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Inspiring Morning Routines for INFJs, INFPs, ENFJs and ENFPs
Intuitive-Feeling personality types crave a life of meaning, significance, and purpose. If you’re an NF type in the Myers-Briggs® system, you believe that each day is in service of a bigger picture or plan. You want to be a catalyst for change, an inspirer, a unifier, and someone who lives with authenticity. How can your morning routine propel you towards your vision in life?
For so many of us, mornings are about rushing through breakfast, gulping down coffee, and driving to work in a flurry of stress, worry, or even boredom. But did you know that the morning can be the best part of your day? Did you know that the tone you set in the morning can stick with you throughout the whole day and make you productive, powerful, and creative? Stop “getting through” your mornings and start really LIVING them.
For you, a healthy morning routine isn’t just about getting your vitamins and your favorite brand of coffee. This routine fills you with inspiration, sparks your imagination, and moves you further towards your personal goals.
Inspiring Morning Routines for INFJs, INFPs, ENFJs and ENFPs
Prepping for a Positive Morning (The Night Before):
Pick a quote to put on your bedside table that will get you started in the right mindset. Here are a few examples:
“Live the Life of Your Dreams. Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others.” – Roy T. Bennett
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle
“A year from now, you may wish you started today.” – Karen Lamb
“He (God) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:29-31
“Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny- he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally – you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you.” – Osho
What you eat in the morning can literally set the tone for the rest of your day. Remember to eat foods that will make you focused, energized, creative, and optimistic.
Here are some ideas:
Eggs – These help you to regulate memory and mood.
Water – Filling up on water increases your mental flexibility, energy, and focus.
Blueberries – These delay short-term memory loss and improve communication between brain cells.
Oranges, Lemons, Strawberries, Bell Peppers – These are all high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C enables you to process carbs, fats, and proteins efficiently. It also can improve your mood and lower feelings of confusion and depression.
Dark Chocolate – A few ounces of dark chocolate can give you an instant boost in mood, improve your concentration, and improve blood flow to your brain.
When You Wake Up:
Whatever your morning routine needs to be, make sure you start the day by reading your quote and thinking about how you can apply it to your day. Here are some other ways to improve your routine:
Practice Gratitude in the Shower: When you’re shampooing, scrubbing, and shaving, try to think of five things you are thankful for this morning. Really soak in the thankfulness in the same way you soak in the water. Imagine yourself washing away all the bitterness, anger, worry, and stress that might still be stuck inside of your mind. Let it go.
Express Appreciation for Someone: As an Intuitive-Feeling type you want your life to benefit other people. When your relationships are good, you feel better about life as a whole. Give your kids extra long hugs, text a friend or family member and tell them something you admire about them, write a love note and put it in your spouse’s brief-case/lunch box/on their mirror.
Hydrate: Drinking plenty of water in the morning helps you to feel more alert, rehydrates your body, and kick-starts your metabolism. If you’re feeling gloomy and lethargic throughout the day, it might link to poor hydration. Keep a water bottle next to your bed, in your handbag, and at your desk and keep re-filling it!
Meditate or Pray: Spending 15-30 minutes a day in meditation can help you to clear your mind, lower your blood pressure, improve your mood and brain function, as well as improve your immune system.
Exercise: A study conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol found that people who exercised daily had more energy and a more positive outlook. Even if you only exercise for seven minutes, this can help your entire day to be more focused and positive.
Get it Overwith: If there’s a task that you’ve been dreading, see if you can knock it out right after exercising! Getting this done first-thing in the morning lifts a weight off your shoulders and enables you to be more optimistic and clear-headed throughout the rest of the day.
On the Drive to Work:
Don’t waste your morning drive! Here are some ways for you to maximize this time:
- List the things that you are grateful for.
- Repeat your inspirational quote for the day.
- Listen to a podcast that will teach you or challenge you.
- Sing a song that inspires you
- Listen to an audiobook.
- Use voice-to-text to write your to-do list for the day.
- Call someone who needs encouragement.
- Learn a language by using an app or CD set
- Think about how this very moment is the beginning of the rest of your life. What direction are you going to head today to get you where you ultimately want to be?
Type-Specific Advice:
Think on these things while you exercise, drive to work, shower, or prepare your breakfast.
