Without a doubt, I can go for days, weeks, or even months without speaking to a single person and still improve. Sound too strong? You are most likely an extravert if so. Perhaps you should quit reading now.

Introverts thought about lunch time.

Some so many people are braggarts, showoffs, and perpetual competitors. It makes sense that people would only want to talk all the time in a setting where everyone is trying to present their best selves.

People are most unpleasant to be around at lunch at work. Because I felt so under pressure to mingle, while I worked in an office, this was by far the hardest portion of the day to get through. And it was challenging for me to hide my anxiety.

I didn’t want to appear weary or worn out (which everyone was, but still). I didn’t want to give the impression to my employees that I didn’t care much about how they lived their lives outside of work.

At this time, I’m sure some listeners have lost interest. He’s not a social guy. I won’t bother to deal with this. He is being overly general. Many workplaces are indeed excellent, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying working with your coworkers. I wholeheartedly concur. I wish this particular set of folks and I had that kind of comradery. But I simply did not.

Discussed on table 

And the discussions, my, the discussions. These were the only three subjects these coworkers ever discussed at the table:

where they have been to

what programs they had binge-watched

also, food!

Correct, food. They enjoyed chatting while they were eating and discussing food. This was by far the most often discussed subject. Wow, I bet zombies have better conversations while they’re munching on corpses, I remember thinking.

I mean, I understand, it’s only reasonable to think, “Wow, this sandwich is fantastic.” It’s alright. But when you’re cramming your face with it and the main topic of conversation is food, it’s just too much.

You know, I’m just eating here, and it’s decent food, so I don’t need to talk about the finer points of nutrition, preparation, and flavor pairings. I’m currently placing everything in my mouth and tasting every combination. While I’m chewing and digesting.

No. Even further is taken by them. It transitions from what they are eating to all of the interesting things they have ever eaten in their life. All the wonderful meals were enjoyed while traveling to distant nations. Or even lamer, all the elaborate planning and meal preparation they do on Sundays (again, while binge-watching their preferred TV shows).

We struggle as introverts because we are always compelled to converse with uninspiring and unimaginative people. The terrible part is that I can see why they’re so uninteresting and uninspired. It is a result of everyone being overly preoccupied with their careers. Ordinary people can only really talk about the meager non-work-related activities they manage to fit into their schedules when they are not overburdened with obligations.

There are similar lunch tables in workplaces throughout the universe. So what should a severe introvert do?

Last recall.

I recall attempting to flee.

I would use clever timing to get away from them because everyone in this group lived by the clock. Between 11:30 and 12:00, if I didn’t have a meeting, I would get up and take lunch by myself. I could avoid all the pre-lunch social mingling if I did it this way.

Last modified: December 7, 2022