The Comfort Zone of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

What kind of atmosphere puts you at ease? Where do you feel most able to use your strengths? The comfort zones of each personality type can vary considerably. Let’s take a look at the comfort zone YOU enjoy!

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The Comfort Zone of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

The ENFP

Vacations, inspiration boards, and brainstorming sessions. These are the kinds of things that draw you in and offer a pleasant respite from a high-demand life. While some people get into their comfort zone by repeating the same things over and over again, you find comfort by trying new things and going to new places. That said, at the end of all your adventures and experiences you enjoy coming home to your soft, warm bed, a trusted friend or partner, and your familiar books and keepsakes scattered around your room.

Things to Look Out For:

• Don’t get so caught up in variety-seeking that you run away from positive routines. Try to create a few healthy habits that you can maintain daily so that you don’t burn yourself out or hurt your relationships.
• Remember that new isn’t always better. When you find yourself getting distracted and looking for a new opportunity, think about the unfinished projects you still have to complete. What would you gain by finishing them? What inspired you to start them?
• Take some time each day to tend to your physical health. You’re a risk-taker and that can be a good thing, but you don’t want to risk your own physical well-being.

Read This Next: 10 Things that Terrify ENFPs

The ENTP

Innovation, risk, new cultures, new entrepreneurial challenges. Your comfort zone is unique in that it almost defies the word “comfort.” You’re most at ease in the world of new ideas. Your mind finds satisfaction in mental gymnastics, creativity, and imagination. Without a problem to solve, a mental challenge to overcome, or a path before you that leads to unknown adventure, you feel stagnant and bored. Your comfort zone is one of constant questioning, curiosity, and novelty. Yet sometimes at the end of the day you crave familiarity, a favorite meal, a favorite book to wander the pages of before bed.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• Don’t put off taking care of your physical needs because the excitement of opportunity is always pulling you forward. Pause every day, make sure you’re drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. Eat healthy. Take care of your physical needs so that your mind can function optimally!
• Appreciate and honor the things in your life that are stable and dependable. Choose some healthy, meaningful habits that you can repeat daily to maintain well-being and contentment.
• Remember that new can be best, but not always. When you find yourself distracted and looking for a greener pathway, remember what drew you to the life you already have. Remember how much you wished for the things you currently possess. Don’t throw away the tried-and-true ways because you feel a compulsion to innovate and change everything. Learn to pick and choose the things that are trustworthy and the things that are worth changing.

Read This Next: 10 Things That Terrify ENTPs

The INFP

Your comfort zone lies in between the fantasy world of your imagination and the real world of experience and meaningful rituals. Your room is likely filled with favorite books, childhood keepsakes, artwork, and your favorite scented candles. You enjoy re-visiting your favorite stories, songs, movies, or places you’ve loved. But you also enjoy the mental escape of fantastical worlds. You thrive on imagining a future that filled with depth, romance, beauty, and wonder. Your comfort zone is both in the familiar nooks of your home and in the endless landscape of your mind.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• It can be tempting to create an idealized life in your mind and to stay there. Remember to get out into the world and bring your imagination to life in real, tangible ways.
• Find people who believe in you and make time for regular interaction with people you trust. Through this “meeting of the minds”, you will be able to strengthen your productivity and well-being.
• Don’t leave your creative thoughts in your mind alone. Write them down. Draw them. Create something that brings your inner world outward into the real world.
• Try something new every week. These new experiences furnish the imagination and while they may be hit-or-miss, the positive experiences can bring you something meaningful to re-experience again and again.

