Introverts worldwide get to celebrate World Introvert Day on January 2, the day after the dreaded festivities of the past year ends, when they can finally get some peace and quiet to recharge their social batteries. World Introvert Day is recognized as a day to understand the many introverts around the world better — the one holiday best celebrated, not by throwing a party, but by canceling one. It is the perfect day to celebrate introverts by leaving them alone and giving them the space they need.
History of World Introvert Day
Introverts prefer calm environments and limited social engagements and are most happy in their own company. World Introvert Day was brought to life by the popular German psychologist and author of the free e-book “Happily Introverted Ever After,” Felicitas Heyne.
On September 20, 2011, Heyne wrote a blog post titled “Here’s Why We Need a World Introvert Day” on her website “iPersonic.” It was this article that kick-started the gears leading to the first World Introvert Day. In the article, she said that it was high time the world’s awareness was sharpened to the distinctiveness of introverts. She highlighted some of the discrimination introverts face because of their reclusiveness and bemoaned the under-appreciation of introverts by general society. Heyne suggested that World Introvert Day be created and celebrated on January 2, a date she chose because introverts around the world draw a collective deep breath at the end of the draining holiday marathon that starts with Christmas and ends on New Year.
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung was one of the first people to define introversion as a concept in a psychological context. In his 1921 book, “Psychological Types,” he theorized that every human being falls into two categories — introvert or extrovert — and compared introverts to the ancient Greek god Apollo, who shines a light on understanding. He claimed that introverts are focused on the internal world of reflection, dreaming, and vision, which could make them uninterested in joining the activities of others. Since then, more psychologists have developed more expansive theories about introverts and introversion.
World Introvert Day timeline
Carl Jung publishes a book, “Psychological Types,” which conceptualizes introversion and extraversion.
Inspired by Carl Jung’s writing, the work of Katharine Briggs, and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, in personality testing, leads to the creation of the popular Briggs-Myers Type Indicator (now ‘MBTI’).
On January 2, the year after Felicitas Heyne put up a blog post advocating a day to celebrate introverts worldwide, the first World Introvert Day is celebrated.
Felicitas Heyne writes an e-book to help introverts tackle their problems and develop their true potential.
World Introvert Day FAQs
What are the four types of introverts?
In 2011, introversion was broken into four main types based on research by three psychologists, Jennifer Grimes, Jonathan Cheek, and Julie Norem. The four types of introverts are the social introvert, the thinking introvert, the anxious introvert, and the restrained introvert.
What percentage of humans are introverts?
It is hard to give an absolute percentage of introverts because introversion and extroversion exist on a spectrum, and most people are not fully extroverts or introverts. However, research from the MBTI global sample reveals that 56.8% of people in the world lean toward introversion.
What is an omnivert?
An omnivert is someone who exhibits traits of both introversion and extroversion, depending on the specific situation.
World Introvert Day Activities
Stay at home
It’s the perfect day to cancel on that party your friends are trying to drag you to and celebrate World Introvert Day by simply curling up in bed with a glass of wine and your favorite movie. Walk around in your pajamas and ignore all the noise of the outside world.
Go on a quiet walk
Take this time to go on a nice long walk down a quiet road. Take a pet along and enjoy some peace and calm. It’s the perfect opportunity for some self-reflection.
Create something
Introverts are at their most productive when they are alone. Choose World Introvert Day to bless the world with some of your creativity. Write a poem, paint something, build a website, or use any of your talents to bring some more joy to the world.
5 Things You Should Know About Introverts
They don’t always want solitude
Just because introverts enjoy being alone doesn’t mean they want to be alone all the time – they enjoy human company from time to time.
Silence doesn’t mean rudeness
Introverts often stay silent and can act awkwardly during social interactions, but this does not mean they are trying to be rude.
They can be extroverted sometimes
Once an introvert gets comfortable with you, their inner wild child could come out.
They aren’t necessarily shy
In fact, some of the world’s most famous public speakers are introverts, including former U.S. President Barack Obama
They don’t hate people
On the contrary, introverts are often very interested in people, and they can be the most avid people-watchers.
Why We Love World Introvert Day
It celebrates the achievements of introverts
From Charles Darwin to Albert Einstein, some of the world’s most brilliant people have been introverts. World Introvert Day celebrates introverted people and their contributions to the world, and it also helps us recognize that introversion is not a limitation on people’s abilities.
Introverts are misunderstood
Because of how reclusive introverts can be, they tend to be misunderstood by society. Introverts are often misjudged as being arrogant, disinterested, timid, or aloof. World Introvert Day helps people understand introverts and their needs more.
Some peace and calm in a noisy world
Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, we all need to experience some calm in our lives. World Introvert Day is a perfect day for quiet reflection and meditation to clear your head in a world full of noises and distractions.
World Introvert Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 2 | Thursday |
| 2026 | January 2 | Friday |
| 2027 | January 2 | Saturday |
| 2028 | January 2 | Sunday |
| 2029 | January 2 | Tuesday |
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