3 Signs You Need Alone Time at Work - The Muse

3 Signs You Need Alone Time at Work - The Muse3 Signs You Need Alone Time at WorkAccording to my Myers-Briggs test, Im an extrovert. Yes, I like being around people, yes I crave attention, and yes, I do get most of my productive energy from otherbeis.But I also like being alone. In fact, Im most comfortable when Im by myself. And when Im overwhelmed at work, Id rather take a walk around the block solo instead of grabbing a coffee and venting.Does this sound like you? Youre not crazy, you just know what does and doesnt work for you. Here are three big signs that you need some me time- no matter how social you normally are1. Youre Snapping at OthersDid you just snap at a co-worker for playing music too loudly at her desk? Or maybe you gave a harsh critique to a colleague who keeps making the same mistake on her weekly reports.You already know this- but when youre overly grouchy with people for minor mistakes, it probably means you need to take a break. A literal one.Whenever possible, Id suggest physically walking away and not returning until youre feeling more level-headed. If theres still an issue that needs to be resolved (like those report mistakes), apologize first for your sudden outburst and then address it. And if you did snap at someone for no reason, youre also going to want to make amends quickly.2. Youre Struggling to Come Up With Good IdeasWhen youre this close to your next big idea, distractions the last thing you need. And even if its not intentional, your peers are a distraction. Their casual banter next to your desk, their pleas to join them for a coffee run, their quick questions- these are all great when you have the time, but when youre mulling over something important or urgent theyll only delay the process. For example, when I have to brainstorm an article for the vague future, sure, I have time to sit down with my colleagues and hash out ideas. But when my piece is due the next day, I log out of Slack, throw on headphones, grab a seat on th e couch, and write- sometimes for several hours alone. Its not anti-social- its me doing what needs to get done to do my best possible work.3. Youre One mora Problem Away From Crying at Your DeskJust as your co-workers can be great stress-relievers- forcing you to take breaks when youve been burning energy for hours or listening to you vent about your problems- they can also, unfortunately, add to your stress. We experience this all the time. When were going through our own stuff, someone comes along and throws their issues onto our pile- and while we want to help, we can barely keep ourselves up.I dont recommend becoming a hermit every time youre feeling anxious, but if youre someone whos used to latching onto groups when times get tough, you may need to rethink your strategy. Learning how to work through your stresses on your own is not only empowering, its meditative- it forces you to look inward and accept your emotions as is, rather than have to make excuses for them. Extrovert s need alone time just as much as the next person. We weigh ourselves down with stigmas that if were not with people, were not being ourselves, and thats just not true. More importantly, everyone should learn how to thrive on their own- because if we can do this much solo, think about how much we could accomplish together.Photo of person working alone courtesy of Yuri_Arcurs/Getty Images.