It’s been a week of socializing at school and hanging out with friends over the weekend and you feel drained. Don’t worry you aren’t alone, and no, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy.
Everyone has a “social battery” except some have a long-lasting supercharged battery, while others, simply don’t. A social battery describes the amount of energy you have to socialize with others.
In my case, I don’t think my battery ever gets charged past 80% and it dies as fast as an 8-year-old phone would. Don’t get me wrong I love spending time with my family and friends, but at some point, I do get a little burnt out.
I will shut down as fast as a Chromebook that’s been powered off. It can happen anytime and anywhere. It is like all the socializing throughout the day slowly adds up and eventually crashes my battery.
On the other hand, some people tend to deplete my battery more than others. Honestly speaking, some people have a lot more work to hang out with than others. Not everyone clicks and when they don’t it takes a lot more energy to spend time with them.
Not all social batteries give out that fast or immediate, some steadily drain through the week and can fully recharge overnight. One of my friends says, “I can socialize forever. My social battery is like a car battery and charges while running. When I’m with others, socializing, it is charging my battery at the same time!”
See, everyone’s battery is different! Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert can sometimes play a role in what kind of battery you have. Introverts could have a lower battery life than some extroverts. But again, it depends on many factors so this may not be the case every time.
Some reasons why your battery could be dying at a rapid pace are overstressing, anxiety, overworking your body, constantly people-pleasing, and never saying no. It could come down to how much you’ve done over the past couple of days or how many people have angered you.
A low social battery could be a sign of sleep deprivation, hunger, or dehydration. Making sure you are eating, sleeping, and drinking enough water will help boost that battery!
No matter what kind of battery you have, sometimes everyone gets a little wiped out. After some research, here are a couple of ways to recharge that battery!
Take some creative time to draw, paint, or write. Find a way to express yourself in a calm manner. Play some tunes, sit, and do a relaxing activity for a bit.
Complete isolation is the route I usually go in. I like to go to my room, shut the door, turn on the TV, and relax. There is no shame in taking a little while to barricade the door and put on a movie. After my brain has been running non-stop, constantly thinking, I don’t mind completely shutting it off.
Have a dance party and blast some music. This always works for me when I’m in a mood. No matter what I’m feeling, there is a song for it. I put it on the speakers with the highest volume. It’s quite effective.
Any activity that you enjoy could work too. Some ideas to help you brainstorm are taking a stroll, going for a run, baking, playing a sport, bike rides, heading to the beach, or even taking a nap.
Overall, many factors lead to a dying battery, and may lead to a fully charged one! Even though my battery seems to never be complete, I do entirely enjoy spending time with my friends and family, while including some “me time.” Creating a perfect balance is key!
