Vision Board Friday: No Act of Kindness is Ever Wasted
/"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." -Aesop
Should you list prices on your website?
/I debated for quite awhile about whether I'd list my prices. I've even changed it three times since my website has gone live. There's no right or wrong answer for this question, but it's worth considering.
The argument for listing prices:
+ Listing your prices works as a filter. People will know what to expect, and you won't spend unnecessary time speaking with people who don't have the budget. It saves time for both you and the potential client.
+ Transparency is highly valued.
+ It can help with your SEO. Most people don't list their pricing, but people search for pricing all the time. Wouldn't you rather be in charge of that conversation and get the traffic?
The argument for not listing prices:
+ You might miss out on clients who don't understand the real value of your services. Since the consultation call is one-on-one, it can help you both understand the needs and value in the transaction.
+ You might work on a sliding scale or have highly customized services. This is part of what I struggled with because my work varies greatly from client to client. You might need to speak with the client and get all the details before determining a fair price.
My verdict?
I recommend listing your pricing on your website for the reasons listed above.
People are trained to look for a price when they're shopping. Even if you have customized work, list an estimate or scale so people have an idea of what they're getting into. I love this quote, and whole article, from Hubspot, "The goal is to own the price and value dialog of your product or service, so you can provide researchers with the context they need to understand your pricing model." Listing your pricing while your competition doesn't puts you in charge.
Did you know listing your price can also help with your search engine optimization? Searchengingland has a great list of reasons to list pricing, starting with your SEO.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments why you did or didn't list pricing on your website.
27 Ways to Recharge Your Batteries
/Everything these days is go-go-go. We live in a society that celebrates being busy and stressed.But what is that stress really costing you? Exhaustion, quick meals and no time to play aren't leaving you fulfilled, that's for sure.
When you feel your best, you'll do your best. Start carving out personal time to recharge and you'll be surprised to find you accomplish more work during a shorter period of time.
Here are 27 simple ways to recharge your batteries:
2. Go to a Paint Nite with your girl friends and drink a little too much wine.
3. Plan a swap with your closest friends or even with a MeetUp.com group. This can be a clothes swap, book swap, or any theme you can think of!
4. Get out in nature. Nothing is more refreshing than some time outdoors! Look up new hiking trails online or spend the day at the beach.
5. Connect with your inner child. What did you love doing when you were little? Draw a picture, make a collage, build a fort.
6. Volunteer at a local animal shelter or even adopt a new pet from a shelter.
7. Try something new. Go rock climbing, try a foreign cuisine or simply read a book you wouldn't normally choose.
8. Clean out your closets and any clutter around your house and donate to Goodwill. Your energy feeds off of your environment, so tidy up!
9. Plan your next vacation. The thrill of having something to look forward to will keep your going for awhile.
10. Light candles and take a bath with essential oils or Epsom salt. The Epsom salt will relax your muscles, and essential oils like chamomile or lavender will relax your body and mind.
11. Take a mental health day from work. Watch your favorite movies, meet up with a friend, walk around your neighborhood, see a matinee movie. Sometimes being "bad" is just what you need.
12. Recreate your favorite fancy, decadent restaurant meal at home. Chances are it'll taste much better when it's made with an ingredient list you control and some love.
13. Plant a garden. This idea will recharge you more than once. You'll feel good creating life, saving money on food and you'll get time to yourself out in nature every time you need to tend to it.
14. Rearrange your furniture. A new environment will likely bring new ideas and perspectives.
15. Budget money to get a quick 10 minute shoulder, neck + head massage once a week, or a 30-60 minute massage once a month. Massages increase circulation, activate your lymph nodes to regulate hormones and help you relax.
16. Start a bucket list.Thinking about your goals in life will help you focus on the big picture and what will truly make you happy.
17. Create something. Work on one of those projects you've neglected on your Pinterest board. Make it a Pinterest party by inviting friends.
