National Introverts Week is celebrated during the third full week of March each year and takes place from March 17 to 23 this year. The week was founded by Matthew Pollard — author of the book “The Introvert’s Edge” and host of a podcast by the same name. It was founded to appreciate introverts all over the world for their qualities and to encourage them to stand proud in their identities, rather than comparing themselves to extroverts. It is not only extroverts who get ahead in life and reap all the benefits, so it’s high time that the many stereotypes around introverts be smashed and the record set straight. And what better way to do this than by celebrating introverts for an entire week!
History of National Introverts Week
Though it is not known when exactly National Introverts Week was officiated (some sources say as recently as 2018), we do know who founded it and why. Author and podcast host, Matthew Pollard, is the person to thank for the idea of having a week to celebrate introverts. Pollard’s motive was to encourage introverts from all around the world to be proud of who they are. There is still a lot of stigma surrounding introversion and how introverted people are perceived in society, so it is important to engage and dialogue with these issues as well.
People tend to make blanket generalizations about the kind of people introverts and extroverts are, which in turn dictate societal expectations of them. This kind of categorizing is unfair and exclusionary since every individual is unique — personality traits and all. When talking about the history of introversion, we cannot avoid going back to the history of psychoanalysis itself, as personality tests have stemmed from this field. It was back in 1921 that the terms ‘introversion’ and ‘extraversion’ were popularized as personality traits, by Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung.
According to Jung, introverts direct their energy inwards, while extroverts direct theirs outwards. This binary has now been dismissed as being over-simplistic since introversion and extraversion are now more of a spectrum upon which people find themselves (hence the term ‘ambivert’ now exists). One of the first psychologists to develop an assessment of personality traits was Hans Eysenck, who, together with his wife, developed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Thanks to these contributions, we now have a world of research that exists on personality types.
National Introverts Week timeline
The terms are popularized in the theories of the Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung.
Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs-Meyers decide to make a test to make personality types accessible to all.
German psychologist, Hans Eysenck, comes up with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire to determine and measure degrees of introversion.
Popularly known as the Myers-Briggs Test or 16Personalities test, it assesses and categorizes personality types.
National Introverts Week FAQs
Who is the biggest introvert in the world?
There are many famous personalities who were (and are) known introverts. Perhaps one of the biggest names is Albert Einstein — one of the most famous scientists in the world and also a known introvert.
Which country is best for introverts?
Canada tops the list of ‘best countries for introverts to live in’, with Australia and Iceland coming in at spots two and three respectively.
What are the four types of introverts?
The four main sub-types of introverts are social introverts, thinking introverts, anxious introverts, and restrained or inhibited introverts.
How to Observe National Introverts Week
Take a personality test
There is a world of different personality tests out there, ranging from light and silly to surprisingly accurate in-depth analyses of personality types. We recommend you try out some of the most popular ones with scientific backing — like the 16Personalities test. You may be surprised at what you find, and it can help give you better self-awareness.
Appreciate an introvert you know
There is no better time, or opportunity than this to take the time to express your appreciation for anyone in your life who is an introvert. The week can be made even more meaningful by finding out what makes them tick and making them feel special in those ways.
Learn from introversion
There are many skills that introverts possess which are worth learning for themselves. One of the most known traits of introverts is that they are problem-solvers and creative people who can generate great ideas. They are also better team players and tend to persevere longer than perhaps extroverts do. Some of the more famous introverts include Bill Gates, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Elon Musk — all highly inspirational people we want to learn from.
5 Introvert Superpowers You May Want To Possess
Laugh-ability
Many introverts have the ability to make themselves laugh, as they prefer their own company.
Solo recharge
Introverts don’t need to feed off the energy of others, so all they need is some alone time to recharge their social batteries.
Loyalty
Introverts tend to invest in relationships deeply, which means you’ll have a friend for life.
Never getting bored
Boredom as a concept barely exists for introverts, since doing nothing is kind of ideal too.
Listening
A very underrated power, but one nonetheless, is the ability to listen more and speak less.
Why National Introverts Week is Important
It's a chance to celebrate introversion
Why should extraverts have the limelight all of the time? With National Introverts Week, those behind the scenes have a chance to be recognized and appreciated, even if there is no party thrown for them (which is probably preferred). There is a lot that can be learned from the traits of introverts.
It’s about inclusion
As a race, human beings are ever on a journey of inclusion, and so a week to celebrate those who might otherwise be excluded is a great way to further this quest. It encourages introverts to feel more comfortable in their skin and reminds them to be proud of their identity.
It fosters greater understanding
By helping to create spaces for engagement and dialogue with personality differences, this week can further peoples’ understanding of how each type is to be valued and respected. It can break commonly held misconceptions about introverted behavior and help us understand ourselves, and those around us better.
National Introverts Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | March 21 | Monday |
| 2023 | March 20 | Monday |
| 2024 | March 18 | Monday |
| 2025 | March 17 | Monday |
| 2026 | March 16 | Monday |
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