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The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World

The best book I’ve read on the subject of introversion. There is a great chapter in this book about the different neurochemistry of introverts and extroverts and how science have showed that we are actually born with this trait. This is a good book to read if you are having troubles accepting yourself as an introvert.

At least one out of four people prefers to avoid the limelight, tends to listen more than they speak, feels alone in large groups, and requires lots of private time to restore their energy. They’re introverts, and here is the book to help them boost their confidence while learning strategies for successfully living in an extrovert world.

After dispelling common myths about introverts-they’re not necessarily shy, aloof, or antisocial–The Introvert Advantage explains the real issues. Introverts are hardwired from birth to focus inward, so outside stimulation-chitchat, phone calls, parties, office meetings-can easily become “too much.”The Introvert Advantage dispels introverts’ belief that something is wrong with them and instead helps them recognize their inner strengths-their analytical skills, ability to think outside the box, and strong powers of concentration. It helps readers understand introversion and shows them how to determine where they fall on the introvert/extrovert continuum. It provides tools to improve relationships with partners, kids, colleagues, and friends, offering dozens of tips, including 10 ways to talk less and communicate more, 8 ways to showcase your abilities at work, how to take a child’s temperament temperature, and strategies for socializing. Finally, it shows how to not just survive, but thrive-how to take advantage of the introvert’s special qualities to create a life that’s just right for the introvert temperament, to discover new ways to expand their energy reserves, and even how, when necessary, to confidently become a temporary extrovert.

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The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World

 

The Juice Master Keeping it Simple: Over 100 Delicious Juices and Smoothies 

I recently switched my daily multivitamin for a delicious juice or smoothie each day, and one of the best decisions I ever made. This helps in keeping my health and wellbeing in shape which is very important for emotional health as an INFJ and HSP. Not only do I get all the vitamins I need but also all the healthy phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables which you can’t get in any pill. It’s a great way to start the day and I bought this book to get some recipe inspiration for different juices and smoothies. I’ve done quite a few and they are all taste great and the book include details on nutrients and health effects of different fruits and vegetables. My favorite is the New Zealand Special, orange, kiwi, banana and Manuka honey, try it!

The No.1 bestselling juicing author Jason Vale is back with his ultimate book of juices and smoothies. His complete recipe book contains recipes for over 100 easy and delicious juices and smoothies to help you lose weight, get healthy and feel fantastic. Jason Vale, the inspirational king of juice detoxing and the man who helped Jordan lose 2 stone in 3 months, has compiled his definitive selection of over 100 simple but delicious, low-fat juice and smoothie recipes. Keeping it Simple has the perfect juice or smoothie, whether you want to slim down, get healthy or just need a little juice-boost pick-me-up on a rainy day. With Jason’s motivational tips and unique ‘3-Day Super Juice Detox’ programme you will not only clean your system, rid yourself of physical addictions and get extra energy, but you will also learn the fundamental Juicy Rules for a permanently slim, trim and healthy body. With a complete list of ailments that can be cured by each juice, and a full breakdown of all the minerals and nutrients contained in each recipe, this is the ultimate collection of juicing recipes for full health, extra energy and permanent weight loss. Includes: * Over 100 delicious recipes for juices and smoothies * Jason’s slimming 3-Day Super Juice Detox * The Juice Master’s Natural Pharmacy – juices for common ailments * Complete A-Z of fruit and veg – how specific vitamins and minerals help health and vitality * Kids Stuff – how to get your kids to drink fruit and vegetables and love them! 

Get it here:
The Juice Master Keeping it Simple: Over 100 Delicious Juices and Smoothies

I’ve recently suffered a bad cold which after it finally started resolving, ended up with me also developing viral bronchitis. As I write to you right now I’m in bed doped up on meds to deal with the pain in my lungs and all the coughing. Having to deal with all of this for the last two weeks I’ve come to realize that I always get hit by the worst colds or flu viruses every year. Worse then everybody else around me. My roommate infected me and she was only ill for a couple of days and then it all cleared up for her. For me I’m now closing in on three weeks.