18. Make a playlist of all of your favorite songs. Play them at home or take a drive and sing along at the top of your lungs.
19. Go to your local farmer's market and talk with the farmers and people at the booths. You'll feel great connecting with your community + learning where your food comes from.
20. Plan a date night. Chances are, if you have kids or a demanding job, you haven't been on a proper date in quite awhile. Here are 20 fun date ideas. If you're not in a relationship, take a friend! Try to make it a weekly ritual and take turns planning the date.
Daily Tips for a quick recharge:
21. Take a 20 minute cat nap.
22. Drink a green juice or smoothie when you start feeling the afternoon slump.
23. Set an alarm for each hour to remind yourself to get up and move around.
24. Get outside during lunch. Take a walk, eat outside, go to a local cafe. The main point is to get away from the office and your computer screen.
25. Meditate. There are tons of apps you can download to help you focus, but simply sitting or laying down for 15 minutes can help you relax before you dig back into your work.
26. Take a shower. If you're stuck on an idea or frustrated after a hard day, a shower will give you a chance to relax and rethink your situation.
27. Exercise! Aim for 30 minutes of medium-high intensity exercise every day. It doesn't have to be all at once. Regular exercise will help regulate hormones (hello, endorphins!), increase circulation and often helps people clear their minds and reduce stress.
What are your favorite ways to recharge? Share in the comments below!
Sunday Link Love: Fitness, Organic Food + Blog Infographics {Aug v3}
/Health, Fitness + Lifestyle
Resources for Doing Yoga at Home
5 Food and Fitness Tips and Tricks
How to Find Your Life Purpose: An Unconventional Approach
The Key to Perfecting Your Squat
How to Become a Morning Person
Losing Weight Won't Make You Happy
10 Things I Thought I'd Have By 25
Food + Nutrition
How I Spend $100 A Week on 100% Organic Groceries For Two People - See more at: http://ancestral-nutrition.com/100-a-week-groceries/#sthash.FmbKUNsX.dpuf
How I Spend $100 A Week on 100% Organic Groceries For Two People
What are Whole Grains? {Great GF options for runners}
Where To Store Fruits & Vegetables
When Passion Turns Into An Eating Disorder
How To Grow A Garden in 4 Steps
So many Health Bite recipes! I don't know where to start.
Blogging + Entrepreneurship
30 ways to promote your blog posts and articles [infographic]
What Legals Do I Need for My Website? [Infographic]
Talking Shop: 6 Tools to Help You Manage Your Inbox
How To Increase Your Facebook Likes
How To Take Great Pics With Your Point and Shoot Camera
Other
8 Ways We’ve Eliminated Plastic
My Life Lately...
+ I started morning work outs this week. I started laying out a cute exercise outfit the night before for motivation. We ended the week with some nice yoga Friday morning. I get a nice little walk to and from my friend's house in the morning so I have the perfect warm up and cool down and adds a little motivation.
+ I'm headed to Tampa tomorrow until Thursday for a client. I've never been to Tampa, so it should be fun! I also finalize plans for Claremont, CA (+Los Angeles/City of Industry) in November. Claremont is an adorable town so I'm excited.
What are your favorite links from the week? How do you stay motivated to exercise?
Keep up with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Vision Board Friday: Be All There
/"Wherever you are, be all there" - Jim Elliot
How to Start a WordPress Blog in 5 Minutes (step by step for non-techies!)
/
A step-by-step guide on how to start a WordPress blog in 5 minutes. Easy enough for non-techies! Plus, lots of visuals.
Read MoreVision Board Friday: Choose to See the Good Stuff
/Perception is everything, right? Choose to see the good in the world and people around you.
How to Choose the Right Colors for Your Brand
/The psychology behind how colors make us feel is one of my favorite business + psychology topics. In college, I wrote a research paper about it for one of my marketing courses and have been obsessed ever since. The first branding I started with a few years ago consisted of blues, greens and light brown. It had an earthy, fresh feeling to it.