Read This Next: 3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets of the INFP Personality Type

The INTP

Your mental landscape is rich and plentiful. Asking yourself questions and finding the answers, challenging your mental capabilities, solving problems, these are things that entice you. Typically you find yourself toying with ideas and theories in your own home – a place where you can be messy, relaxed, and surrounded by your favorite things. You enjoy the comfort of your favorite books, TV shows, and video or board games. You like the quiet and stillness that comes from shutting the door on the noise and chaos of the outside world.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• Don’t become so reclusive that you stunt your personal growth and well-being. Get out into the world in new ways each day while still prioritizing the alone time you need. Talk to a trusted friend, go for a bike ride, or peruse the shelves of your local library. Take steps to enjoy the world around you.
• It can be easy to become detached and wrapped up in your own inner world. Keep yourself engaged by volunteering for a homeless shelter or animal shelter. Do something that is meaningful to you and allows you to use your strength to help others.
• Don’t forget your health. The world of ideas and the joy of mental problem-solving can make you forget about your physical needs. Take time each day to drink enough water, get enough rest, or eat healthy foods. Don’t forget to exercise!

Read This Next: 12 Fictional Characters You’ll Relate to if You’re an INTP

The ESFP

Not afraid of a challenge, you’re someone who finds a way to create a comfort zone wherever you go. You are adaptable, spontaneous, and quick. Airplanes, motorbikes, roller coasters, starting your own business – these are all things that make your heart race and give you a sense of fulfillment. You like taking chances and exploring new experiences and cultures. Whether this means traveling to a place you’ve never been or stepping out into the world of entrepreneurship, you’re comfortable when you’re pushing yourself to do something new.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• New adventures and experiences entice you, but it’s important to look before you leap. Think about the long-term consequences of your choices before embarking on something new. Ask for advice from a trusted friend or mentor.
• Take some time each day to slow down and assess your thoughts and feelings. Do you feel conviction and a sense of “rightness” in your pursuits? Take a break from the action and movement to pause and consider your values and true desires.
• New ventures can pull you away from projects you’ve already begun. Take a moment before switching directions to remember why you started your current project. What risks will you take by changing paths? Will the benefits outweigh them?

The ESTP

Adventure, challenge, luxury, sensation. You’re someone who knows how to roll up your sleeves and do hard work while also thoroughly enjoying the fruits of your labors. Your comfort zone is in the raw, real world of experience and earthy pleasures. You enjoy pushing yourself physically, whether that’s through training for a triathlon or white-water rafting. You also enjoy the finer things in life – the taste of a decadent meal feels like a fine reward after a day of physical or mental labor. You thrive on a challenge –something that reminds you what it’s like to be fully alive in a physical sense. Whether you’re mastering a game of poker or rock-climbing at the Red River Gorge, you enjoy pushing yourself to experience more of what life is all about.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• Pushing yourself physically and attaining a new goal can be intoxicating. However, you can also hurt yourself in the process. Take time to rest, stretch, hydrate, or eat a healthy meal. Don’t overdo it so much that you wind up with long-term injury or illness.
• The thrill of a new adventure can be so compelling, but before you jump right in make sure to look at your long-term goals. Does this adventure align with what you want in life? Will it set you forwards or backwards? What are the risks? Weigh the pros and cons before doing something you may regret.
• Remember to take time for quiet and stillness each day. In the quiet of your own mind, you can assess whether you’re actions are logical, and whether they align with your principles. Look at your unfinished projects and come up with a strategy for completing them. Your life tends to be a busy one, but getting away from all the commotion and assessing where you’re at is very beneficial.

The ISFP

The sand beneath your toes at the beach, a luxurious sip of your favorite coffee, the gratification you get after you’ve purchased a flight to somewhere new. For you, comfort means being in touch with the natural world and in alignment with your convictions. You want a life that doesn’t tie you to anyone else’s wishes or demands. You enjoy creation –whether that’s creating art, music, or a delicious meal. You especially enjoy being creative while you have quiet surroundings that allow you to delve into your thoughts and feelings. Your comfort zone is one of peace and stillness and beauty. Whether you’re perusing an art museum, watching your favorite Netflix show, or gazing at the stars in your backyard, you enjoy the comfort of being in the natural world but also at rest with your own thoughts and feelings.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• It can be tempting to isolate yourself from others. After all, your inner life and your favorite activities provide so much meaning and joy. But it’s important to also experience the joy of friendship and interaction. Text a friend or family member and ask them about their day. Invite someone along on a hike. Show off one of your creations on social media. Creating lasting bonds with people will give your life more meaning, even if it takes a while to find the people you can trust.
• On the flip side, if your life demands you to be around people the majority of the time, make room for yourself. As an introvert, you need quiet, stillness, and time alone to pursue your unique interests. You also need space to process your feelings. Don’t burn yourself out!
• You’re probably someone with a lot of ideas and hopes, but you might feel that planning them out is next to impossible. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a friend when it comes to segmenting and organizing your goals. This can be a struggle for IFPs, but it’s not impossible. Sometimes Thinking-Judging personality types (TJs) can be very helpful in this regard.

