If you find joy in these 7 things, you might be an introvert (without even realizing it)

You’ve probably heard that introverts are shy, quiet loners who hate socializing, right? And that just doesn’t feel like you.

But on the other hand, you also don’t particularly enjoy being surrounded by people and doing social things nonstop, so maybe you’re not an extrovert either.

What if I told you there’s more to being an introvert or an extrovert than what the stereotypes tell us?

What if it’s less about your tolerance for socializing and more about where you get your energy?

When you think about introversion and extroversion as your source of energy, it opens up a whole new world.

Maybe you’re an introvert without even realizing it. But how can you tell?

As a self-proclaimed ‘outgoing introvert ’ myself, I’ve spent a lot of time diving way beyond the stereotypes.

And it’s made me realize there might be a lot more introverts among us than we think.

Listen up: if you find joy in these 7 things, you might be an introvert (without even realizing it).

Let’s dive in. 

1) Quiet mornings with freshly brewed coffee, and nothing else

Remember a few years ago, when memes were a thing? One in particular resonated with me.

It read “I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee. And I love the sound of nobody talking to me while I drink it”.

Does this strike a chord with you?

I mean seriously, is there anything more blissful than the thought of a quiet morning with freshly brewed coffee and some peace and quiet?

Introverts are known for enjoying their solitude sure, but it’s about more than not being around other people.

Introverts genuinely enjoy the peace that comes with enjoying their favorite things in quiet moments.

It doesn’t have to be coffee but if your happy place is enjoying something peaceful in your own company, then there’s a strong chance you’re an introvert without even realizing it. 

2) Deep and meaningful one-to-one conversations 

You’ve probably heard introverts don’t like people, socializing, or even talking, right?

That’s not completely accurate. The truth is, they don’t like big crowds, lots of stimulation, and endless small talk.

However, they do love some deep and meaningful conversation, one-on-one or as part of a small, intimate group. It’s one of the things that brings them joy and happiness. 

And get this: research finds that people who have deeper conversations are happier than those who mostly engage in small talk.

Of all the conversations they had in a day, almost half (46%) of the happiest people’s conversations were ‘substantive’ a.k.a meaningful.

This is a little secret that introverts have known all along, as they’ve always preferred deep conversation to meaningless small talk.

“Introverts prefer to dive deep. We want to know what’s really going on in your head, or to talk about something interesting we’ve read, heard, or watched” as noted by Jenn Granneman introvert and author of ‘The Secret Lives of Introverts’.

If you’d rather trade small talk for meaningful conversation, it’s a sign you’re part of the introverted community. 

3) Time to think

How would you feel about spending 24 hours alone in a cabin where you couldn’t communicate with anyone but you could read books, binge-watch your favorite shows, and even work on your personal projects?

Some people might consider this their worst nightmare but for introverts, there’s nothing better than some time to think.

Bill Gates, maybe the most famous introvert of all, is known for spending 2 weeks per year alone in a cabin to think and strategize.

He calls them ‘think weeks’ and credits them for his success and some of his best ideas.

I love time to think so much that recently on an 8-hour flight, I didn’t sleep or watch any movies or shows.

I listened to music and spent lots of time thinking and documenting my thoughts.

If you’re like me and this sounds like absolute bliss, then you might just be an introvert. 

4) Journaling

Do you ever feel the need to write down your thoughts, just to fully process them and let them go?

Introverts like to take their time and fully process all of their thoughts.

A 2008 study found that introverts take longer to process information than extroverts.

This is one of the reasons they come across as quiet. They’re busy processing everything.

One of the best ways to process your thoughts is by writing them down so it makes sense introverts enjoy journaling a lot.

Journaling is a fancy new buzzword for writing your thoughts down.

The idea is that if you get them down on paper, you’re getting them out of your head. It might sound a little crazy, but believe me it works.

The funny thing about journalling is a lot of introverts (like me) are compelled to write, without even really knowing why.

I’ve had this habit my entire life long before it was popular.

If you too feel compelled to write your thoughts down to help you process them, it’s a sure sign that you’re an introvert even if you never realized it before.

5) A few quality friends 

Which do you prefer to have lots of friends or just a few really close ones?

When it comes to friendship, introverts are all about quality over quantity. They’d rather have a few close friends than lots of surface-level connections.

And there’s a good reason for it too: introverts and extroverts value different things in friendship.

Sophia Dembling, author of ‘The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World’ explains “Introverts feel like they can only get quality time with people one-on-one, but extroverts can get their social needs met in group gatherings.”

Social interaction is draining for introverts and since they feel they can only get quality time one-on-one, too many friends is too much work.

Instead, they prefer to put their energy into maintaining a few close friendships which they value deeply.

If you value a few quality friends more than having lots of casual pals, then it’s another sign you might just be an introvert without even realizing it. 

6) Observing people and things

Contrary to popular belief introverts don’t dislike other people, quite the opposite actually. They love to observe people and things.

They’re happy to find a window seat in a café or a well-located park bench and just take in the world around them.

It’s amazing what you’ll see if you just sit and watch for a while. I remember sitting in a café on a windy Sunday afternoon a few years back.

I noticed a girl waiting at a bus stop, crying.

After a while, a guy approached her. Still visibly upset she smiled at him and they came into my café.

I couldn’t help but eavesdrop, I was intrigued to know their story.

It turns out he was just a friendly stranger and said he couldn’t let such a beautiful girl cry alone.

He got her a coffee, they shared stories about their lives. Finally, he asked for her number to take her on a real date. 

She agreed.

Who knows what happened next? I certainly don’t but I like to think it was the beginning of a beautiful love story and I witnessed it.

How amazing is that? That’s the power and beauty of people-watching.

If you already know and appreciate the joy and magic of observing people and things as you go through life then chances are you’re probably an introvert. 

7) Creating a cozy home

You probably know by now that introverts need time alone to recharge because being around other people drains them.

And where better to recharge your social batteries than in the comfort of your own home?

But there’s more: “Introverts are homebodies by nature so they put a lot of work into making sure that home is a sanctuary,” they love creating a warm, cozy, and inviting environment at home. 

Introverts are dedicated to creating a home and space where they love to be so they’ll go the extra mile to have nice throws, lamps, plants, candles, and anything else they need to feel cozy and content in their own space. 

Are you someone who always goes the extra mile to make the experience at home the best it can be?

If so, although it’s not one of the typical traits you hear of, you’re probably an introvert. 

Final thoughts

How many of our list do you recognize in yourself?

As you can see there’s more to being an introvert than meets the eye.

I find joy in all of these things and very much consider myself an introvert but I also love socializing and meeting new people.

So, do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert? Has your perspective changed?