ENFPs
Imagine the beautiful possibilities that lay before you today. What can you change that will make life more exciting? Who can you talk to that might inspire new ideas? What alternatives do you see before you? What healthy habits need to be repeated so you can achieve your goals? Write these down.
Remember ENFP, you are a master of seeing patterns, possibilities, connections, and relationships. You’re also someone who want to live with integrity. Before making a decision, ask yourself, “Is this in line with my life’s purpose? Are there any alternatives I’m not looking at? Am I being sincere and true to myself and my values?”
Also, remember your weak spots. As an ENFP you give priority to brainstorming, envisioning, and doing things in new ways. Don’t forget to take care of those nitty-gritty details that are so tempting to brush off! Floss your teeth, get enough sleep, make your bed, drink enough water. These menial tasks may seem dull, but they can also make you more productive, focused, energetic, healthy, and happy.
INFPs
You’re a big-picture person, so now’s the time to think about what is really important on a personal level. What matters to you today? When you get to the end of the day what will you wish you had done? Is there any way you can tailor your day so that it drives you towards your purpose and aligns with your convictions? Write down any thoughts you have.
Remember INFP, you have a talent for seeing the deeper needs of the people around you. You have a knack for sensing when other people are in emotional distress. Many people appreciate your gentleness and patience, especially when they are struggling. Use this gift. Ask yourself, “How is my life positively impacting someone today? At the end of the day who have I supported? In what way have I stood up for my cause?”
Also, remember your blind spots. As an INFP you give priority to values, ethics, and emotional understanding. Don’t forget that being efficient can help you to achieve the goals that are so important to you. Is there a part of your life that is becoming stagnant or disorganized? Can you enlist someone’s help to make that segment more purposeful and efficient? This can involve taking a vague goal and breaking it down into step-by-step segments.
ENFJs
Today will be filled with communication, tasks, and more. Imagine yourself in ten years. What do you want? What do you see? Is there something that you can do today that will put you on the pathway towards that future reality? Think about your energy needs. Which people “fill your tank” energy-wise? Send them a text or an email and let them know about your ideas.
Remember ENFJ, you’re gifted at tuning into the emotions, needs, and motivations of others. You believe in helping people fulfill their potential and are gifted at seeing unique skill-sets. But what about you? Don’t say “Yes” so quickly to requests for help that you trample over your own needs and desires. Imagine yourself from an outside perspective. What would you see? What qualities would you notice and focus on? Think about how you can integrate yourself into the people you inspire, take care of, and motivate.
Also, don’t ignore your weaknesses. It can be easy to get so caught up in the personal needs of others that you lose track of the raw data. Take a moment to separate all the feelings, values, and pressures from a problem you’re dealing with. What are the facts? What’s really true? Eliminate everything from the problem but what’s true. When you do that, is there any new information that can help you to make better decisions? Perhaps looking at a problem this way can provide new insight.
INFJs
Imagine that today is your last day on earth. What would you prioritize? What would you value? Now imagine you’ve suddenly gotten a second-chance at life. Today is an unexpected blessing, as is tomorrow and the day after. Let yourself absorb the thankfulness that you feel. What can you do today so that at the end of your life you feel you lived with meaning, purpose, and integrity?
Remember INFJ, you have a skill for seeing multiple-perspective and noticing trends and patterns that will lead to a future outcome. Are there any patterns in your current existence that will lead to negative or positive outcomes? Are there any new ways of looking at your day that could improve your life? Give yourself time to “realize” patterns, symbols, and connections. Read philosophical books, view artwork, drive somewhere without a destination, listen to the meaning behind someone’s words – what is that meaning telling you?
It’s also important not to forget your weaknesses! It is more natural for you to look at the background processes of life, and that’s a good thing – but sometimes the answers you seek are on the surface. Remind yourself throughout the day to zone in to the present moment. What is happening around you? Is there a hands-on activity you can enjoy? Can you take a mental “snapshot” of this moment to remember forever? Notice the body language of someone speaking to you, learn some facts that can broaden your understanding of the world, do something recreational!
What Are Your Thoughts?
Do these tips help you and inspire you? Do you have any other suggestions or thoughts? Let us know in the comments! You can also explore my eBook, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic.
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