What to Add to Your Morning Routine, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

Unless you’re a morning person (lucky you), the first hours of your day likely pass in a gray blur. You roll out of bed, fall into your clothes, and then collapse into your car so you can start the mornings. Perfectly curated morning routines on social media look nice, but they’re often unrealistic, so you settle for barely getting by.

However, by adding just one meaningful practice to the morning, each personality type can maximize the rest of the day.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.

What to Add to Your Morning Routine, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

The ESTJ: Tape your goals to your bathroom mirror

“You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain.” – Tom Hiddleston

A creature of habit, you enjoy the reinforcement of things you know to be true. You have clear goals set before you, and you enjoy focusing on them and checking them off your list.

Think of the three most vital things you want to achieve and write each one down on a Post-It note or index card. Place them on the borders of your mirror. Then set a timer for 3-5 minutes and mentally focus on the tasks in front of you, the flow of your day, and map out/chunk your day into sections so that your list seems easy and doable. This action will invigorate you and you’ll especially enjoy pulling the completed sticky notes off your mirror and tossing them in the trash at the end of the day.

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ESTJ, the Captain Personality Type

The ISTJ: Write a to-do list (and give yourself small rewards) every day

“Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.” – Paulo Coelho

ISTJs may come off as unassuming, but you know exactly what you want out of a day. You make and achieve your own silent goals as you go through the cyclic routine of life.

Use a simple note-taking app to write out what you want to accomplish in a day – finishing homework, making appointments, events and recreation.

By listing your intentions you process your goals and restore structure one day at a time. Every time you cross an item off your list, you’ll get a shot of dopamine to keep you going. You can also enhance the experience by giving yourself a little reward like listening to a favorite song, reading a chapter from a book you’ve been wanting to read, or taking a five minute break.

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

The ESFJ: Start the day with encouragement

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Desmond Tutu

When you wake up, you’re probably the first to check your phone.

As people who gain happiness from knowing that other people are happy, you’re checking in on your friends and defaulting to social media. Unfortunately, this gives you a limited amount of energy to give to each person and you can feel burned out when the day has hardly begun.

Every morning, choose just one person to send an encouraging text. Tell them what you appreciate about them, or offer comfort for a situation they are facing. Or simply let them know that you love them. Then (unless there’s an actual crisis) unplug and do something for yourself. Drink a refreshing cup of tea, stretch, dance to a favorite song, or write five things you’re thankful for.

You’ll have encouraged and supported an important person in you’re life without getting bogged down in the details of other people’s lives. You’ll also have taken care of you – which is crucial to your overall well-being.

Read This Next: 7 Things That ESFJs Experience as Children

The ISFJ: Create a five-minute journal

“Journaling is the perfect way to shift your emotions immediately and process your feelings without judgment, so you don’t get stuck in unpleasant experiences.” – Kristen Butler

Naturally reflective, ISFJs desire to learn from yesterday’s mistakes and make today a better because of them.

If you feel like you can never carve out the time for a deep inventory of your emotions, start by setting your timer for five minutes and journaling in a notebook. Write about the day before and what you hope the day ahead will be like. Jot down the name of someone you want to encourage today. Write something you’re grateful for!

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ISFJ, the Protector Personality Type

The ENFJ: Open the windows

“Do you see that out there? The strange, unfamiliar light? It’s called the sun. Let’s go get us a little.” – Nora Roberts

There’s nothing like getting out of bed and opening your bedroom window the first thing in the morning. Light melts through the blinds. Sunlight makes the bedroom, and the day, feel brighter. You can even amp up this experience by having an inspiring musical playlist to listen to when you wake up!

ENFJs are tireless idealists who feel like every day has so much to offer. However you too often feel like the mundane troubles of life are bogging down your optimism.

Opening a window the second you wake up washes the entire day in light. You feel cheerier and are given a few minutes to think over the possibilities of the day in solitude.

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ENFJ, the Mentor Personality Type

The INFJ: Read a quote that inspires you

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” – Louisa May Alcott

INFJs’ habit of keeping morals close translates over to the things you choose to influence your lives. You likely have a collection of quotes and mantras, stored in your heart or on a page, that you live by.

Use quotes to inspire you by buying a book of them for your bedside. Read a new one each time you wake up. Or, find a bunch of quotes you love and make your own collection to choose from. You can even write an inspiring quote on a post-it each night and stick it on your mirror. Then when you wash your face first thing in the morning you’ll find inspiration and motivation waiting for you!

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

The ENFP: Name things that you’re looking forward to in the shower

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
― Henry David Thoreau

ENFPs possess a certain enthusiasm that nobody else can really tap into. You foresee a day and see opportunities to be happy, enjoy others’ company and get better acquainted with the world.

However, this can lead to the dreaded “lay in bed for at least an hour and imagine random possibilities” trap. The excitement, coupled with the comfort of the blankets and pillows, ensures that you’ll never get out of bed in time.

Curb this by naming the things that you’re looking forward to in the shower (or on your morning run!). If you hype yourself up about how amazing the day is going to be while you’re already on the go, you won’t be able to wait to get out of the shower, get dressed and go about your day.

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ENFP, The Visionary Personality Type

The INFP: Read one chapter of a book that you like

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin

Nobody likes feeling powerless. However, this is the experience of too many INFPs who feel forced to clock in regular hours at work or fulfill society-imposed responsibilities. You would rather have the autonomy to spend your days the way you want.

