7 health perks of being an introvert

People, who are fuelled by privacy rather than social interaction, are quick to get criticised by extroverts, the more gregarious type. Contrary to popular belief, introverts’ trademark activities and shy personality have a bunch of health benefits. As compiled from michaelgregoryii.com, Prevention magazine and Huffington Post, here are reasons why you should appreciate introvert characteristics.

1. Lower chances of obesity

In a recent study, researchers at the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab tested subjects to see if the size of a food plate influenced how much food and helpings the subjects served themselves. When using a large plate, extroverts served themselves 33 per cent more food than their introvert counterparts did, possibly because they relied on an environmental cue (the size of the plate) rather than on an internal one. The researchers speculated that tuning in to internal cues could be what helps introverts avoid casual overeating and remain trim.

2. Leadership advantage 

The extrovert, who characteristically gets the most noticed in meetings, doesn’t necessarily have the most brilliant ideas or leadership skills. In 2012, management researchers at Wharton found that introverted leaders are often able to deliver better results because, instead of endorsing the loudest, flashiest initiatives, they’re more likely to let other gifted colleagues throw in their good ideas. “Introverts are able to tune in to the talent of their staff and draw it out, rather than simply defer to the most vocal members of the group,” says psychologist Laurie Helgoe, assistant professor in the department of psychology and human services at Davis & Elkins College and author of Introvert Power.

3. Lower risk of dumb accidents 

Introverts generally tend to think and ponder before speaking or acting out their thoughts. This makes them less prone to the kind of impulsive behaviour that could lead to silly over-excitedness, careless behaviour or making witty comments without thinking that could fuel a brawl. “Problems with talking needlessly and accidents — those happen more to people, who are externally-oriented,” Helgoe says. Introverts, on the other hand, have the advantage of being taken more seriously since their words and actions hold more significance and meaning.

4. Space for creativity 

Extroverts are enthusiastically adjusted to social norms because they’re highly stirred to be sociable, gain attention and win approval from their peers. That can put them at a creative disadvantage. “Introverts, by not being so heavily influenced by what everyone else is doing, can be more open to novel solutions,” Helgoe says. Psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Gregory Feist suggest that introverts can be more creative because they’re secure spending time alone, a critical ingredient for creativity. “There’s a lot of evidence that boredom is a precursor to creativity, and introverts are more welcoming of the solitude that engenders boredom,” says Helgoe.

5. Power of deep thought 

Brain-imaging studies suggest that, when processing stimulation, introverts have more activity in the regions of the brain that processes information, make meaning of situations and problem-solving. “An introvert, who’s quiet in a meeting, may be taking everything in, making mental connections, doing deeper processing,” Helgoe says. There is evidence that introverts do better in academic settings and are more characterised in honour societies — all of which boosts a sense of confidence in one’s abilities and skills. Studies have linked those self-empowered feelings to better health in the long run.

6. Long-term friendships

Introverts don’t enjoy having a loud crowd of friends they could flaunt to the world. All they really need is one person and if they both respect each other’s privacy and boundaries, that friendship manifests into a deep bond. It’s nice to have a variety of friends, but it’s hard to open your heart out to them all equally. Overtime, you tend to split apart from them because there was no tight bond to keep you close. Although extroverts maintain good friendships that last for years, introverts find it easier to stick to one or two people closely throughout their life like a prized procession. In the long term, extroverts could find themselves lonely since they never really had a tight bond with a selected few.

7. Less stressed, more balanced

Rather than dealing with the issues of the world, introverts only have to deal with what’s happening to them and those close to them. They gain a better understanding of how to thoroughly go after an issue since they think deeply and don’t indulge in ‘friends’ politics’. The truth is, without introverts, extroverted people would have no one to listen to them. Although the extrovert may gain their energy through mixing and mingling in crowds, introverts self-recharge. They don’t need to constantly put themselves out there to feel energised. Their energy is found through solitude. In the age of social networking, introverts teach us the importance of self-awareness and getting to know yourself before getting to know others.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th,  2015.

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