Published on 12, July, 2020
By around people I mean social events, work if you're in an office/building site/kitchen with other people (i.e. not work from home), and being at home with family or housemates. Anytime you might reasonably expect to have to talk to those around you. I'm not including walking down the street or sitting silently on the bus.
For me it's about 5 hours a week, maybe 10 if I go out with the walking group, but because it's all voluntary engagements (hobbies, meeting friends, etc) I think people sometimes get the impression I'm really extroverted. But really it's only because I work from home (no calls) and live alone that I can manage that much. When I lived with a partner I managed a lot less and would get meltdowns from lack of alone time.
I'm usually around people a lot. I work 36 hours a week (across 5 days) in an open plan office that usually has at least 5 other people in it but I'm on a busy site so on these days I'll see lots of people. I live with my partner so I see them every day. I feel like with that, I get very filled up on social contact and don't feel the need to interact with anyone else which is terrible for trying to maintain friendships. I really struggle with getting the energy or drive to message people or arrange social gatherings and have to get myself in the right headspace for it. I often put in time in the shared calendar I have with my partner where I say that I do not want any social obligations - i.e. no friends or family visiting the house. Of course, it's fine if they go out and see people but I don't want the slightest bit of obligation to follow suit. I have to have at least one day every week where I do not have interactions with anyone except my partner and ideally don't go outside at all otherwise I can get very burned out, which will present in me being quicker to frustration, snappy, tearful, tired, stressed - which is really unpleasant.
I have maybe 24 hours in the office each week, and some online meetings. Other than that, i dont socialise at all.
When I was working it was about 5-6 hours at work with 3 other women and about 12-16 kids. Since my accident I've been mostly without company, and time with people is normally when I go shopping. I like it on my own but I do get lonely. I've got a cat though and she gives me company and friendship, as Sperg suggested to someone on another thread. I love cats but do miss interaction with other people.