To reclaim some sense of power, read one chapter of a book you’re enjoying in bed. Take time to truly savor the story. Once you’re finished with the chapter, daily responsibilities will feel less overwhelming.

Read This Next: 25 Quotes That INFPs Will Instantly Identify With

The ESTP: Go jogging

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.” – Christopher McDougall

When you have as many ongoing projects and aspirations as an ESTP, you can’t help but jump from initiative to initiative. ESTPs can therefore enter their mornings feeling driven but directionless as they exert their energy into a million different things.

Going for a quick jog can restore the direction. Burn off some energy and spend time away from your usual setting. After the jog, you’ll feel calmer and more ready to tackle specific things.

The ISTP: Get creative with a healthy breakfast

“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.”
― Herophilus

Usually directing effort only in the things that interest them, ISTPs can brush past parts of the morning routine. For example, warming last night’s dinner for breakfast. Or electing to skip breakfast entirely.

But seeing as breakfast is an important meal, you could have fun with it so that you pay it proper attention. After all, a healthy breakfast can amplify your brain power and help you focus more powerfully on the ideas your mind naturally plays with all day.

If you want breakfast foods that boost brain power, try experimenting with these foods:

• Salmon (improves memory)
• Eggs (prevents cognitive decline)
• Oatmeal (improves verbal fluency and cognitive functioning)
• Turmeric (improves memory and focus)
• Berries (protects brain cells from oxidation and boosts communication between brain neurons)
• Nuts (have tons of Omega-3s, which boost focus, memory, and reduces risk of dementia)
• Avocados (fats in avocado may lower the risk of cognitive decline)

The ISFP: Listen to music in the shower

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” – Maya Angelou

As a creative spirit, the average morning routine can feel stifling: Get up, get dressed, get out of the house, come home and do it again the next morning. It’s all too predictable.

To customize your morning, make a playlist on your phone designated specifically for the shower. Put the phone somewhere in the bathroom where it won’t get wet and blast it while you sing along. It will put you in the right mood, and your ability to change it each day depending on your mood adds a layer of unpredictability.

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an ISFP, the Virtuoso Personality Type

The ESFP: Get Up and Dance (Then Make Your Bed)

“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” – Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

ESFPs like you are all about action, excitement, and passion. But sometime the day ahead can seem a little mundane in comparison. Maybe the weather is dreary, you have to go to a job you don’t like, or you have to take care of other people when you’re still tired.

Instead of letting the day get you down, start off by getting up and dancing! Put on your favorite song and let loose. It’ll get your heart racing and get you into action which tends to lift your spirits!

After you’ve let loose with an uplifting song, go ahead and make your bed. You’ll start the day with a sense of accomplishment, no matter what else happens!

The INTP: Listen to the Morning News While Stretching

“No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire.” – L. Frank Baum

INTPs are not the type to be rushing out the door early. You require a reflective morning routine that stimulates your knowledge, and you will get ready at your own pace. That said, reading the news can leave you scrolling in a hunched-over position for an hour, which is not ideal.

To avoid this, set up your news app or website on your laptop in the living room. Then, while the headlines load, do some gentle stretches. You’ll get up-to-date on current events and start your day with some much-needed movement. You can even throw a few crunches or push-ups in there for extra long-term reward!

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an INTP, the Prodigy Personality Type

The ENTP: Listen to a podcast on your morning drive (or jog)

“For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson

As an ENTP, you require constant mental stimulation. Not much makes you feel more fulfilled than absorbing new ideas and forming opinions about them.

To start the day on this note, listen to a podcast while you get ready for work or drive to your office. Whether it’s fictional, focused on self-improvement, or pertaining to current events, choose a podcast that makes you feel like you’re building your brain.

Read This Next: A Look at the ENTP Leader

The INTJ – Make a cup of tea

“If you are cold, tea will warm you;
if you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.” – William Ewart Gladstone

I know, I know – coffee. Most Americans can’t get out of the door without it, as it’s a very subtle and common, but technically not healthy, dependence.

Did you know that regular tea drinkers have healthier cognitive function, than non-tea drinkers? A recent study by the National University of Singapore confirmed this!

As an INTJ you can be kind of a workaholic. You take your responsibilities seriously and often go after your goals with intensity and focus. But tapping into your intuition and taking care of your body and mind makes you that much more powerful. This is why I urge you to take a few minutes to slowly sip a cup of tea at the beginning of your day. Use this time to calm your mind, relax your body, and nourish yourself. As a dominant intuitive some of your best insights come to you when you retreat from the hustle and bustle of your obligations.

Read This Next: 24 Signs That You’re an INTJ, the Strategist Personality Type

The ENTJ – Set a power song as your alarm

“If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone unturned to make it a reality.”
― Dr Roopleen

ENTJs like you are a force of nature. You blow through life chasing your goals with a determination that nobody else possesses. Because of this, the first thing you hear in the morning should remind you of that.

Instead of a generic ringtone, set a “power song” as your alarm. This is any song that inspires you and pushes you to meet your goals today (think “The Ride of the Valkyries” by Wagner or “We Are the Champions” by Queen)

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

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you have any simple morning routines that you think others with your personality type would benefit from? Let us and other readers 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, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer.

About the Author:

Muna Nnamani is a high school senior. She’s managing editor of her school newspaper, an avid fan of personality typology, and a sucker for good books and bad television. She is an INFP 4w5 and suffers the consequences daily.

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