Introverts, how do you manage your energy when you work in a noisy or fast-paced environment? The constant chatter, the phone ringing, the constant interruptions, the email notifications, and other distractions slowly drain your energy. Does it make you want to run off and hide somewhere quiet and calm or maybe even to the bathroom just for a minute of peace? Do you ever just want to tune it all out but it’s almost impossible?
Even if you work in a noisy environment as I do, you can still carve out time and ways to recharge or preserve that precious energy. I admit, sometimes I get jealous of all the people that can work from home since the start of the pandemic. I’ve always wanted to work remotely, but somehow I ended up in an occupation where I’m surrounded by constant NOISE. I work in a major airport and noise is all around me: planes taking off, radio chatter, trucks, cars, police, fire, ambulance sirens, and passengers. With all the hustle & bustle of my job, I was getting really exhausted by too much going on around me, so I had to figure out how to find a balance of preserving my introverted energy but still being able to do my job efficiently without burning out.
SIMPLE WAYS TO RECHARGE AT WORK:
EAT LUNCH/TAKE BREAKS IN YOUR CAR
If you drive to work, look to your car as a haven to recharge, eat your lunch or take breaks. The lunchroom can be a busy, loud place where well-meaning coworkers are always trying to make small talk with you when all you want to do is eat your spaghetti in peace while trying to watch your favorite YouTube videos. So when trying to eat while simultaneously trying to answer questions about your non-eventful (or eventful) weekend might sound like fun to some extroverts, we do need our breaks as quiet as can be in our own zone, and it’s definitely nothing against them.
TAKE A WALK
Fresh air and taking a nice walk away from the office or wherever your worksite can be refreshing. Most of us get short breaks in between lunch, and that would be a great time to get the blood flowing by getting up and taking a short walk, whether it’s just around the building, a nearby park, or grabbing something at the store. Whatever you prefer, you can recharge your energy by stepping away from the work noise and getting some quiet time. You can try wearing headphones or earbuds to listen to some music, meditation, or a podcast.
NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES
Is the constant noise driving you crazy? Invest in some good, comfortable noise-canceling headphones if your employer allows you to and if you can do your job efficiently with them on. I work feet away from noisy airplanes and trucks, and thankfully my employer provides custom earplugs and they help a lot! They don’t completely drown out the noise but help mute them. Sometimes I forget to put them on, and I start feeling irritated by every little sound.
WORK REMOTELY OR HYBRID
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, a lot of employers shifted to remote work and many large companies are still offering this up to now. I’m not going to lie, I work in a field where there’s no way I can work from home, and I was a bit envious (okay, A LOT) of all the people that didn’t have to get up every morning, commute to work, and have to deal with the constant chatter, small talk, and noise of working around people.
I still dream of being able to set up an office space at home and being able to work in my own space, and maybe one day I will. You can too if you search for a remote job online or maybe ask your manager if you can work from home on some days, and just come to work just 1-2 days a week. Sounds like a nice balance.
REQUEST WORK ASSIGNMENTS IN A DIFFERENT AREA
If your management allows you to pick an assignment where it’s quieter and with less social interaction, don’t be afraid to speak up. I’m fortunate enough that our job allows us to rotate assignments and I usually request or trade into areas where I can work alone in a guard shack. I still have contact with a lot of people, but it’s in short amounts.
PICK A DIFFERENT SHIFT
Many jobs allow you to have a choice of day, swing, or midnight shifts. Usually, midnights are quieter, with less hustle & bustle, and fewer people to interact with. The only downside is that you may get extremely sleepy as it throws off your body’s natural rhythm of sleep. Midnight or swing shifts may be physically harder but if you can get used to it, most introverts will enjoy the quiet and solitude of working at night.
WORK AND INTROVERT BALANCE
As introverts, it’s always tough to find that balance at work between preserving your energy and also being productive at work. Open workspaces have been trendy in offices for the last couple of years and we are surrounded by co-workers who mean well but are chatty. Thankfully we have more options now to step away from the noise, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes. Now, if your job is really draining your introverted energy, it’s not bad to consider a job change. The internet has opened a world of options for us introverts as far as employment. Hopefully, the tips mentioned above help you find your little slice of heaven even in a busy, noisy workplace.