7 Reasons Why World Introvert Day Is the Best Day of the Year

IntrovertDear.com World Introvert Day best day

Well, introverts, we made it to January. It’s a new year, a fresh start, and best of all — it’s Jan. 2, otherwise known as World Introvert Day!

December might be the month best known for the biggest holidays, but the festivities don’t have to end after Jan. 1. In fact, the most important day of the year might be one that’s spent on the couch rather than at a party with extended family you barely know. So slip on your comfiest slippers and put another log on the fire, because there’s no reason to leave the house tonight.

And if you needed further clarification on why World Introvert Day is the best day of the year, here are seven more reasons:

1. It gives you time to recharge after the holiday “break.”

The holiday season can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Even if you’re one of the lucky people who gets extended time off from work or school, the last few weeks of December often mean extensive travel, non-stop parties, and an endless parade of small talk with everyone from coworkers you hoped to never see outside the office to relatives who appear literally once a year and expect presents. By the time New Year’s is over, it’s common to feel both physically and emotionally drained, which makes World Introvert Day the absolute best time to reward yourself with a quiet night in.

2. You can start the new year with a new self-care goal.

Jan. 2 is the perfect time to get a start on that list of resolutions. As an introvert, I find one of the best ways to work on improving myself is to make a new self-care goal. These goals can be anything from taking 15 minutes every night to write in a journal to promising yourself you’ll take a bubble bath once a week. Daily meditation or yoga stretches are also an excellent way to unwind.

Choose whatever you think will be best for you, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. If you’re trying to become the best version of yourself in 2018, it’s important to begin with self-care. And there’s no better way to start than with some downtime on Jan. 2.

3. It’s a good time to talk about being an introvert.

Okay, so we all know that as introverts, talking isn’t really our strong suit. But talking about being an introvert doesn’t have to mean announcing your personality type loudly to the whole room. Write a post on social media. Update your blog. You might even try casually dropping the topic into a one-on-one conversation. Explain that you’re really looking forward to a quiet night in, because it’s World Introvert Day, and you’re really feeling like you need the recharge time. You might be pleasantly surprised to hear your friend or colleague tell you how much they can relate.

4. Because introverts are quietly saving the world.

If you’re an introvert, chances are a lot of the contributions you make are being overlooked. Your boss might not realize that behind that perfectly met deadline was an introvert who stayed late every night last week. Those amazing appetizers that everyone at the party couldn’t stop raving about were the result of an introvert’s careful planning.

Introverts are everywhere: Keeping the peace, planning the fundraisers, and working behind the scenes to make sure everyone’s needs are met. Nobody recognizes them because nobody thinks to question why things are going smoothly, and introverts don’t want to call attention to themselves.

Well, introverts, today is your day. And as you relax and reward yourself, don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back.

5. Because there are lots of famous introverts.

From J.K. Rowling to Albert Einstein to Mahatma Gandhi, being an introvert puts you in good company. It’s no secret to introverts that the quiet ones are often the ones with the loudest minds and the biggest ideas. So when you quietly curl up to binge-watch a Netflix show or reread a favorite book tonight, remember that the creative minds behind the other world you are escaping into are probably introverts just like you.

6. Because literally every other day is extrovert day.

Whoever dominates the conversation usually gets the most attention, and most days, that’s extroverts. While it’s suggested that introverts make up at least half the population, it seems like there’s a lot fewer of us, probably because most of us are forced to blend into our extrovert-oriented world.

From board meetings to happy hour to those dreaded school group projects, it’s hard to carve out time to just quietly be ourselves. World Introvert Day is a great time to celebrate all the things that make us unique. And why stop at one day? Once you begin to embrace how awesome it is to be an introvert, you might find yourself quietly celebrating all year long.

7. Because you get to celebrate exactly the way you want to.

One of the revelations I had upon discovering I was an introvert was that it’s okay to say no to social events that you don’t want to attend. You don’t have to feel pressured to go out and party. It’s your life and your preference. Spend your time the way you want to spend it. It’s okay if you’d much rather just stay home.

World Introvert Day is a great day to embrace being an introvert, but you don’t need to use this day as an excuse. Stay home every night of the week if you want. The best thing about World Introvert Day is its open acknowledgment that being an introvert is a real and valid experience, and it’s how many of us will continue to live our lives even after Jan. 2. 

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Read this: Introverts Don’t Hate People, They Hate Shallow Socializing

Learn more: The Secret Lives of Introverts: Inside Our Hidden World, by Jenn Granneman 

Image credit: @isabelcastronet via Twenty20