The perfectionist procrastinator - also referred to as the INFJ personality type - knows exactly
what it’s like to distract themselves from a project or task. With a natural
tendency to focus on the overall concept and bigger picture of every situation,
INFJs can feel truly stuck when it comes to staying focused on the mundane requirements..
Welcome or welcome back Psych-o! Today we’ll be presenting the 5 key tips for optimal INFJ
focus. Before we start, have you liked and subscribed to our channel? Go ahead.. And
be sure to click the notification bell while you’re there, so that you never miss a video!
Alright, let’s get right into it starting with.. Number 1: Intervals, intervals, intervals!
While the INFJ can surely get carried away with procrastination and distractions, they can just as
easily get carried away with working hours on end, especially on a project they are passionate about.
Although this ultimately leads to burnout and discouragement when they finally do step away,
INFJs can’t help but to approach most things with an all or nothing approach. Once INFJs realize
this nature they can easily work with it by giving themselves the time to organize their requirements
into bite size pieces and then creating deadlines around them. It’s important for an INFJ to outline
all necessary details that are associated with each smaller task to be able to see the bigger
picture of each individual task rather than putting a focus on the entire project at hand.
Besides the fact that creating smaller steps allows for an easier road map to completion,
it also gives this idealist type a good look at their accomplishments along the
way - something that often gets overlooked when an INFJ is determined. This is where
the classic INFJ to-do lists come in handy.. When there's a personal list of obligations,
even the most boring tasks become satisfying when you know you can cross it off your list!
Number 2: Experiment with work settings
With an interesting combination of introverted intuition, extraverted feeling, introverted
thinking, and extraverted sensing, the INFJ is undoubtedly impacted by the environment and people
that surround them. So, it’s no surprise that one of the most crucial tips to true INFJ focus is a
proper project haven. One thing that’s for sure is that most INFJs probably prefer a more quiet,
peaceful environment with little distraction.. But does that really work for all INFJs?
Well.. not exactly. In fact, the ideal work setting is uniquely different for
every INFJ. While some people with this personality type can easily
pop in a pair of headphones playing lo-fi study beats and work away in a quiet cafe,
other INFJs require complete silence and solitude to really get in touch with their creative side.
Even the slightest change in the sensation of a room can cause them to lose focus. Now, it’s not
all about setting either, things like the time of day and even the weather can play a crucial role.
Some INFJs may feel more emotional and gloomy on rainy days, making them perfect for more artsy
projects, while the sunshine can influence this type into feeling energized and encouraged to
complete the more complex stuff. To find out what work setting works for you, try experimenting and
paying attention to things like room lighting, screen dimness, background sounds, and even
meals and stimulants.. Maybe that afternoon coffee isn’t doing your productivity any good afterall!
Number 3: Separate self worth from progress
When it comes to family life, relationships, career, self improvement, and just about
every other aspect of life INFJs have a tendency to associate their self worth with the progress
they make. In fact, INFJs have such a clear idealistic picture of the way they think things
should be in their lives that they can easily get caught up in self doubt and disapproval.
This is such a prominent trait in the INFJ because they seek meaning in every aspect
of their lives - unconsciously striving for perfection on a mental and emotional level. So,
when things don’t go as planned, the INFJ can’t help but to become discouraged from
continuing - sometimes so much so that they may even start to question if they even have the
right skills to be completing such a project or task. However, when INFJs are able to disassociate
their self worth from their progress in life it can take a considerable amount of pressure off
making the task considerably less dreadful - possibly even enjoyable.
Number 4: Prioritize alone time
With INFJs being the home bodies they’re known to be, it may seem like the act of prioritizing
alone time would seem like a breeze, however that’s not always the case. INFJs can get so
wrapped up in using their empathetic nature to help others that their own needs get pushed to
the side. Whether it’s on a small scale such as spending a day helping a coworker with their work
rather than getting their own tasks done, or on a larger scale like putting off their dream
of starting a blog because they have so many obligations from the people in their life.
Sometimes the INFJ’s strengths can in fact be detrimental to their own happiness and success.
Luckily, when an INFJ fully dedicates blocks of time to work on a desired task, they can easily
switch to full force determination mode. The key is to not only dedicate time for work, but also
additional blocks of time for play. Without this, it can be easy to mix the 2, leaving the INFJ in a
vicious cycle of playing.. aka procrastinating until something is reaching a deadline. This
type requires alone time to escape their mind and separate alone time putting their creativity into
action in order to fully utilize their complex ideas without interruption or burnout. Plus..
when you run on introverted intuition, your best ideas usually come in times of solitude anyway.
Number 5: Leave the perfectionism at the door
Okay, we get it. For an INFJ to be able to separate themselves from their
perfectionistic nature would be nothing short of a miracle. So, it’s fair to say that it’s
nearly impossible for an INFJ to quiet their high self-expectations completely. Luckily,
INFJs can slowly learn and realize that the ideal expected outcome they envision within their minds
may not match up to the outcome in reality. Optimal focus and less distraction for this
procrastination-prone type comes when they realize there are no consequences should something not
play out as expected - besides the consequences they fabricate in their minds. In fact, an INFJs
perfectionism is one of, if not the main culprit behind their procrastinating stereotype because
the unnecessarily high expectations they place upon themselves makes it so difficult to take the
first step, in fear that they may not live up to their own standards. So, when an INFJ consciously
chooses to not invite their inner critiques aboard a project, they are choosing to actively focus on
and maybe even enjoy the task at hand rather than the distraction of the final result.
Well, that's it for today, psych-os. So, if you’re an INFJ - have you ever used any of these
focusing tips? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to leave us a like,
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