Solitude is my ally

I spend about 99% of my time alone—and honestly, that’s how I like it. I’m an introvert by nature. It’s not that I don’t enjoy people; it’s just that being around others, even people I care about, takes energy. And when I clock out of my job—which involves talking to people for eight hours straight—I’m usually running on empty.

The solitude after work isn’t about isolation. It’s about recovery. After a full day of small talk, solving problems, and being “on,” all I want is to be “off.” No phone calls. No texts. no voice chat. No Discord. Just peace and quiet, or something that doesn’t require me to interact with another human lol

Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern with some of my younger friends, especially those in the 18-23 age range. They call often, sometimes every day, and I truly appreciate the connection. I know they mean well, and I never want to come off as cold or distant. But I also want to be honest: I’m not ignoring you. I just need my personal space.

This isn’t a reflection of how I feel about you—it’s a reflection of how I manage my energy and mental health. I know constant communication feels natural for some people, especially when they’re navigating new stages of life and want to share things in real time. I get that. But for me, silence is how I stay grounded. It’s how I reset so that when I do show up, I’m present, not drained.

So if I don’t pick up every call or respond right away, please don’t take it personally. I value the connection—we just recharge differently. And that’s okay.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Whether we understand each other or not it means a great deal that you put in the effort to try and understand my point of view.