Intro/Extro - what?

There's an old joke about how introverts don't make friends, they just get adopted by extroverts. And while there may be times when that seems all too true. . . it's not the best depiction of introversion and extroversion. So let's spend a few minutes exploring these tendencies.

Simply put, introverts recharge by spending time alone. Extroverts recharge by socializing. They may have other distinguishing characteristics but at the end of the day, its all about what it takes to recharge.

You may have heard about these tendencies before but have you considered how they might impact your road trip?

Personality types and tendencies like introversion and extroversion can really impact what different travelers need on the road. In the Roadtrip Possible Course, you learn about the 4 Roadtrip Personality Types: Doer, Feeler, Seer and Learner. With the additional understanding of whether each traveler tends toward introvert or extrovert, you'll be better equipped to anticipate their needs on the road.

If you aren't familiar with the Roadtrip Possible Course, click here to learn more about how these types of activities and discussions can radically transform your planning and your road trips!

Introverts and Extroverts may approach every day situations differently, but there are plenty of places where things may not be quite what they seem. The "life of the party" may turn out to be an introvert. Or the "bookworm" is actually an extrovert. Each traveler can express their personalities and preferences differently for all kinds of reasons and in all kinds of ways.

There is no shortage of additional information online about these tendencies so, since we aren't psychologists, we thought we'd round up a few articles in case you'd like to learn more.

Here is a quick quiz you (or your travelers) can take to find out if you are an extrovert, introvert or ambivert (both intro/extro and able to shift).

This article focuses on family activities and communication. It's brief but relevant both on and off the road!

While this article focuses on introvert/extrovert tendencies at work, the discussion about productivity and engaging with others can be really useful in families as well.

And, finally, a little bit more detailed, psychological approach. This article includes statistics, theory, history and even some additional recommended reading on the subject.

If you're fascinated by this, take the time to do some of your own research. There is some great information out there! If this kind of stuff isn't really your thing, no problem. Just remember that your introverts will need some down time on the road to recharge while your extroverts are going to be excited about meeting new people and staying busy. Introverts may get really drained by big crowds while extroverts tend to thrive off all that energy. So just be aware!

Over the next couple of days and weeks, practice observing how these tendencies show up in and for your travelers. What seems to work for them? How do they recharge? What challenges might you encounter on the road? What clues will you look for to know when their drained or depleted?

And last but certainly not least, what can you do to take good care of your own needs on the road too? How will you stay charged up and at your best?