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.
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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.
Read This Next: 3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets of the ENFP Personality Type
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.
Read This Next: 7 Ways That INFPs Make an Impact
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.
Read This Next: 7 Ways That ENFJs Make an Impact
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!
Read This Next: 10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an INFJ
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!
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!
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Hey Susan,
All good stuff. By the way, under the INFJ, I think you meant “sometimes the answers you *s*eek are on the surface.”
You will remember me as the one who talks with Mark Hunziker from time to time. He introduced me to Carol Shumate, another name you might recognize, and I was privileged to talk with her for an hour or so via Google Duo back in June. I don’t think it took her ten minutes to confirm me as an INFJ 🙂
I’m still exploring with both of them, Mark and Carol, as their time and schedule permit, but I can move forward with a little more confidence with her expert pronouncement. Mark has a different approach that’s definitely more demanding but just as rewarding. One must be sure of the foundation before beginning to build. I can do that now.
As always, I appreciate your work. Best wishes from a fellow INFJ.
Gilbert
Thanks for the great information. As usual you understand my personality type very well. May your mornings be great as well.
Susan,
You don’t talk about your personal beliefs but I was glad to see a Bible verse included in the inspirational quotes. By now I expect my point of view to be discounted or off-limits, so it was nice to feel included and validated, since that is exactly the type of quote I would choose. That and maybe Oprah lol.
Solid, timely post. I need to establish a better routine. Aside from breakfast (I do IF 18:6) I will implement many of your ideas, starting now!
Thanks again.
Totally unrelated to this post, but this quote is on a wall in my school:
“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.”
So seeing it up there made me go a bit “:O”
Here’s some of my favourite quotes, positive ones. Maybe they could help you in your morning routine should you decide to take up this article’s advice, or act as a little burst of positivity scrolling through these comments 🙂
“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
— Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
― John Lennon
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
To a great day!