When I rebranded last year, I kept the blue, but went with shades of coral and pink to give it a more feminine touch. While my business was still related to wellness, it had taken more of a business turn, so my branding changed slightly to reflect that (and my target market).
Why should you put thought into choosing the right colors for your brand?
- 92.6% of people put most importance on visual factors when choosing a product
- Color increases brand recognition by up to 80%
- Color can improve readership by 40%
- Color can improve comprehension by up to 73%
by AttwoodDigital.I like how this infographic mixes in a few facts in addition to the feelings associated with colors. Plus, it adds global meaning, which is especially important if you have an online business. It's much easier to reach a global market than it used to be, so you should know what message you're giving off.
I like how this infographic gives specific examples, such as red being popular in fast food restaurants and for impulse buyers.
Blue and green are popular among health coaches and wellness businesses because they make viewers think of the earth, nature, freshness, peace, green vegetables, and so on.
The Psychology of Color Break Down:
Red: Exciting, energizing, hot, passionate, impulsive, dramatic, aggressive, dangerous
Orange: Fun, happy, active, friendly, loud, whimsical
Yellow: Joyful, stimulating, surprise, friendly
Brown: Earthy, grounded, steady, natural, durable
Black: Powerful, sophisticated, elegant, nighttime, sober, depression, death, mourning
Gray: Classic, corporate, professional, reserved, basic
White: Pure, clean, innocent, bright, clinical, cold
Blue: Calm, peaceful, water, clean, classic, strong
Green: Natural, healthy, life, growth, spring, renewal
Teal: Serene, cool, tasteful, sophisticated, confident
Purple: Spiritual, mysterious, creative, thoughtful, enchanting
Pink: Feminine, soft, sweet, delicate, compassionate, playful
See a full spectrum here.
Did you think about the colors you were choosing for your brand?
Why I'm Keeping a Contracting Job in a Different Industry
/I'm at the point where I could go full time with my coaching business. Instead, I'm hiring an assistant (in full transparency, it's my fiance) and keeping a contracting position in a completely different industry. Clients are often surprised that I have a contracting job that's not in the health and wellness industry. Also, why would I choose to keep a contracting job if I could make more money coaching and expand my business? I've actually gotten a lot of similar questions lately, so that's why I decided to address it.
I contract for a company that sells plumbing and drainage equipment. Not exactly in the industry I target, right? And not exactly glamorous. But hey, I've learned A LOT from this job. As a little background, I've been with this company for 3 years. I worked in the marketing department in the Alabama office for about two of those years. My position has evolved so much since I started, and I've been able to turn it into something I love. About a year into the position I wrote my own job description and title (content marketing specialist). I manage over 36 social media accounts, handle SEO, help with all of our website redesigns, help with copywriting, manage our monthly reporting and analytics (I'm SUCH a nerd for analytics), and have recently taken on managing a new marketing automation platform. Over the years I've planned huge events, was the Smartboard expert and a host of other random things. (The featured photo is one I took for a company I work with named Murdock Manufacturing.)
Why I'm keeping my position:
- I like what I do, and they treat me well.
- I get to travel and attend events I can't yet afford on my own.
- I like variety in my work. I don't want to get burnt out on any one thing.
- I contract for a B2B company, which is challenging. It keeps me on my toes.
- I like the stability. I don't have benefits or vacation time, but I have 40 hours a week if I want them.
- Working for yourself can be lonely. We have daily Skype meetings, so it adds some of the office interaction I don't get at home.
- Marketing for something outside of your industry (health + wellness) can teach you a lot and help you stay creative.
- We're always learning about new marketing tools. I feel like I learn more being part of this team than I would if I was solely responsible for my marketing awareness.
