my introversion is just truly how I’m wired, and is an unchangeable part of my personality. It’s as much a part of my DNA as my brown hair, green eyes, and love of chips and queso.

Along with all aspects of motherhood, it’s taken time and trial and error to determine the best ways to recharge my energy, while also giving my children all the time and attention they need and deserve. Here are 4 basic practices that generally achieve this balance for me.

I Put My Children to Bed {Really} Early

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogMy children are all in their beds asleep by 7:30 pm at the latest. And to be honest, there are many days where its even earlier than that. We all know children need a lot of sleep, and now that they are all in school full time, their little bodies and brains need that rest even more. And by insisting on a strict early bedtime, I give myself the gift of a few precious hours of time in the evenings to read, write, and get everything organized for the next day. I also usually take a bath and listen to an audiobook or podcast, and these activities both recharge and relax my body and brain before going to bed myself. I make my own sleep a priority, going to bed by 10 pm at the latest, so I have enough energy and patience banked for the following day.

I Wake Up {Really} Early in the Morning

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogMy children are all early risers {partly because they go to bed so early and partly because that’s just how they are wired}, and I am a much better mother if I give myself at least a short margin of time to myself before they are up for the day. My alarm sounds at 5 am every morning, and when I’m lucky, I have 45 minutes to an hour to myself before my little sleepyheads join me in the kitchen for breakfast. I make my coffee and eggs, check my email and social media messages, and read the morning headlines. My body and brain are awake and recharged when the shift from alone time to the craziness of the day with 3 small children happens around 6 am.

I Schedule Alone Time

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogYes, I have alone time scheduled on the calendar. I have a block of several hours each weekend scheduled to spend by myself, and I rarely use that time for or with anyone else. I usually spend this time at a local coffee shop writing, but sometimes use it to clean the house, read a book, or take a nap. I also try to schedule weekends away every few months, either attending conferences or quiet girls’ weekends with plenty of downtime.

I Encourage Quiet and Solo Activities

Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogI want my children to learn and appreciate the value of alone time. I suspect my daughter is an extrovert, and it has been quite a challenge to teach her that she doesn’t need me to play with and entertain her every minute of the day. I work hard to encourage both my children to find quiet activities they can do solo. These include drawing, puzzles, reading books, and yes, screen time. While I certainly don’t condone hours and hours of screen time a day, a moderate amount has been a great tool to promote peace and quiet in our otherwise busy and loud days.

It has been both challenging and freeing to understand and embrace myself as an introvert. By making alone time a regular priority, I am able to recharge and come back to my children a calmer, happier mother.Leave Me Alone! 4 Ways I Recharge as an Introvert Mom | Houston Moms BlogAre you an introvert? How do you balance the the needs of your children with your need for alone time? 

1 COMMENT

  1. I love this post!! I am outgoing and can talk to anyone, but man do I love/need my alone time!! I need time alone to recharge or get stuff done. Great reminder!!

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