more survival tips for infps
I wanna share a few more survival tips that I use in my own infp-esque life. These come from personal experience, so take them with a grain of salt!
Break your routine once in a while - Routines can be comforting but also a little confining for us infps. Doing something a different can be really nice, even if it’s something small, e.g. waking up early to watch the sunrise or going for a rare evening jog. When I do a little something different once in a while, I’m reminded that there are so many more possibilities out there.
Remember that everyone is strange and flawed - I tend to idolise others, especially those who I think have qualities that I don’t. E.g. they might be more confident or well spoken than me. But in reality, everyone has things about them that are weird and imperfect, even if it’s not the things that you’re insecure about. If you’re an infp that feels insecure and less than: one, I feel you, but two, remember that everyone is as weird and broken as you are even if you don’t see it at a glance.
Take an emergency dance party (for one) - When I’m home alone sometimes I crank my spotify loud and dance weird to some high energy tunes. It’s a great endorphin rush without the self-conscious embarrassment us infps can deal with on the dance floor.
Listen to some new music - I don’t know if you infps are the same as me, but when I listen to a favourite song too much, the song loses it’s quality and it makes me sad. Listening to a new badass track is such a pick-me-up. Try to get some recs from a friend with similar taste if you struggle to find new good music (me).
Take breaks from your projects instead of giving up - One slightly frustrating thing about being an infp is that we have trouble finishing projects. In the beginning we feel inspired and motivated, but when encountering difficulties (often practical difficulties), we can lose hope. I find that taking breaks from a project and then resetting is so helpful in achieving long term productivity.
Forgive yourself for your ‘failures’ - I beat myself up a lot, ruminating about awkward encounters late at night. I try to be forgiving by reminding myself that I’m doing the best I can with the brain that I have. Being emotionally sensitive is tough, and we are strong for getting through life carrying that burden.
Try to focus more energy on other people - Infps are warm and empathic, but we also tend to think about ourselves a lot. It doesn’t mean that we’re selfish, we just often live in our head. E.g. we might worry a lot about how we are perceived by others. To get out of this cycle, I’m trying to step out of worrying about my own problems and taking more notice of others’. In reality, most people are dealing with some pretty heavy shit.
Take a chance - The cycle of keeping to yourself can mean that you can get a bit stuck in limbo. Putting yourself out there is hard! And you will probably be nervous and have some self-doubt, but it will pay off! And if it doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, you get to feel proud of yourself for being brave.