I recommend keeping a full time, or at least steady, job while building your business. Sometimes the stress of making ends meet can fuel you, but often it adds unnecessary stress and might lead you to make decisions for your business you wouldn't otherwise make. It also gives you a chance to explore what your business should feel like. Give your business room to evolve and become what it was meant to be. The other side to this, like my situation, is that if you like what you do and are learning from it, you don't have to give it up. (Quick tip: be open with your boss and coworkers, and if you're a contractor, make sure they respect your time.)
I'm frequently asked, "How do you know when to go full-time with your side gig?" It's different for everyone. Pay attention to your gut feelings.
I've come across entrepreneurs who feel guilty for hanging on to their jobs (or make me question why I do). Stop the guilt. Design your life + career however YOU see fit.
I love this post by Laura Sims at Create As Folk: Why I Took a Full-Time Job
How many of you have full time jobs and a side job? How did you make the transition?
Sunday Link Love: Caffeine, Creativity + Simplifying {July v4}
/Health, Fitness + Lifestyle
Being creative can be a lonely path
10 positive consequences of NOT improving yourself Interesting take with valid points.
No Makeup is COOL, but is it REALISTIC?
Food + Nutrition
Caffeine Addiction: To Bean or Not to Bean?
Social Media, SEO + Entrepreneurship
8 Things You Can (and Should!) Do When Business Is Slow
Blogging
How should I Manage My Time? "A general rule: Spend 80% of your time on content creation and 20% on everything else."
Monetize Your Blog to Cover Your Costs I listened to The Minimalist Baker on The Lively Show and am a little bit obsessed now.
35 Tools to Enhance Your Content Marketing Efforts
7 Tools Every Blogger Must Use
My Life Lately...
+The first picture is actually from last week when I needed to take a short sanity break at the pool. After 45 minutes and being drenched in sweat, I was ready to get back to work. By the way, my Google account edited that pool picture on it's own. I'm actually a little creeped out.
+I got a facial and massage for my birthday. Treat yo' self. You can't tell in the picture really, but the redness in my cheeks had already gone down! The facial woman said I have rosacea. I've been told that's not what it is, but I'm going to research. Any tips?
+I went crazy Saturday morning with the Throw Out 100 Things Challenge (from Jess Lively). I have over 200 things I'm donating, selling, recycling or throwing out, and I'm not even done. It felt SO good. I'm going to try this site called ThredUp and see how it goes for some of my nicer clothing items. I'll be doing a full blog post soon about the challenge. However, while trying to price a pair of Toms flats I'm selling (black, sz 9 if you're interested ;-)) I found THESE. Guys, I need these.
+I'm trying to focus on simplifying my life. Not only by decluttering my apartment, but also in streamlining my business. I'm open to any recommendations for making life as an entrepreneur / solopreneur easier! For example, I synced my gmail calendar + outlook calendar. I also realized I could access my phone pictures from my G+ account. Duh. These little things will save a lot of time.
+I finished all The Lively Show podcasts and now I'm sad. Any recommendations for similar podcasts?
What are your favorite links from the week?
Keep up with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Vision Board Friday: Live Simply
/"Live simply. Expect little. Give much. Love extravagantly." This seemed appropriate as I'm working on simplifying my life this week and thinking about long term goals. Focus on the things that really matter.
image credit
Loving Your 9-5 Job + Finding a Job You Love
/I mostly work with other entrepreneurs, but inspiring people to seek enjoyable careers is also important to me.
Let's explore:
- Learning to love the 9-5 job you already have
- How to find a job you love
Yes, I love being an entrepreneur, but we need all different jobs to make the world work.
There are a lot of unhappy people working 9-5 jobs (myself included at one point). I think the cause is often a mismatch of company culture with the individual's personality or a position requiring the wrong skill set. Sometimes that trickles down if the manager is not ideal for his or her position.
I've heard WAY too many people say "it's your job, you're not supposed to like it." That is a huge misconception. You won't love what you're doing all the time, no matter what job you have, but you should like your job at least 60-70% of the time. (Completely made up statistic, but you get the point.)
