Your social battery, just like any other kind of battery, may be in need of a recharge from time to time. Whether you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert, you can easily find yourself feeling drained after a long day at work, a big trip with friends, or an extended amount of time simply being out and about with other people. It’s a common issue that many face — if the millions and millions of search results for “what to do when my social battery runs out” is anything to go by!
When your social battery is drained, it can be hard to find the energy to want to go out or even simply interact with others. To help get you started on your own recharge, I’ve got five actionable tips for you right here.
Stretch it out.
Stretching can be a great way to help your whole body relax. It feels like something everyone says, right? Just get some stretching in and you’ll feel better, but, seriously, good full-body stretches or some basic yoga can genuinely turn things around upstairs. Deep stretching has the power to reduce chronic stress and provide you with a calmer state of mind.
While there are yoga classes, YouTube tutorials, and step-by-step guides to dig into, you can do a few basic stretches wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. Some stretches that you can generally do just about anywhere include neck rolls, chest stretches, upper back stretches, shoulder stretches, and side stretches.
Take a step back.
Taking a step back can definitely be easier said than done, but even if it’s a small step back from your commitments, it can give you needed space to recharge. That can mean stepping back from social gatherings for a bit and even saying no to plans for a while.
So consider what you’re comfortable taking a step back from and what will allow you to do so. The space you provide yourself with can ease some stress off as you take the time you need to rest, relax, and recuperate, whether that’s spending the day alone at the beach in a Pacific Beach tank top or reading a good book with tea at home. Treating yourself to a day or a weekend that’s mellow and all you might be just what you need.
Go for a long drive.
One of my personal favorite ways to recharge is to go for a long drive. You can put some distance between you and the sources of drain on your social battery, all from the comfort of your own ride. It’s a simple way to earn a sense of liberation and find yourself far from your normal routine without fully having to commit to a big trip.
So throw on a comfy short sleeve henley and head out on a long drive. Blast your audiobook, podcast, or driving music of choice with the windows down and get a long, unwinding drive in to help you recharge.
Spend some time with a very close friend.
This may seem a bit counterintuitive, but one-on-one time with an extremely dear, potentially best friend can be an effective way to recharge your social battery. Sometimes, total isolation isn’t quite what you need. Enjoying a morning, afternoon, or evening with someone close can feel as rewarding as it does effortless, allowing you to completely be yourself without spending the time alone.
So if you’re still wanting to be a little social, spend some quality time with a close friend. It’ll require less energy from you and allow you to still get a restful break from using your social battery too much.
Get into reading.
You don’t have to be a massive reader or own a large collection of books to enjoy it. Reading, whether you choose to go with novels, memoirs, comics, poetry chapbooks, self-help bestsellers, or what have you, can be a way to escape, as it gives you something else to focus on rather than the exhaustion you might be experiencing. So settle into a Loma hooded long sleeve and absorb some words at your own pace.
Recharging your social battery can be an ongoing process, but taking it a small step at a time can be the way to go.
— Paige Lyman