The Importance of Alone Time - from The Introvert Teacher

The currency of all activities is energy. Without this all-important resource, we cannot possibly do anything.

Where do introverts get their energy? From within themselves.

How do they generate this energy? By having Alone Time.

Without Alone Time, any introvert becomes prone to burnout – a very real threat for teachers.

We are required to spend large amounts of time deeply involved with other people, and their needs and emotions affect us deeply. If we do not take proper breaks, the emotional drain and stress from our work can lead to burnout.

Symptoms of burnout:

1. A diminished desire to care for or about others.

2. Irritability.

3. A feeling of being unappreciated or misunderstood.

4. A feeling that work is overwhelming.

5. A feeling of being drained of energy.

6. Thoughts related to changing jobs or professions.

If you need to take a break to recharge yourself, do so.

Burnout afflicts introverts particularly badly because we need more time to ourselves and are unable to recharge ourselves if we cannot find it.

If you need to take a break to recharge yourself, do so.

Remember that you can only take care of others when your own needs are met. For example, during a flight emergency, you are supposed to place the oxygen mask over your own mouth before doing so for anyone else.

Life should not be any different.

You will find that you will be able to complete your tasks much more efficiently and effectively after a good break than if you just try to steamroll ahead without sufficient rest.

While you are resting, reconnect with your thoughts. Ask yourself why you chose to work in this profession in the first place. You may remember the first months when you started and how exhilarated you felt.

What has changed since then? Is there a way to regain that earlier excitement? Perhaps a project or goal will help you recover the sense of accomplishment that you have been missing.

Think of the lives you have impacted in the time that you have been working. Think of the positive things you have received: Kind words, thank-you notes and all the little things that make your work worthwhile.

If, however, you feel that you need a new direction or profession, then the break may be a good time to think about where you wish to head.

Quote - Chapter 2 of The Introvert Teacher

“Grant a respite: A rested field gives a better return.
(Da requiem: Requietus ager bene credita reddit.)”

—Publius Ovidius Naso

Understanding Introversion in the Modern World - extract from The Introvert Teacher

The world today is an extrovert’s paradise, with plenty to do and get caught up in. Without getting too far into history, much of this has to do with Western society’s obsession with big dreams and larger-than-life personalities.

As the world becomes more westernised, these values inevitably become part of popular culture. Today, we are so inundated by them that our behaviour and mindsets have started to align with them.

Leaders in today’s world are often appointed based on how well they speak, how quickly they make decisions and how well they can build rapport with people. Products gain popularity through widespread advertisements, attractive packaging and catchy slogans.

Even services have to be made to appeal to the mass market through careful targeting, meticulous data analysis

and extensive conceptualisation before they can be introduced for sale.

Is any of this wrong in and of itself?

Certainly not!

It is merely how the modern world works.

For good or evil, it will continue to change, and what we can do is to be updated and adapt to it.

Since that is the case, let us, as introverts, recognise this, accept it and roll with it, not with a feeling of disenchantment or disappointment, but with a spirit of graciousness and a sense of adventure. After all, we have some really good things going for us as introverts.

2021 Updates for remuszhong.com, including Word of the Year

It’s been a while since I updated this blog.

I’ve been trying to form the habit of regularly recording on Twitter and on my own phone in the form of Notes.

What I realised is that I find it way easier when I don’t feel that I ‘need to connect’ to an audience.

I may decide to kick people off the new Instagram account that I’m trying to set up about my professional life until I’m deeper into it.

Right now, I do feel a certain insecurity due to the presence of too many people (although there are less than 20 followers).

Let’s figure that out later.

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My Word of the Year 2021 is…

Jam

I actually wrote all of this down on 31 Dec 2020 in my notebook on why I chose this word:

1) Jam is experimental

It involves other people. In the coming year, I intend to experiment more, both to test things out as well as to continuously improve myself and my skills and abilities. As others are also involved, there will be a need to continue to build and maintain relationships, as well as cull them, continuing on from the previous 2 years.

2) Jam can get messy (as can jamming) (and making jam)

I intend to be unafraid of getting my hands dirty and having things in disarray. Eventually, things will become…

3) Sweet

The signature taste of jam. I will trust that things will eventually turn out for the best, The end-result of a jam is not only pleasant to the tongue, it will be pleasing to the eye (and ear), and is readily shared.

4) The Jams in my life

I will have to isolate them, deal with them, or overcome them. Also, I’ll have to jam the brakes on bad habits and behaviours that are detrimental to me and others.

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If you’ve read this, you’ll notice quite a bit of play on words. I find that this helps me to remember things and keeps them fresh in my mind.