As introverts, we know we need to recharge from time to time. However, when we’re busy, self-care for introverts is not always at the top of our priority list. It’s hard prioritizing yourself when you have a ton of things going on.
It’s important to recognize the signs it’s time for you to recharge, and equally important to make sure that your busyness isn’t masking underlying anxiety.
Perhaps you’re just going through a busy season of life. We’ve all been there. But being busy doesn’t minimize your need for self-care. I get it though. When you’re busy it can be hard to figure out how to fit it in.
I can tell you what doesn’t work – ignoring it, ignoring it, and ignoring it until you burn out. There’s a better way, Wallflower. First, let’s talk about why self-care is so important for introverts.
Self-Care is Important for Introverts
Neglecting to maintain our energy balance affects our well-being. It’s like trying to operate an appliance on a dying battery. It just doesn’t function at its full capacity. So it goes for introverts.
When we don’t take time to recharge, it only opens the door for our not-so-best self. Additionally, it impacts our mental health by increasing our stress and feelings of overwhelm.
Social demands often cause us to push past our own needs. Especially for busy introverts. We get so wrapped up in trying to accomplish a to-do list or meet the needs of other people in our lives, that we forget about our own needs.
That doesn’t make being busy inherently bad, it just means we need to be more intentional about balance. Part of that means including self-care as a daily task instead of waiting until you find yourself shouting at your computer screen or, even worse, one of your friends!
Self-Care Should Be a Daily Task for Introverts
We know social interactions take a lot out of us but sometimes day-to-day tasks can too. Including self-care as part of your everyday life is the perfect way to balance our external stimulation and demands.
The biggest reason introverts don’t practice self-care daily is the perception of how much time it takes. As well as a lack of ready-to-go self-care ideas.
Below are 12 great options to practice daily self-care for introverts. I’ve tried and enjoyed all of them. Plus, the time to do them can be adjusted based on the amount of time you have.
These self-care activities are perfect for busy introverts who don’t have a lot of time but still need to balance their energy levels.
12 Self-Care Activities for Busy Introverts
1. Meditate
Introverts already love quiet. Meditating is just being intentional about what your mind is doing during quiet time.
If you have a few quiet moments in your day, try thinking about a scripture, quote, affirmation, or poem that brings you peace, joy, or inspiration.
You can keep one ready to go by taking a picture of it or typing it into a notes app on your phone. That way you don’t have to waste your quiet time looking for one when the moment presents itself.
2. Play a Song
Music is powerful in so many ways. Good music can help bring our moods up, or down, or just help us mellow. Everyone has a few songs they can think of that will do all of these.
When you need some zen time, find a place where you can sit, pop in your earbuds, and play that song.
This works wonders for social gatherings when you have a hard time finding a place to be alone. Just sit a little further away from the crowd, and maybe face a window or piece of art on the wall.
Bonus points: create a YouTube playlist of songs that you can shuffle and play whenever you have a little time.
3. Listen to a Podcast
You can also make a playlist of podcasts on most podcast streaming apps. Podcasts are another great way to turn your mind down for a bit, or at least allow you to focus on something else.
The good news about podcasts is they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are long and some are as short as 5 minutes, and there’s a podcast for almost any topic you can think of.
There are even story podcasts similar to old-school radio shows.
4. Take a Walk
This is my go-to for conferences, long meetings, or other very social events. Taking a long walk or a quick walk, even if just for a few minutes, does wonders for your mind and body.
It gets your blood moving, especially if you’ve been sitting all day, and helps you release any stress or tension.
You can even combine this with #2 or #3 by listening to music or a podcast while you walk. Doing so provides the added bonus of creating a gentle barrier between you and any well-meaning yet talkative acquaintances.
Just give a slight grin, point to your earbud, and keep it moving. That’s a polite way of preventing the dreaded small talk by saying hello, I see you but not now.
Of course, if you just want some quiet, practice a little light mindfulness while you walk. Take in the fresh air details of your surroundings whether it’s nature or passersby.
5. Take a Mental Vacation
If you’re really pressed for time and can’t really leave where you are, try taking a mental vacation. All you have to do is close your eyes and allow your mind to drift to whatever place feels like a getaway to you.
Imagine what your day would be like with your feet propped up on the sand, or touring vineyards in a faraway country. Whatever works for you.
The key is not to get caught up in the details. Just imagine yourself there and how it would feel.
And if you don’t want to close your eyes (or don’t want your boss to think you’re asleep 😂), just find a spot on the wall to look at or a picture that stimulates your imagination.

