The Social Hangover

Ahh yes, a hangover.

As a participant of the occasional festive beverage drinking, I am quite familiar with the after-effects of indulging a bit too much (thank you Miami University, #1 party school in the nation). Your head pounds, your body aches, waves of nausea crash into you, reminding you of how the over-indulging was stupid and definitely not worth the consequences.

But I bet you haven’t heard of a “Social Hangover.”

I call the feeling of exhaustion after socializing a bit too much, a social hangover.

I have become acutely aware in the last few years that I am an introvert. I used to think that the title of “introvert” held a negative connotation, like I wasn’t fun or outgoing or exciting. In reality, it just describes where you receive your energy from. As an introvert, I receive my energy from quiet spaces of reflection, and alone time at home. Basically, I need to recharge my batteries by myself in order to feel ready to socialize again. Conversely, extroverts receive their energy from being with people, like the excitement of a party atmosphere or a lively bar.

As an introvert, a little too much of the party atmosphere, social engagements, or anything of the sort, I truly feel hungover. Like dead, no energy left, void of thinking or feeling, and I need to sleep for 3-5 business days.

This post-pandemic social world is also very draining, as we are in a weird place of re-emerging from our little hermit caves slowly, but expecting ourselves to function like we hadn’t been in that cave for the past 2ish years.

(If, perhaps, this sounds at all familiar to you, please let me know on the contact page! It would feel amazing to know I am not alone here.)

With one holiday down and another big one on the horizon, I suspect that my fellow introverts will wonder how to handle this feeling of over-socializing.

So... you are socially hungover...now what?

Here are my top tricks to kicking the social hangover and feeling rejuvenated/recharged:

• Give it time

  • Know that you will not feel 100% after just one night’s rest. Maybe you need the next day to hang out with yourself, that is ok! Block off time if you can for “alone time” activities. Giving yourself a dedicated time to just be gives you permission to take care of yourself.

• Do things for you!

  • For me, that is writing, or watching a show on Netflix, or scrolling through TikTok, or sketching for relaxation. Whatever your alone time activity is, do it.

• Honor your feelings

  • The worst thing you can possibly do (I am guilty of this) is to shame yourself for not “being able to keep up” or feeling like you “aren’t fun enough.” You are fun, but you are also good to yourself by taking time to take care of you. Do not forget about you.

To my fellow introverts (and extroverts as well), I hope you have found this tid-bit useful while moving into the thick of the holiday season.

Cheers!

-M