I returned to work from office a while back and it was really hard to keep up my social energy high enough. First day I did ok with the excitement of meeting new people aiding me but it was downhill ever since. Showing up to work is itself a huge chore, and the societal obligation to socialise with people at the workplace all the time, is even bigger chore.
For more context, I only used to maintain very small circle of people I talk to in my uni and college days. Ignoring others was kinda ok at that time but doesn’t seem like so here in corporate space.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to be more free and connect with more people and have bigger circles, I want to improve my social skills too. But at the same time, it very taxing and almost makes me to shut off myself and avoid going to places where people who recognise me.
I know it very well. In my experience the best way to coop with it, is by being open about that you have the need of loading social energy. Be sure to know how you best can get your social battery full again, so that they know, that you need thus break. In that way they will, (if they are good colleagues) not see it like you don’t like or want the people around you.
Yep that’s a thing I am trying to figure out too. As of now, I think my social energy levels are coinciding with my body energy levels, that is, right after I eat my breakfast or lunch.