6. Stretch It Out
Simple and classic. Physical activity that gets you moving your body and loosening your muscles can be reinvigorating.
Take a few moments to stretch and throw in some controlled breathing which has been proven to reduce stress and increase relaxation.
You can even do a short yoga routine. There are lots of free videos on YouTube.
7. Journal
Journaling is a fantastic way to release thoughts from your brain which helps introverts to recharge in themselves. You can also consider a gratitude journal or you can just free-write and see what comes out.
Don’t have a fancy journal … not a problem. All you really need is a piece of paper and a pen. 😉
8. Pray
Prayer is powerful and it’s a tried and true method for finding peace and clarity. Prayer can also provide stress relief and hope among other things. If you’ve never done it,
I encourage you to give prayer a try. I know God will meet you there as He has for me so many times!
9. Read
I love getting lost in a good book. Sometimes it’s an informative book I’m learning from and other times it’s just a book with a good story. Whatever mood I’m in, reading has always been something that helps me relax.
Thankfully, technology gives us an easy way to read on the go now. There are reading apps, library apps, and apps to listen to audiobooks.
But if you’re like me, my fellow introvert, and you enjoy the feel of page turning and a physical book in your hand, you can just keep a book in your bag or car. That way it’s ready for you to retreat to if you have a few spare minutes.
Psst… If you don’t want to carry or listen to a book, you know what else makes for good reading — a few good blog posts. 🙂
10. Mobile Distraction
Everyone is always looking at their phone nowadays. Most of it is time-wasting although no one would care to admit that. For you, Wallflower, it can serve as a much-needed respite during the chaos of a busy day.
You can do some online shopping (whether you buy anything or not) or play a mobile game. It might sound trivial or like a waste of time as mentioned before.
The difference for you is that it gives your mind a chance to turn down which you sorely need, especially if your day is particularly people-y.
The activity itself may seem simple but the result is necessary for a calmer, less stressed, and more focused introvert.
11. Organize
For me, organizing is its own joy and it comes with lots of benefits. Especially for introverts. Organizing things in your life and environment creates order and clarity. Both of which make it easier to think and create.
The benefits of organizing will help you show up better at your job and in your relationships. This extends to your physical surroundings as well as your digital resources.
So even if you have a busy day, take a break for a small organizational project. Examples include organizing your desk, your digital folders, or even those receipts you’ve been meaning to get to.
You can even organize something fun like your secret stuffed animal collection. 🫣
12. Get Crafty
Lastly on our list is getting in touch with your crafty side. You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy simple crafts and they are perfect for detaching from day-to-day stressors and busyness.
Look for crafts that can be done quickly or ones you can pick up and put down over time. Some good ones include origami, knitting or crocheting, and scrapbooking.
These 12 self-care practices are ready-made for introverts with busy lives. However, to do them, you first need to make time for them. Prioritizing it is an important part of self-care. Even these require you to take at least a few minutes for self-care each day, as you should.
Here are a few tips on how to make sure you take the time you need daily.
Tips for Protecting Your Self-Care Time
Create an invisible bubble. Physically separating yourself from a crowd of people is ideal but not always possible. If not, you can create an invisible bubble around yourself.
What I mean is putting things in place that give social cues that you’re not open for conversation at the moment.
Simple things you can do include putting in your earbuds, turning your chair or body away from people, or even just looking away from people (such as out a window).
Schedule it. Busy people often live and thrive by their calendar so use it to your advantage. Schedule time for self-care on it like you would anything else.
And respect the time you’ve given yourself! Don’t leave it up for grabs for meetings or anything else that isn’t urgent. Even if it’s part of your lunch break, make sure you fit it in. Because your self-care, Wallflower, is just as important as anything else you have to do.
Your self-care time is the thing that will help you get everything else on your calendar done.
Set up cues and reminders. Try setting an alarm on your phone as a reminder to check in with yourself. You can also send yourself a scheduled text message.
If alarms aren’t your thing, or you just want an extra reminder, place cues around your work and/or living space. It can be an item related to your option for self-care such as your journal and favorite pen. Or, it can be as simple as a few strategically placed sticky notes.
Closing Thoughts
Self-care for introverts is NOT an option. As a busy introvert, you are even more prone to burnout if you’re not intentional about self-care.
Don’t let being busy be an excuse, make small opportunities for self-care a priority in your daily life. These self-care tips and activities will be a huge help in getting started so use them!
You can do this, Wallflower! You need it and you’re worth it!