The ISTP

The open road and your favorite song on the radio. Throwing darts or knives. A new video game. For you, comfort comes from testing yourself and your mental capacity. You enjoy solving brain-teasers, learning new skills, and pushing your physical limits. You want to understand how the world works and sometimes that means reading encyclopedias, and at other times it might mean taking apart a car engine and putting it back together. For you, comfort is about space. Space between yourself and the expectations of others. It’s about the opportunity to appease your curiosity and expand your understanding of the world. Your comfort zone could be in your vehicle, your workshop, or your office. It’s any place where you can embrace your own space and pursue your own interests without interruptions or demands.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• Because your alone time is so vital to your well-being it can be tempting to overdo it. While getting plenty of isolation is good for an introvert such as yourself, it’s also important to take action for others as well. Take a moment to pause each day and let someone know you care about them through a text, email, or in person. Find ways to reach out to people through volunteering at a homeless shelter or in some other way that interests you.
• Boredom can be a problem for anyone, but especially for perceiving types. You hate being bored or subjected to mundane tasks. It can be easy to switch gears and leave a project unfinished. Before you change directions take a moment to weigh the pros and cons. What negative implications will occur if you leave a project half-done? What positive implications could there be? Typically you are very analytical in your decisions, but sometimes distraction can trip you up.

Read This Next: 10 Things ISTPs Look for in a Relationship

The ENFJ

Late-night philosophical conversations. Warm hugs. Motivational books. For you, comfort is all about understanding the meaning of life and connecting with others. You enjoy deep conversation around a bonfire on a crisp fall night. You get a thrill from an unexpected phone call from a friend who needs you. Inspirational quotes and motivational videos get your heart pumping. Whether you’re de-coding someone’s personality type or talking about career goals, your comfort zone is all about finding meaning and purpose with other people.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• Sometimes you’re so focused on other people and the potential you see within them that you can become overbearing. Remember that each individual is responsible for their own choices. Don’t take it personally if they don’t take your advice or ignore your input. Take some time each day to focus on your own goals, values, and priorities in life.
• Remember to make time for quiet each day. As an ENFJ you love being around people and getting to know them deeply. But you also need quiet, peaceful time each day to focus on your own thoughts, feelings, and plans. Too much extroversion can burn anyone out, even you!
• When someone comes to you for help it’s extremely tempting to say yes right away! Be sure that you’re taking the time to get in touch with your intuition before agreeing to something. Remember that it’s okay to say “No” sometimes. Analyze the implications of each decision you make. Is this decision in line with your values and priorities? Does this individual need to learn to solve this problem for themselves?

The ENTJ

Completed to-do lists. Libraries full of philosophical books. Achievement. These are all things that give your life meaning and purpose. You’re someone who balances a deep desire for philosophical understanding with a determination to accomplish great things. You are productive, no-nonsense, and also deeply insightful. Your comfort zone is being in a place that is always pushing you forward, either towards personal growth or financial or business success. You feel best when you are making progress towards a long-term plan or gaining a deeper understanding of the meaning of the universe.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• You hate to waste time and you despise laziness or procrastination. This can be a good thing and can propel you towards your goals. However, sometimes it’s important to slow down and analyze a situation more fully before taking action. Sometimes “procrastinating” for a little while can help you to see a new creative angle to a project you’re working on. Sometimes slowing down can help you to see a new and better way of doing something.
• Burnout is a common problem for your type. It’s essential that you take time to check in with yourself physically. Have you had enough water today? Did you get enough sleep? Are you exercising? Prioritize physical health so that you can think more clearly and live to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
• Don’t forget your values and personal ethics as you work your way towards your vision. What is something that you could do today that would give your life meaning and significance? Could you volunteer for a charity that you care about? Should you call your mom or dad and ask how they are doing? Maybe you could take one of your kids out for ice cream! Don’t get so focused on productivity and action that you forget the things that matter to you on a deeper personal level.

