We all know that there are basically two types of people, the introverts and the extroverts. There are also many people who lie somewhere in the middle of these two categories, but for the purposes of this post, we’ll just assume the two.

While the extroverts are those who get really energized by social gatherings and human interaction, introverts are quite the opposite and the same things are quite draining to them. Not only that, they don’t quite feel comfortable being in such scenarios.

How do I know this? Well, I used to be an introvert myself and it is only in the past 6-7 years that I have slowly managed to become an ambivert. However, I still remember how gruesome these social situations used to be.

The funniest part though is the plethora of awkward things we do knowingly or unknowingly when we are in the presence of other people, for no apparent reason at all. Let’s look at some that I have observed (and been guilty of) myself!

1. Should I Look At The Left or Right Eye?

So, when we talk to a person, we look at their face, right? But no one told us which part of the face to look at. Is it the nose as it is the centre of the face, or is it the eyes?

But should we look at the left eye or the right eye. Maybe we are supposed to transition from one eye to the other at regular intervals. Or maybe it’s not the eyes. Lips then? No, that might be creepy.

These are the kind of thoughts that run inside an introvert’s mind when talking to a stranger. Instead of focusing on the conversation, they tend to focus on trivial things such as this!

2. Losing Motor Skills When Someone Is Looking

Has it ever happened to you that you are just walking normally like normal people do and all of a sudden, you notice someone looking at you and following the trajectory of your walk? You suddenly lose all motor skills and start walking as if your hands and legs were independent of the body!

This gets worse if it is your crush that is looking at you or some really attractive person! Why does the brain simply forget to do simple things like … walk? Why??

3. Handshake or Hug?

This is another awkward scenario between two people when one of them is trying to shake the other’s hand but the other is reaching for a hug. Then you have this 3 seconds of real confusing period when they are both not sure what to do next. Whether to keep going with their original decision or to change according to the other?

This is often led by nervous laughter or awkward silence. Both are the bane of an introvert’s existence!

4. Forgetting Name After 2 Minutes

This has probably happened to all of us. When at a party or a meetup we generally go around introducing ourselves and meeting new people which usually starts with us telling our names and asking theirs.

But for some odd reason, we tend to forget their name in just a few minutes and this shows in the conversation that follows. So, instead of saying things like, “So, John, do you like rock music?”, we often tend to say, “So, … (pause) … do you like rock music?”

At the same time we are thinking at the back of our minds, “Was his name John, or Oliver? Why do I always forget the name!! He probably noticed this and thinks I am dumb”

5. How To Position Your Body Parts

This one is a classic. When we are talking to someone we don’t know or are trying to set a good impression on, we often become very conscious about the way we are standing or sitting. So much so that we start thinking about the position of our hands or legs, or even the angle of the body while leaning on a counter or some other object.

It’s so cringy and amusing at the same time to see people do this. You can almost always notice this at a social gathering.

There are many more awkward things we do, which I’ll be talking about in the part II of this post. So, if you liked this one, stay tuned for the next one.