When I was in high school and college I took the MBTI or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. ® After answering a series of questions it provides you with your personality profile. There are four divisions of your personality type. They are introversion versus extroversion, sensing versus intuition, thinking versus feeling, and judging versus perceiving. You can read more about each mental process and orientation here.
At first I was skeptical but when I read my profile I was in shock. The profile of my personality type was very accurate. Since then my friends and I have learned more about this test and about the different parts of our personalities. This information that I have about myself and about my friends has given me a clearer understanding about our relationships and communication. It is actually very fun to talk about.
I would highly recommend taking the test and at the very least reading your own profile. You will learn so much about yourself…it is amazing. There are many different ways to take the test. Here is a quick 72 question online version. It’s painless. One piece of advice, don’t think about the questions very long or hard. You know what your teachers used to say, “Your first answer is probably the right one.” You can over-think the questions, which may make your results less accurate.
The main reason I’m thinking about the MBTI today is that it has identified a trait within myself that is directly connected to my Adultitis. My type is ISFJ. (Others who share my type are Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Stewart and Mother Teresa.) One thing about my personality type is that ISFJ’s have a very strong work ethic, so strong that we think we must earn rest and play.
Once I read this a huge light-bulb went on for me. I cannot give myself permission to rest on the weekend until I have spent an equal amount of time doing something productive. If our schedule requires me to rest, if we have company over or are going someplace, I find myself thinking about what needs to be done (cleaning, bills, shopping, laundry, etc.). This is a problem. Knowing this about myself is key. I have a long way to go before I can claim victory over this, but I think the fact that I am aware of it should help me fight my ‘workaholic’ urges.
The day that Jason and I took off last Tuesday for the final challenge of The Escape Plan was awesome. It was difficult to get past the guilt at first, but I was able to fully enjoy myself. Sometimes I need to force myself to do this. I have a feeling I’m not alone.
Heehee, I’ve really loved it since you introduced me to the MBTI – I’m an INFP, right alongside Mr. Rogers and Calvin (not Hobbes).
I think I have the same problem as you – there’s been weekends when I’d have to keep asking myself, “Have I done enough work to earn this rest time?”
(Fortunately, that doesn’t last long – my procrastinatory sense usually ends up winning.)
I’ve started borrowing mentally from David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” methodology and 43Folders.com to kinda fight against this; I’ve found that if I have all of my “Adult Responsibilities” written down and plugged into my GTD system and process them well, I can be more carefree while in the Moment and enjoy the “Sick of It” Days more. If it’s written down, it’s off your mind – and you can prevent your work from taking over your life.
I have the same failing(?? about me and earning rest. It drives my husband crazy, because his view is play first, work later.
Yeah, this leaves me somewhat conflicted.
While I definitely might feel (at least somewhat) guilty about it, my ADD-ishness won’t let me do anything without taking every 30 seconds or so to walk around, think up a crazy thought, or do something fun. I guess these are “Mini Sick-of-It Days”… these, I certainly have no problem with partaking in.
It’s rather the larger, more scheduled “Fun” moments that I have trouble taking a part of without feeling guilty.
Though on a larger philosophical level, I despise even the thought of separating Play and Work – they really should be one and the same. Thankfully, they do often intertwine for me (largely because I’m stubborn and won’t often do something if there isn’t at least a little bit of fun in it for me), but it is something to keep reminding yourself!
the surprising thing to me was NOT how right on the result were but that my closes friends didn’t see me that way……..made me stop and pause and wonder how well they really knew me or how well I knew them. The result,I have taken a closer look at these friendship and took note on how lazy I had become by not getting to know who they are now,some 20 years later.
I’m an INFJ, and have this same problem! “Rest when the work is done…”
A great book recommendation is “The Now Habit” by Dr. Neil Fiore. The book is aimed at folks who struggle with procrastination, but he also offers a scheduling system (called the Unschedule!) that BEGINS with scheduling time for play. It’s a great way to include childlike freedom in a system that also helps you meet the necessary demands of an adult-like world.
Disclaimer: I am no relation to Dr. Fiore, nor do I make any money off the sale of his book. :)
I am also ISFJ. I had to take the test 3 times in college and it never varied. I’ve also done some reading on enneagram types and this problem falls within the personality I pegged myself to be in that system. It’s like we need to give ourselves permission to relax. I can barely understand how my husband can climb into bed Saturdays at noon without hardly a thought for a nap!!!
Fascinating…I read the descriptions of the different parts of the MBTI in a book recently, and based on the descriptions and what I know about my personality, came up with ESFP. Then I just took this test, and a bunch of the questions made me think, “That depends.” But voila, ESFP! (along with Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey and Ringo Starr…although I have no plans to go on TV and order people to stop sending me fan mail) :-)