The INFJ

A weekend alone with no plans, books waiting to be read, quiet nights alone under the stars. For you, comfort is all about peace, stillness, and a sense of purpose and meaning. You enjoy wandering the pages of a good book or discussing the meaning of life with your closest friend. You like quiet time alone where you can imagine the future and contemplate your goals or vision. You are always looking forward –What will the world look like in ten years? How can you achieve a specific new idea? What is the future of a particular relationship? For you life is about moving forward, envisioning possibilities, and taking care of the people you love.  Time spent in a cozy room daydreaming, imagining, and planning for the future is where you feel the most alive.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• As an imaginative introvert it can be easy for you to hoard alone time. Remember that your relationships and friendships matter. If you’re feeling burned out from your work week and someone asks you to spend time with them, don’t “ghost” them. Let people know when you need alone time, remember that it’s okay to say “Not right now.” Responding is always better than ignoring.
• When an idea or symbol comes to you in your thoughts, write it down! As an INFJ your mind can wander over many meaningful, insightful things, but sometimes they disappear from your memory shortly thereafter! Keep a journal in your purse and by your bed so that you can keep track of your inspirations.
• Like all intuitive types, it can be easy for you to forget your physical needs. Don’t get so caught up in the future theories and imaginings that you forget to drink water, eat enough food, or get enough sleep. Remember to take care of your health!

Read This Next: 3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets of the INFJ Personality Type

The INTJ

You are someone who is rarely bored because there is always so much to discover intellectually. Your comfort zone is all about space and time alone to contemplate life’s meaning or move forward in a project or task. You balance being goal-oriented with being meditative and thoughtful. Whether you’re at the office or at home on the couch, you seek the “best” way to accomplish every task or the truest insight into the meaning of life. Your comfort zone is free from emotional demands, shallow conversation, noise, and interruptions. You feel most at peace when you are able to put every facet of your being into your personal vision for life. You feel most satisfied when your to-do list is empty and you are engaged in meaningful, independent discovery.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• Take time to recognize the benefits of your opposite preferences. It can be easy for everyone to think their way is the one “right” way, but each personality type has its strengths. Take time to appreciate the people in your life who bring sensing, feeling, or perceiving tendencies into your life. Think about the different ways these preferences can help you or others.
• As an intuitive it can be easy to always look forward instead of enjoying the pleasures of the present moment. Consciously take time each day to tune in to the world around you and the environment you’re in. What’s something that you can enjoy right now? What’s an experience you could partake in? Many NJ types reach the end of their lives and realize they spent the majority of it looking ahead and forgetting to appreciate the “now.”

Read This Next: 3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets About the INTJ

The ESFJ

Whether you’re having friends over for a game night or relaxing in bed with a favorite book, your comfort zone is all about routine, connection, and physical relaxation. You notice the details that give life a sense of stability and beauty. You care for people’s physical needs and enjoy hearing them share their deepest thoughts and feelings. You savor learning about people – why they are the way they are, what they like or dislike. Being part of a community is important to you. You value having a local church, career, or hobby group full of people who share your values. For you, a comfort zone is about having loyal confidantes, pleasant rituals, and a stable, dependable life.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• As someone who naturally looks outwards to the needs of others, it can be easy for you to forget about your own needs. Make time to consider your own values, ethics, and desires. Are you living in accordance with those things? Are you saying “Yes” to too many things? Are you getting burned out? Take some alone time to consider this each day.
• ESFJs have an innate grasp of what other people need and want in life. Sometimes you might feel like you know more about others than they know about themselves. It can be easy to think that you know what’s best for other people, and while sometimes you do, it’s important not to become pushy or overbearing in this. Some people solve problems best on their own. Some people need space to themselves before they can identify the best solution. What works as an ESFJ might not work for another type. Use your gift of helpfulness, but don’t overdo it or smother other people.