Jess Lively has an inspirational podcast called The Lively Show that has completely consumed me this past week. Her interview with Mr. Lively is an excellent example of how you can love your "9-5" job. They touch on company culture, which is one of the most important aspects of liking your job. Especially these days, you can find a culture that fits with you. Interview the company as much as they're interviewing you so you can get a feel for what it's like to work for that company.
The Lively Show episode with Noah Kagan also touched on similar topics. Noah mentions the "Sunday Test" - how do you feel on Sunday about going to work on Monday? I can totally relate to this. I had a job where I loved the work I was doing, but the culture didn't jive with me. I felt out of place and confused, so a feeling of dread and anxiety would come over me on Sundays. Noah also gives recommendations on how to find a job you love, even in a competitive environment.
3 Ways to Stand Out at a Job Interview:
- Research the company
- Have ideas for how you can improve the company
- Know why the company should hire you
If you're doing work you enjoy, it doesn't matter if it's for someone else or yourself. In another podcast, the guest compares his internet job with a construction worker's job. While he has what some would consider a "dream job," the construction worker would hate sitting inside hunched over a computer all day. Think of how much we could accomplish if we were all well-suited for our jobs.
[Tweet "Think of how much we could accomplish if we were all well-suited for our jobs."]
So while I love to inspire entrepreneurs to go after their dreams, I want to point out that I encourage everyone to find jobs based on what will make you happy. Do something that makes you feel alive. It will work out better for everyone.
Danielle LaPorte talks about basing your actions on your "core desired feelings" in The Desire Map, and this resonates with me, too. Maybe your desired feelings are stability and community or maybe creativity and variety.
One of my core desired feelings is flexibility. I live far away from family, so I want the freedom and ability to travel and work from anywhere.
How do you want your career to make you feel? What's really important to you?
There may not be one path to what you want from a career, and what you thought you wanted may not make you happy. Let's answer a few questions to give you a different perspective:
3 Questions to Find a Job You Love:
- How will you feel when you have your dream job?
- What will you be doing day to day?
- What kind of people do you want to spend every day with?
At the same time, there are ways you can learn to love the job you already have.
5 Ways to Learn to Love Your Job:
- Ask for specific projects that more closely relate to what you want to do.
- Request flexibility if that's what you need.
- Make your desk and working environment more tranquil and more YOU.
- The longer you're with a company, the more easily it will be to switch departments. Start looking for open positions within the company.
- Don't get caught up in negative talk about your job. Focus on the positive. (Applies to life in general.)
Do you love your day job? Did you leave a job to do something you love? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!
It's Okay to Take a Mental Health Day
/Whether you're in school, working in the corporate world or running your own business, I'm a supporter of mental health days. These aren't days where you skip out on responsibility just because you feel like it. These are days when you can't focus, feel exhausted and know you need a break.
Taking a day off is especially challenging for entrepreneurs. Each hour we don't work, we miss out on money. Most entrepreneurs don't take vacation days, personal days, or sick days for the first 1-3 years while they're getting their business up and running. It took me almost a full year to feel comfortable taking a 3 day vacation, and I still scramble to make up the hours and feel guilty for not being available for my clients.
There was a day last month when I knew I needed a mental health day. I woke up feeling down, irritable and unmotivated. My writing was uninspired, so I worked on little tasks. I had two appointments (dentist and orthopedist) who both told me my pain is caused from stress. I'm grinding my teeth at night (despite wearing a mouth guard) and irritating my tendinitis by working too much. (Stress and working too much are likely not the cause of my tendinitis, but is keeping it inflamed.)
So I took the day off, for the most part. I tried to exercise to boost endorphins and then ended up going to our local frozen yogurt bar and ate nothing but sugar for dinner. I read a new book on my kindle and took 2 naps. But you know what? By 8pm I felt rejuvenated. Was it just a hormonal thing? Or did taking the afternoon to relax help? It's hard to say, but when I woke up the next morning inspired and raring to go- I didn't care which it was that helped me.
