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Mid semester break is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, visit somewhere new, or perhaps stay out partying. But I'm glad to be back on campus.

During the holidays, you’re not left with many excuses to decline an invite to go out (besides catching up with lectures or working). However, this can be so exhausting.

I definitely consider myself an introvert and I need time to recharge after social interactions. But I also struggle with saying no, and I do get FOMO (fear of missing out). Life is short – I can justify continuous social interaction with the notion that I’m young and should create fun memories. And I never regret saying yes to social activities...but boy, do I get exhausted and require time alone to recharge. What about you?

Holidays have ended and I’m looking forward to being back on campus – but I also didn’t feel like I gave myself the proper opportunity to recharge. I would’ve loved to go on more nice walks, rest, read or watch movies. Alas! I will ensure I dedicate some time for this before uni gets too hectic with exams.

It can be hard to find a suitable balance with socialising but also investing in alone time – and this varies between person to person. Below is some of my advice that helps me to maintain a desirable social battery.

1. Plan ahead

I can’t emphasise how much having a visual layout of my next month helps in creating time for social events but also down time. For instance, I have three social events next week which allows me to prepare and ensure I am leaving time to recharge before and after.

2. Learn to prioritise yourself

It can be difficult to say no to a friend you haven’t seen in a while or a family member. But sometimes you have to prioritise time that you need for yourself. I would suggest developing a nice message or script for breaking the news. I would include rescheduling – and I’ve found that people will always understand needing time for yourself.

3. Find your people

My social battery doesn’t undergo a significant decline when I’m with my closest circle of friends and family. Sometimes you need to invest in quality friends who may understand not having high expectations for social outings sometimes. You should feel comfortable enough expressing your desires for low impact social interactions when you feel burnt out.

How is your social battery after mid-semester break?