In this Episode, Sandra and Em discuss how introverts and extraverts are dealing with social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic in potentially different ways.
Our topic of the day covers:
- Introduction of the concept of Myers-Briggs preferences
- Traits or behaviors you might exhibit if you prefer Introversion vs if you prefer Extraversion
- Challenges those who prefer Introversion might be facing while staying home with their children, and our own experiences with this
- Challenges that those who prefer Extraversion might be facing while staying home
- Tips and suggestions for coping
Links and references:
Glennon Doyle Instagram video about being in collective grief
Email: FamilyPersonalitiesPod@gmail.com
Instagram: FamilyPersonalities
Facebook: FamilyPersonalities
Website: www.familypersonalities.com/podcast
Rate, Review, Subscribe, Share – Leave a review with your personality type
Podcast Episode Summary
We recognize that during this time of social isolation, every family is having their own unique challenges. In some families, both parents are working full-time from home while still trying to care for and teach their children. Some families are dealing with a loss of income from one or both parents. Some parents are having to take a step back from their work to care for the children. And of course, single parents are trying to do this all on their own, whatever their current situation is. Whatever your situation, you may have different challenges based on your personality preference, and this episode we talk about how those challenges might be different for you if you prefer introversion than if you prefer extraversion.
What’s new with Sandra & Em
Em talks in this episode about how difficult this week has been for her after the death of her friend. Sandra shares that she has had a couple of “parenting win” days in a row.
Segment: Why do they do that?
In our “Why do they do that?” segment Sandra laments about her INTJ son’s difficulty with bedtime routine. We talk about how those who prefer Intuition (the N in the MBTI model) have a more difficult time with practical, routine details, and this might be why bedtime routine is particularly difficult for him, especially when he’s tired at the end of a long day. Em shares that her daughter is the opposite, in that she is very insistent that the routine is followed exactly the same each night. Some nights Em would just like to shortcut, but her daughter insists each step be followed. We speculate if perhaps she has a preference for Sensing (S in the MBTI model) and is leaning extra hard into her need for structure and routine during this stressful time.
Email Call-out: Write in with your “Why do they do that” moment! familypersonalitiespod@gmail.com
Topic of the Day: How are introverts and extraverts dealing with social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Sandra introduces the “handedness” concept for MBTI preferences. We all use introversion and we all use extraversion, but one just comes more naturally. This can be compared to being right handed or left-handed. We all use both of our hands, but one of them is much more comfortable when it comes to signing your name, for example.
Sandra talks about Introversion: Introverts prefer (and get energy from) being oriented to their inner world. They tend to:
- Focus and go in depth on just a few interests
- Observe and think before acting/speaking
- Learn by reading, writing, reflecting
- Contained and difficult to read
Sandra talks about Extraversion. Extraverts prefer (and get energy from) being oriented to their outer world (this does not necessarily have to be a social thing) Extraverts tend to:
- Be involved in a variety of activities and projects
- Speak while thinking
- Learn by talking and interacting
- Show more enthusiasm and use more gestures
Sandra and Em talk about their personal experience as introverts during COVID-19 pandemic / social distancing.
- Em does not find herself missing being face to face with people. Although we discuss the fact that her day is packed full of zoom meetings due to trying to run a political campaign from home. Sandra does miss being face to face with people, and does not feel that Zoom is an adequate replacement, though she speculates that extraverts may feel this more acutely.
- Em misses going out and about, as she and her daughter usually spent the entire day out of the house. Sandra does not miss going out and about as much, and feels that she and her kids (both introverts) are kind of homebodies.
- Both Sandra and Em agree that the biggest difficulty of social isolation for us is being in a house with our children all day long. The constant noise and interaction required to parent is draining us in a profound way.
Sandra and Em talk about what has helped for them:
- Sandra is using her husband’s lunch breaks from work as her own breaks, sometimes taking a walk outside or holing up in her room reading and listening to music
- Sandra is trying to be gentle on herself as far as expectations for what parenting should look like right now, after all, we are in the middle of a freaking global pandemic
- Em is really trying to keep with a routine, though she has not yet figured out how to get the time for herself that she needs
Em and Sandra speculate as to what the Extravert experience might be in all this. They assume that the lack of social contact and not being able to be “on the go” is more painful for those who prefer extraversion.
Next episode, Megan, an extravert mom of two, is going to come on to give the extravert perspective.
Sandra challenges the listener to
- Take a moment to think about what you need as either an introvert or extravert
- Write down some things you can build into your day to get more of what you need
E-mail Call-out: Do you have a preference for Extraversion or Introversion? What has been hard about this for you? What things have you put into place?
Familypersonalitiespod@gmail.com
Next episode: Guest ENFJ Enneagram 3 Parent: Megan Welch
Rate, Review, Subscribe, Share – Leave a review with your personality type