I know there's a lot of advice out there saying that the only way to make it as an entrepreneur is to push through the days you don't feel like working, write even if you're uninspired, etc. I want to challenge that just a little.
[Tweet "Take days off to get re-motivated + rejuvenated. Mental health days are vital."]
Do something different from your normal routine.
If you're sick, take the time off to get better. Build vacations into your schedule. Block them out in advance. Set your blog and social media posts up in advance, or ask for some guest post while you're out.
You NEED this time. It's too easy to burn out, between trying to keep up with writing, advertising, connecting, learning.
Stop feeling guilty for taking time off. New experiences and relaxation open you up to new ideas and possibilities, and those are what will take your business to the next level.
Do you take mental health days? If you're an entrepreneur, how do you handle vacation time?
Image Credit: Kate Powell
Vision Board Friday: Create Healthy Habits, Not Restrictions
/
At the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, we learned about the practice of "crowding out." Instead of making a lot of huge changes at once and making foods off limits, try slowly adding in healthier options like fruits, vegetables and more water.
The produce and water will start filling you up and you won't have as much room for the unhealthier options. Soon enough, you'll even start craving the good stuff! Plus, putting restrictions on your diet can backfire.
Remember, you're creating a lifestyle change, not a temporary diet change.
Regain Control Over Anxiety (Free Worksheet)
/I'm pretty open about my anxiety in case I'm able to help anyone else who experiences it. I suffer from general anxiety and probably some social anxiety. On top of being an introvert, it can get pretty overwhelming. Generalized anxiety disorder is "...a mental health condition in which a person is often worried or anxious about many things and finds it hard to control this anxiety.(PubMed Health)" Basically, if it interferes with your every day life it's most likely generalized anxiety.
Social anxiety is defined by Psychology Today as, "...an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations."
WebMD states, "Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 18% of adults, according to leading specialists in anxiety treatment."
As I've gotten further into studying holistic health, I've come across a few natural ways to deal with anxiety. I'll save the herbs, teas, and foods for another post. Today we're going to explore the psychological aspect. While I am not against medical intervention for these disorders, there are a few other ways I recommend trying first. To me, aside from calming techniques, feeling like I have more control over the situation helps tremendously.
Use these four prompts to help you feel more in control:
List the facts about the situation. What about your anxiety is true and part of the present moment?
List the worries that are hypothetical. What about this situation is based in the future? What do you have no control over?
List 5 things you can do right now to relax. This might include taking deep breaths, exercising, taking a bubble bath, meditating, etc.
List 3 things you can do to take control of the situation. Maybe you can call family and friends to help you work through the situation, make a list of ways to save money if that's what's bothering you, etc.
This article from MindBodyGreen gives 5 ways of coping with your anxiety that are actually making it worse.
Use this worksheet to regain control of your anxiety:
If you suffer from anxiety, how do you ease it? What are your go-to ways for feeling more in control?
Vision Board Friday: Choose to be Calm
/Don't forget that you're in control. Take a few deep breaths and choose to be calm.
23 Quick + Simple Ways to Reduce Stress
/Before you grab that pint of Ben & Jerry's, pop a Xanax or hit the mall, take a few deep breaths and try one of the options below. Chances are "retail therapy" will only leave you more stressed, because according to this Washington Post article, "73% of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level." In fact, "54% of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives." It sounds like everyone could use a few pick-me-ups! The following options are free or low cost techniques you can start applying immediately:
Get Physical: 1. Take a walk and feel the sun on your face. 2. Practice yoga. 3. Run, bike, swim, dance- anything that makes you sweat. "Runner's High" is from a rush of oxytocin, a neurotransmitter that will improve your mood and act as a pain reliever.