The ESTJ

Courage, community, consistency. These three things embody your personality and what you prioritize in life. You want the courage to accomplish your goals and achieve success in life. You want a loyal community to support you and to care for. You want a consistent, stable, reliable routine in place so that you know what to expect and how to be prepared. For you, a comfort zone comes from knowing that you have all three of these things in place.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• You’re a hard worker and likely have a to-do list at the beginning of every day. Just remember that sometimes slowing down and not rushing from task to task can help you to do things better. Pausing before you make a decision can help you to gain more insight, see a new perspective, or find a creative avenue you hadn’t thought of before.
• As someone who likes routine and consistency, it’s also important to be open-minded for new alternatives. Don’t be too hasty to dismiss unusual ideas or perspectives. Take some time before reverting to the “tried-and-true” technique to ensure that it’s really the best way.
• As an extroverted thinking type, you like to have a lot of control over what’s happening around you. Don’t let that sense of control get out of hand! Remember to value the input of your opposite types, whether they are feeling types, perceiving types, or intuitives. Opposites can learn a lot from each other!

The ISFJ

Cozy sweaters, meaningful one-on-one conversations, quiet libraries. Your comfort zone is all about familiarity, tranquility, and harmony. You want to know that your loved ones are safe and happy and that you have a long stretch of time before you to fill with your favorite activities. Whether you’re reading a book or sipping tea while gazing at a sunset, you know how to embrace those little details that make life beautiful. You are in tune with your body, nature, and the feelings of the people around you. Keeping all three of those facets of your life in harmony is vital to you.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• Trust yourself. When you get a new idea that might disrupt your routine or seem a little “crazy,” write it down! Let the idea sink in or run it by one of your trusted friends before you immediately dismiss it as “unrealistic” or too risky.
• Stand up for yourself. One of the most common traps that ISFJs fall into is caring too much about the feelings of others and losing themselves in the process. Remember that loving someone sometimes means saying “No” and letting them solve their own problems. Remember to love yourself and give yourself time for recuperation and solace.
• Get out and explore new ideas and themes sometimes! As an ISFJ you enjoy meaningful rituals and a stable life. However, sometimes that can go too far! Try something new every week, whether it’s going to a new restaurant or hiking in a new location.

Read This Next: 10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an ISFJ

The ISTJ

Order, stability, and space are all things that are vital for your comfort. You enjoy knowing all your bills are paid, your to-do list is completed, and you have a big chunk of time to devote to your hobbies and interests. You typically have a room filled with your favorite books, movies, stories, and/or experiments. Each one is re-visited and then put carefully away where you can easily reach it again. You like knowing that your life is under control, that you know where to find things, and that you are purposefully working towards the important goals in your life. Chaos, noise, and unpredictability are all things that you like closing the door on when you go to your comfort zone.

Things to Do or Watch Out For:

• If you haven’t grown up in an environment that nurtured your strengths, you might feel frustrated and critical of yourself and others. Take time to strengthen your sensing side by tuning in to your body, creating healthy routines that provide comfort, and organizing your life so that your routines are efficient and actually meeting your goals.
• If you overdo your preferences then you can become stuck in a routine and rigid about time, schedules, and procedures. New, untested ideas might seem overwhelming to you and stepping outside of your habits might be highly stressful. Try to make time each week to think about your habits and routines. Is there a new way you could do something to make it better? Is there an idea you dismissed as tangential that actually would be profitable?
• As an introvert it’s vital to have your own time and space to re-energize. However, don’t become so fixated on your own space that you hurt meaningful relationships. Pick up the phone once a day and send a text to someone you care about. Volunteer for a charity. Let your significant other know the things that you appreciate about them. Use words to affirm the people in your life.

Read This Next: 10 Things That Excite the ISTJ Personality Type

What Are Your Thoughts?

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!