Let’s get a few things straight about introverts. Yes, they like to be alone. No, it’s not down to being socially awkward. And with Forbes claiming that introverts make up approximately 30-50% of the world, it’s likely you’ve met a few. You might be house sharing with one, or you just might be one yourself.
If you’re a self-professed introvert, then you know how tricky house sharing can be. Balancing alone time with not wanting to seem anti-social, dreading house meetings to discuss bills—it can all be a little stressful. If you’re looking to make house sharing a little more enjoyable as an introvert, check out our top tips below.
What’s an introvert?
To start, let’s break down exactly what an introvert is. It’s wrongly assumed that all introverts are quiet, shy, reclusive types. Psychology Today describes introverts as those who “get their energy from having ‘alone time’”, while extroverts (the other portion of the population) charge their batteries by being in the company of others.
This is an important distinction to make. Just because introverts might require more alone time than extroverts doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy being around others. It just means that in order for them to feel comfortable in social situations, they need to have a healthy balance of alone time as well.
Tips for living with others as an introvert
If you’re an introvert, then you know how difficult house sharing can be. Getting labelled “anti-social” by your housemates just because you’d rather have dinner and watch Stranger Things in your bedroom rather than eat in the common area is both frustrating and unfair.
But living with others doesn’t have to be stressful. You can take the following steps to avoid the anti-social misnomer by your extroverted housemates:
- Communicate, communicate, communicate. A simple announcement like, “I’ve had a long day and just need to hang out by myself tonight” to your housemates can go a long way. Be transparent. Let them know you’re just trying to work on your mental health and not avoiding anyone deliberately.
- Pick your social settings – If you know your housemates are throwing a party on Saturday that’s going to drain your social batteries, charge them in advance to make sure you’ve got enough energy for the big night. And when you’ve had enough, politely excuse yourself and head off to the peacefulness of your room. No shame necessary!
- Set up group chats. Sometimes, introverts just aren’t up for a big house meeting. That’s just the bottom line. So when you need to convey important messages to your housemates, have group chat on WhatsApp or set up a bill-splitting app so you don’t have to go room by room to discuss important house sharing matters.
- Make the most of your bedroom. When house sharing, your bedroom is often the only place you’ll have exclusively to yourself. Make it a comfy space that you’ll enjoy spending time in, so you can make the most of your alone time and fully recharge.
acasa, the introverts’ best friend
acasa is a house management and bill-splitting app designed for students. With acasa, users are paired with affordable, award-winning utilities providers and then billed individually with a single bills package, no passive aggressive fridge notes or house meetings required. Check out acasa and get a quote for your house today.