Entice the Senses: 4. Burn an aromatherapy candle 5. Dab lavender or chamomile essential oils on your wrists 6. Drink soothing tea like chamomile. 7. Chew (sugar-free) gum. This has been connected with relieving cortisol, a stress hormone. 8. Enjoy a small piece of dark chocolate. 9. Sip a nutrition-filled green smoothie. The sweetness will be comforting while the nutrients will help keep your body on track.
Slow Down and Relax: 10. Take a bath with Epsom salt (Epsom salt with chamomile essential oil is my favorite!) 11. Meditate, even if it's as simple as closing your eyes and focusing on a few deep breaths. 12. Take a time out with a warm shower. 13. Close your eyes and focus on relaxing one muscle group at a time. 14. Take a short break from technology- namely your Smart Phone.
Connect With Others: 15. Call an old friend or family member. Talking to someone else can help you put things in perspective, laugh, reminisce about the past, or relieve stress just through venting. 16. Pet an animal. 17. Smile, even if it's forced. 18. Snuggle, kiss or simply hug a loved one to relieve stress hormones and increase positive feelings.
Other Options: 16. Write out your feelings. Burn them later if it'll help you let go. 20. For on-going relief, start a gratitude journal. Writing just a few things every day that you're thankful for has been proven to have lasting positive effects on the writer's happiness. 21. Put it in perspective. Make a list of immediate actions you can take and the things you can't change. 22. Find video clips on YouTube that make you laugh. 23. Sing loudly to your favorite tunes
What's your favorite way to immediately reduce stress? Share it in the comments below to help others!
A version of this post appeared first on MindBodyGreen. See all of my MBG posts here.
Vision Board Friday: Follow Your Own Path
/Don't be afraid to deviate from the path you were taught as a child. High school, college, corporate job, marriage, family.
If that path doesn't feel right to you and bring you joy, make your own. There are unlimited ways to live you life. You only get one, so make it what you want.
Vision Board Friday: Be the Best Version of You
/"Be the very best version of you." Self-improvement is great, but it's even better when you remain true to yourself! Make sure your goals are your own.
The Ultimate List of Signs You Might be an Introvert
/I'm all about harnessing and understanding your energy to make the most of your life and business. One of the easiest ways to understand how to maximize your energy is by understanding the difference between introverts and extroverts. Being introverted doesn't mean you're never outgoing or that you're anti-social. It just means you need alone time to recharge, i.e. get your energy from inner sources. Extroverts get energy from external sources. They both fall on a continuum, so you can probably have traits of both.
I've come across a bunch of great posts, both funny and serious, about being an introvert. I'm aware that some of these border on social anxiety, but sometimes they're pretty close.
Here's a collection of my favorite points and also some of my own additions and ideas from friends on Facebook:
1. Anticipating and engaging in small talk causes anxiety and often annoyance. Introverts are much better at deeper, more involved topics. This often leads people to call you intense.
2. Because of your aversion to small talk, networking is difficult and often makes you feel fake.
3. "We feel desperate or clingy when we ask someone to dinner, fake and slimy when we network, and self absorbed when filling in a distant friend on our lives." JoinBlush
4. You've been called too: intense, reserved, shy, in your own head, anti-social, quiet, in a shell.
5. A day of meetings, group work, networking, etc. leaves you completely drained.
6. Your best friend or partner is an extravert. They often compliment each other perfectly, as long as they understand each other.
7. "Now I'm going to choose a volunteer." This statement while attending a show, class, etc. creates instant panic.
8. A ringing phone creates anxiety, and it's rare for you to answer it. You'd rather call people when you're more prepared. "To me, a ringing phone is like having somebody jump out of a closet and go 'BOO!,'" says Dembling. "I do like having a long, nice phone call with a friend -- as long as it's not jumping out of the sky at me." Huffington Post --- This is me exactly!
