As introverts, we must protect our energy. Otherwise we don't show up in social situations as our best selves. We’re all different, but introverts definitely have a social capacity - a limit on how much energy we have to be social. Because for an introvert, being social draws our energy down, and being alone fills that energy tank back up. You probably know the feeling when you run out of energy. You’re “done” being social, and you can’t be as engaging, enthusiastic and relaxed in a social setting. I call it “hitting the wall.” Similar to an endurance athlete who drops to such a low energy level that they need to eat something to refuel, introverts need to step away from social interactions and refuel with some alone time. The word “introvert” carries negative baggage for some people, sadly even some introverts have negative baggage with that word. Why is that? I think that the negative baggage has a lot to do with our social capacity and lack of boundaries. When we over-commit, beyond our social capacity, we put ourselves in situations where we “hit the wall” but can’t leave. So we try to power through. I don’t think that’s a great strategy, so I want to share some ideas for boundaries you can install in your life or business. Boundaries that allow you to commit to being social without over-committing yourself and being forced to power through.