When I think back about it, it has always been like this for most of my life. I often get multiple virus infections each year, always hitting my respiratory systems the most. As a kid I suffered from asthma which made me unable to do sports sometimes and deemed me unfit for military service as a teenager. I also had a lot of food allergies when I was younger and I have a chronic skin inflammatory disease called rosacea. What I’ve started to conclude drawing from all my previous experience is that not only am I an highly sensitive person emotionally, but my body is also highly sensitive. I started to do some research online about it and turns out that it is very common for HSPs to suffer from chronic illnesses and catch diseases easier then non HSPs.

It all makes a lot of sense because I have always been a firm believer that the mind and body is deeply connected to each other. This is a viewpoint that western medicine doesn’t share but you can find it in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda which are based on it. HSPs have a highly sensitive nervous system and this also affects the rest of our body. When one system is not in balance the others become more susceptible to stress and damage. Since many INFJs are also HSPs, I think it’s vital that we remember to take care of ourselves and our bodies in order to be happy both emotionally and physically. As we all know we INFJs need this in order to cope and function properly in today’s society with our unusual gifts.

Here are some great links I dug up for you to indulge in further:

Extroverts tend to rise up earlier in the morning which also makes a lot of sense since they get their energy from interacting and being around other people. Daytime is of course the best time for this and rising up early gives you a head start. There are some articles online saying that early risers are the most productive. I think there is some truth to this but I would also  say that it mostly has to do with how productive you are in general and how you manage your time. The nice thing about rising up early is that your energy deposits are at their peak level. But as an introvert and from other introverts I know, we tend to be people that are slow started in the morning. It takes some time until we really ‘awake’ and are in our most functioning state. Hence maybe nighttime is a more suitable time of the day for some of us to do our best work.

Being slow started in the morning is one of the things I always wanted to change. Usually on normal working days it takes me until after lunch before I feel ‘fresh’ and at my peak energy level. The hours following waking up in the morning, I feel slow and tired and in the past I turned to coffee as my savior. I don’t think it’s connected to my sleeping patterns since they are consistent of 7-8 hours sleep each day, maybe this is just part of the introverted nature. As a side note to being slow in the morning the last couple of months I found this amazing medicinal herb called Ashwagandha which has helped me with this tremendously. I now take a teaspoon of the herb before going to bed every night and wake up full of energy, it also makes me fall asleep quicker in the evening. You can read more about it on these links:

I buy this brand of Ashwagandha:

Introverts do seem to need more sleep then most extroverts to function. If I sleep less then 6 hours, I can’t function like normally and it affects my mood a lot. Most of my extroverted friends doesn’t seem to be affected by lack of sleep  to the same degree, and same with hangovers. My theory is that since we introverts collect our energy from inside, and sleep deprivation affects our body and mind, lack of sleep will have a biggest effect on us. Extroverts collect their energy from the external world so it’s much easier for them to keep up a good mood and motivation even though they feel bad.

The last year I’ve been changing my pre sleep rituals to more suit my personality and it has greatly improved my life. I no longer use the computer or watch tv before going to bed. No electronic devices 2 hours before bed has worked to get me relaxed in the evening. Not only does the decrease in stimulation work, but also because most modern led screens imitate a light similar to that of the sun, which prevents Melantonin to be released in the body. Melantonin is the body’s natural sleep hormone and it is released when it starts to get dark. I now read books instead the last few hours a day and these two things has literally cured most of the insomnia I suffered from.

Insomnia seems like a common things for introverts and especially INFx types and HSPs (Highly Sensitive People). We are easy stimulated and even the smallest things can keep us awake at night. Like sounds, watching to much tv before bed, having a lot to do the next day or other things that are bothering us which we can’t stop thinking about. Overtime at work has been my biggest contributor to my insomnia because when I work late my mind is racing from overwork, and then it usually takes a couple of hours for it to cool down. The problem arises when you don’t get home until late and have to get up early the next day.

I plan on trying to become an early riser to see if it might help with my insomnia issues, making me more tired in the evening. I’ll update with a post at a later time concerning the results from my experiments. I think waking up early can be a good thing for some people but for introverts I’m not yet convinced. I’ll leave you guys for now with this great article: