Pros and Cons of Being an Extrovert

Around my sophomore year of high school, I realized that I was 100% an extrovert. I thrived off of any social situation, good or bad. The people around me made me happy and energized. When I turned 21, I married my best friend. Strangely enough, he had social anxiety and preferred living an introverted life. I have learned many pros and cons of being an extrovert throughout our six years of marriage. Here are a few.

Pros of Being an Extrovert

1. Most extroverts are amazing party planners! If you want a party thrown, an extrovert is the one to plan it. It is hard not to throw large parties with many people when you enjoy crowds.
2. New play dates? New workout groups? No problem! It is easy to meet people and become friends quickly. Socializing is not an obstacle but a reward.
3. Work around people all day? Why wouldn’t you want to be around hundreds of people? That is a perfect environment! It is like a rechargeable battery every day going to work; your battery becomes recharged.
4. Extroverts can usually talk to anyone. You love people and learning about them. If you speak to someone, then you are also lifting your spirits. Win, win.
5. Extroverts can be great leaders. When you are an extrovert, you can influence people for good. I held multiple leadership positions in high school, including Student Body Present and a National Honor Society Historian. 

Cons of Being an Extrovert

1. Extroverts tend to say things they don’t mean. Because you thrive off of people around you, it is hard not to be entertaining. The center of attention makes you feel amazing, so you may do or say things that you will regret later to get that center. My sister often told me I needed to think before saying something.
2. Extroverts tend to get depressed when alone. Let’s face the fact you cannot always live a life of parties and people. This was very hard for me to understand for a long time. I think it wasn’t until I moved to a city where I knew no one and no one wanted to know me. It was depressing and hard for a long time.
3. Extroverts sometimes run faster than they have strength. To get that social high, you will do anything. Fifteen play dates a week, 25 moms at my house. The more, the merrier. Party after party can lead to sleep deprivation and burnout.
4. Extroverts can have masked faces. Full of high spirits, exciting hand motions, and giant smiles. Then they are in a room by themselves, and they take their show off to be grumpy and rude. It can be hard to tell if an extrovert is genuine or not.
5. It’s hard to be a stay-at-home mom or work from home. With very little social interaction, you may feel a little trapped.
6. Most extroverts have to be  the center of attention. This can be a problem if you have 15 extroverts in a room with two introverts. Awkward!
7. It can be tough to understand introverts. I remember begging my sister to throw parties with me. It was frustrating when she instead did homework or stayed home and read. As a mom, you can have introverted children and try to understand that sometimes they need space away from play dates, library storytime, zoo trips, and children’s museums. It is a lot to know when it doesn’t make sense.
8. Introverts often complain, that it seems like it is their way or the highway as an extrovert. As an extrovert, you don’t mean, for the most part, to take over the world. You are just excited about people and ideas I have to do with people.

"Our goal is to help the world make decisions with a list of Pros and Cons. We invite all to add to our lists to help others make the most educated decision possible. We are all in this world together to help each other and learn from what others have learned from heir lives journey.

-Pros and Cons Team

Written By: Sarah