The introvert's guide to hosting

There is joy in bringing people together. The real thing to guard against is the feeling of being overwhelmed, exhausted or overstimulated

- Shalini Umachandran

Don't cancel.

There's just one rule to follow if an intro- vert, for some unknowable reason, has chosen to host a house party.

One of the paradoxes of being an introvert is that you could look forward to the party while also being deeply aware that at any moment during the evening, you could just switch off and want to escape. There's research to suggest that socialising is good for anyone's mood, including introverts', but surely that feeling of anxiety that accompanies it would only take years off one's life? Fortunately, there's also research to tell you that it's the quality and not the quantity of relationships that helps you live longer and happier.

Playing host is fun, and introverts aren't anti-social. There is joy in bringing people together, being the catalyst for fun and conversation, and just spending time with people you like. And contrary to all the advice on self-help Instagram handles out there, you don't need to declare to the world that you are an introvert who might need "downtime".