It's been 3 months since my last post.  What's up with that?  Well, I've been pretty busy.  Not so busy with baking...but with other important life works.  I've been kinda swamped with housework and workwork and balancing the two.  I've got new projects that I want to undertake, but have gotten partially through.  I've been feeling pretty overwhelmed and unable to get anything completed (except the laundry).  I haven't been able to focus very well.

I've decided to work on that and create a plan for EVERYTHING.  I used to have a schedule for every moment in my life (even scheduled some "free time" on there.).  So, I've been seriously considering doing that again for myself to help me feel less like I'm flying out of control.  A little bit of encouragement was an article I read from Psycology Today called "Revenge of The Extrovert."  It really went on to talk about what's really going on with introverts.  We truly live in a fast-paced society where the flashy, loud things (and people) get the attention.  I often get questioned on why I don't go out more than I do.  Why are you so shy? What's there to be shy about?  I have to say the article was right on the money. I understand a bit better why, when playing The Sims, I'm unable to keep up with more than 2 people at a time...

I used to be straight-up afraid to be in public.  I felt safer at home or in a quiet setting with a few familiar people.  I rarely made eye contact, and I spoke publicly when it was necessary.  Interestingly, I liked to play basketball, but was too shy to try cheerleading.  I've always been a team player, but really would rather work alone.  People always wanted to get me out of my "shell."  I felt like I couldn't be happy with who I was because I wasn't outgoing.  I couldn't just start up a conversation with a random stranger and enjoy it.

I've taken the Jung Personality test a couple of times.  I'm now more extroverted than I used to be.  I would blame that on having to interact with people daily as a part of my job.  I'm now not so afraid to talk to people, but still the article speaks to me. It explains why I feel so drained at the end of the day, when for the most part, all I do is stand here and talk to people. And it also explains why when I have a good bit of time to myself, I feel more relaxed, less overwhelmed, get things not only planned out, but done, and my house doesn't look like a disaster area.  To kick being overwhelmed where it hurts, I think I'll be sure to get back to schedules, strict budgets, and more time to sit, relax, and reflect (like I used to). I'm usually okay when I've got things mapped out pretty well.

My next step would be to find out how to reach out to other introverts who are under the pressure of extroversion.  This post really has nothing to do with cheesecake, but more a reflection as to why I haven't been (or feel) as accomplished as I used to be and why I've been so overwhelmed, and perhaps what I can do to help others.

I'm an ISTJ  What are you?