9. You have a constantly running inner monologue. “Extroverts don’t have the same internal talking as we do,” says Olsen Laney. “Most introverts need to think first and talk later." Huffington Post
10. "You’ve been called an “old soul” -– since your 20s." Huffington Post
11. You're better at written communication than speaking because you need time to process what you're going to say.
12. You prefer working by yourself. You may excel in a profession such as writing, computer programming, graphic or web design, etc.
13. "You alternate between phases of work and solitude, and periods of social activity." Huffington Post
14. The idea of going out and being social after a work day is often overwhelming.
15. You aren't upset when a friend cancels plans. In fact, you're relieved.
16. You can be out having fun socializing but still thinking about the moment you get home and can crawl into bed and read.
17. You can have a great time "socializing" only to realize later you didn't say much at all.
18. You've napped in your car or eaten lunch in your car to get some time alone during a busy, social-heavy day.
19. You've felt "weird" or even hungover (exhausted) after too many social activities, even without drinking.
20. Working in an open office setting leaves you exhausted every evening. Working from home can be lonely, but you're able to focus better and get more work done, so you prefer this.
21. You dread Friday or Monday when people ask, "So what do you have planned this weekend?" and "What fun things did you do this weekend?"
21. The idea of staying in a shared dorm in college was scary.
23. Skipping work events or canceling plans feels relieving.
24. You've had to barter with yourself to go to a party. "I'll go for an hour," "I'll talk to 5 people," etc.
25. Related, you like going out, but tend to be one of the first to leave.
26. Also related, you're comfortable going out if you know you have an excuse to leave early if you need to.
27. You've run/hid/timed leaving your house because of chatty neighbors, even if you like your neighbors.
28. People point out when you get excited, raise your voice, show anger, etc. And this drives you crazy.
29. You've been accused of being "stuck up" because you're reserved or quiet.
30. Having people stay at your house is terrifying.
31. You haven't liked staying overnight at friend's houses since you were a small child.
32. People tell you to "smile more," constantly ask if you're okay and ask "why are you so quiet?"
33. People make you feel weird for doing things alone, like shopping.
34. You feel most comfortable in small groups, no more than about 4-5 people.
35. Surprises make you extremely anxious.
36. Seeing event photos all over social media makes you feel guilty or bad, but you still don't want to go. There's a definite societal pressure in the U.S. to be extroverted, and introverts are often made to feel guilty for being themselves.
37. "When we like something, we love it; when we don’t like something, we hate it." EliteDaily
38. "We don’t often let people in, but when we do, we open up like a book." EliteDaily
39. "We often get lost in our thoughts, even when someone is talking directly to us." EliteDaily
40. It's hard to remember names when first meeting someone because you're too focused on planning what to say.
41. You can be a great leader, but you prefer people who are self-starters and motivated.
42. You rarely raised your hand in class and were frustrated when class participation was part of the grade.
43. "You are capable of being bubbly, outgoing, and even effusively warm, but doing so completely exhausts you. You feel as though you have to switch on that side of your personality." Thought Catalog
44. You often pretend not to see someone you know to avoid conversation, by literally hiding or pretending to be suddenly very engaged with your smart phone.
45. You avoid Wal-Mart in your home town.
46. "You love meeting new people, but you definitely don’t love it as much as you tell people you do." Thought Catalog
47. You're very interested in psychology, sociology; what makes people tick.
48. You love getting lost in the different world of books.
49. You eloped rather than having an elaborate wedding in front of people.
50. You don't cry in front of people, no matter how upset, because that would draw too much attention.
51. You take criticism a little more personally and harshly than others.
52. Friends often turn to you for advice or just to vent because they know you're a good listener and won't force your opinion on them.
53. You wear ear buds public so people aren't tempted to talk to you.
Sources, Inspiration + Introvert Related Articles: 23 Signs You're Secretly an Introvert How to Interact with the Introverted An Open Letter From Introverts 15 Signs You're an Introvert and Secretly Obsessed with it 10 Signs You're Secretly an Introvert
Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments.
