I’ve seen the memes and the comics depicting our current reality of Social Distancing as the dream of every introvert on the planet.

It’s a funny observation, sure, but is it true? No.

Like all good memes, it is an oversimplification about what it is to be an introvert and a misunderstanding of how to live well under the restrictions of a near-global quarantine.

I am proud to be an introvert’s introvert. It’s not that I dislike people, just that interacting with people drains my emotional battery faster than any other activity. In my previous job, it was my responsibility to organize a speaking track for a national convention and be at that convention to answer the questions of a few hundred people amidst a crowd of a few thousand.

I’ve learned to extend the life of my emotional battery over the years, but that national convention was always challenging. I had to be “on” for fifteen or more hours while walking well over seven miles each day. My emotional and physical batteries were drained by nighttime, and I’d crash for five hours of sleep before waking up for the next day without a full recharge of either battery.

After convention, I would isolate for about forty-eight hours in my apartment. My phone would be on silent, and I’d only open my mouth for food or to praise my cat for being the most perfect animal on earth. Much like deep-sea divers making their way to the surface, I needed time to decompress and allow my system to equalize before I converse with anyone. Otherwise, I’ll likely have some kind of nervous breakdown, or I’ll be so wound up that I say something I would later regret.

Here’s the deal — social decompressing is not social distancing. It is unsustainable for a human being, an intensely social primate, to go extended periods without interacting with other humans. Yes, it is fun to talk to a pet, but the conversation is decidedly one way.

The memes are accurate in that introverts need less human interaction to feel fully human, and that we introverts are certainly the best prepared to withstand the rigors of a quarantine. Here are some pro-intro tips:

• Keep to your usual schedule.

• Text/call/FaceTime friends and family.

• Go outside and get some fresh air occasionally.

  • Remember - 6ft of separation from others!

• Keep your living/working area clean.

• Remind yourself that this situation, like all situations, is temporary.

Now, I’m a really good introvert, but I can be a really bad introvert if I do not follow those pro-tips. Social distancing has the risk of spiraling downward into solitary confinement, which can significantly impact our overall wellbeing in a drastically negative fashion.

Here is a short video of prisoners in solitary confinement by National Geographic that illustrates the pain a human goes through when isolated from other people and nature.

Social distancing is not solitary confinement. We are being asked by medical experts to be responsible for the welfare of our more vulnerable citizens. The best way to slow this pandemic appears to be staying away from other people, which is what I’m doing, but I am not isolating myself from other people, which I have done before — to my own detriment.

I’m grateful that we live in an age where we can lean on digital communication to fulfill the core human need of socializing. I’m grateful that people I follow, like Dave Crenshaw on LinkedIn, are posting regularly about how to work from home in a healthy manner for one’s body and mind - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-your-mental-health-game-plan-dave-crenshaw/. While I don’t agree 100% with the memes and the comics, I can chuckle at them, and then I can remember to reach out to my more extroverted friends who are likely having more difficulty with this situation than I am.