How Ritual Saved Me as an Introverted Census Worker

Having to be on socially ten hours every day can practically kill an introvert without a means of self-care

When applying for a job as a census worker, I didn’t consider what price I might pay as an introvert. I didn’t know how much I’d actually have to interview people, for some reason assuming it was more just asking how many people lived in each residence. Needing the employment, I was more focused on earning some income rather than what I’d be doing.

So, when I started the job, I was surprised at how worn out I became in just a few hours even when no one answered the door the entire time. For an introvert every knock is a potential social interaction that they have to gear up for. Going from door to door or buzzer to buzzer meant that there was no downtime, even if there were blocks of time you never reached anyone. This probably sounds a bit odd for those who aren’t introverted. But sometimes potential interactions are as tiring to us as actual ones.

We were also required to wear ID badges, carry a shoulder bag with the Census Bureau logo on it, along with a clipboard, all of which readily identified us as census workers. I soon realized that all of this caused me to lose the anonymity I relished when taking a walk, one of my main coping mechanisms when stressed. I felt like I had a neon sign over my head which led some people to avoid me like the plague and others to come up and actually thank me for my service, all of which led me to feel like I had to constantly be on, as people were constantly noticing me.

By day three, I was convinced I wouldn’t make it a week. By the end of the first week, I was convinced I wouldn’t make it two and by the end of the second week, I thought it would be all I could do to make it a month. The exhaustion was becoming debilitating, to the point that when I got home, sometimes it was all I could do not to fall asleep eating. I went to bed exhausted and woke up exhausted. Sometimes I felt like I just couldn’t ring one more buzzer, couldn’t talk to one more person.

When Introverts Are Maxed Out We Can’t Attend to Other People

One thing about introverts is that when we feel overwhelmed socially we become even more internalized. We get to a point where we are burnt out and need a break. Without the ability to take time to ourselves, we find it almost impossible to pay attention to those around us.

This is obviously a big drawback when your job entails talking to the public all day long. And when you don’t have a day off to recharge it can become a serious hindrance. I recognized early on that I had to find ways to cope with this constant need to be on my game socially.

This job had completely changed everything I normally did on a daily basis. I had grown used to being on my own and doing what I wanted when I wanted. The pandemic had given me added reason not to interact a ton with others and while the lack of social contact was often trying, I had become used to it.

Now suddenly I had to be up at a certain time, be ready to leave the house no matter what the weather when my schedule dictated and had no control over what time I started and ended, nor even knew when this was until 7:00am when each days hours came in.

There was already a lot of uncertainty in the world before the addition of what the job brought to my life. For sensitive introverts who tend to rely on planning as a means of control, it can be a lot to deal. I soon realized that I needed to fall back on the rituals I used to reset my mind and relax my anxiety.

I do best when I have plenty of time to wake up and get ready to start the day. I don’t do well when I have to jump out of bed and rush out the door. Coffee is a must for me in the morning and the ability to sit with a cup as I watch Netflix or a video, nothing that takes too much thought, makes my day go more smoothly. I usually end my day in a similar fashion minus the coffee. I need at least part of my day to not have an immediate purpose.

I also have to have periods to myself when I can sit by myself without anyone around. To incorporate this into my day, I built in several half hour breaks where I could just breath, listen to some soothing music and let my guard down. This made me feel ready go back out there and continue knocking and talking with a big smile. It may have made my day a bit longer but it also made it a lot more enjoyable.

How You Can Establish Your Own Rituals

Rituals for introverts don’t have to be elaborate, complex or hard to establish. Don’t be put off by the word. Just think of what makes you feel good, helps you recharge your batteries when feeling overwhelmed or that just lets you seem more yourself.

Try some of these simple things to make your day easier from start to finish:

Listen to your favorite music — Introverts often listen to favorite songs over and over again. Make yourself a playlist of your favorites and take some time to explore new artists you might also enjoy.

Watch enjoyable videos — I find that I fall back on favorite comedy videos and like songs, I can watch these over and over again. There’s something reassuring of watching what has made me laugh time after time.

Watch movies or shows that take your mind off things — Like books, I tend to enjoy movies and shows that aren’t necessarily realistic such as those involving magic or fantasy. I don’t tend to watch shows over and over again but may go through a series more than once before a long-awaited new season is released.

Use a day planner — Introverts love predictability and controllability. The more uncertainty is in our day, the more we benefit from things that help introduce some control. I use a planner not just to keep my schedule but to take notes of things I need to remember and to keep track of what I accomplish during the day. For this job, I keep a simple tally of the interviews I complete which helps especially on not so great days by letting me see the overall number of cases I’ve closed since the beginning.

Create a special space for yourself — Introverts tend to love to seek refuge in our bedrooms but it can be anywhere that you can make a place that you find comfortable and that is just your own. Decorate it the way you choose and put in little mementos that remind you of happy, successful, loving times in your life.

These are just a few things that you can do to help your day stay on track if you’re an introvert. If you have other suggestions for things that you have found successful in remaining positive and relaxed in overwhelming, new situations, please share them in the comments below.

Natalie Frank has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and often writes about mental health and abnormal psychology. She is the Managing Editor for Novellas and Serials at LVP Publications. Her collection of poetry, Disguised I Breathe, In Love I Hold, can be found here on Amazon.

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