Overcoming Perfectionism as a Multi-Passionate Creative
Lessons Learned as a Self-Employed Procrastinator on a Journey to Toxic-Free Productivity.
Are you a creative who struggles to complete your personal projects? Do you find yourself constantly starting new endeavours but never quite finishing them? If so, you're not alone.
As a fellow creative who is also self-employed, I fully understand the struggle of maintaining productivity and meeting deadlines when working on self-led projects. So I began to wonder whether my Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) could be a contributing factor to this challenge.
Whether you're a writer, designer, or other type of creative, in this article I’ll share strategies I’m testing out based on my MBTI that can help creatives stay motivated and focused as they bring their ideas to life, especially when completing self-led projects.
What is MBTI?
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality assessment tool based on Carl Jung's theories, which measures four pairs of opposite traits to create 16 personality types.
The four pairs of traits are:
Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)
Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
Knowing your MBTI can provide an insight into your personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses, which can help you better understand yourself and your motivations. I personally use it as a tool for self-improvement, so I can identify areas for personal growth or development, as well as understand why I face certain barriers and challenges.
Common Time/Task Management Barriers for Creatives
Psychological barriers that cause pain points in time or task management for creatives include procrastination, fear of failure, perfectionism, and difficulty prioritizing tasks. But the main barrier I’ve found, as someone with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator “INFP” (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving), is perfectionism.
I often find myself caught in a loop of reviewing and critiquing my work, making minor tweaks with each pass in a futile attempt to reach perfection. Recently, however, I’ve come to recognise that my pursuit of flawlessness is actually a form of procrastination, shielding me from the fear of failure and the anxiety of exposing my work to others for evaluation.
Knowing my MBTI means I now understand that INFPs are known for having high standards and a strong sense of idealism, and are often described as idealistic, creative, and empathetic individuals who value authenticity and personal growth.
As an INFP, it's become clear to me that I can be pretty hard on myself and set unrealistic expectations. But knowing that this is just a part of my personality trait has been a pivotal realisation! Now, I'm able to avoid getting down on myself and instead focus on finding ways to cope and move forward.
Are You an “INFP” Myers-Brigg Type?
If you're reading this and nodding along, you may be wondering if you're an INFP as well. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Do you tend to be introspective and reflective, preferring to spend time alone or with a small group of close friends?
Are you guided by your emotions and values?
Are you often motivated by a desire to help others?
Are you a multi-passionate creative who loves the ideation process and deep thinking?
If you’ve answered yes then you could be an INFP Type.
To self-identify as an INFP, you can take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment * or a similar personality test *. These tests typically involve answering a series of questions about your personality, preferences, and behaviours.
I chose to do the Free Personality Test from 16Personalities *, which is a NERIS Type Explorer® and is based on the theories of Myers and Briggs. However, it uses different wording to describe the personality types and adds a fifth letter to the type code to indicate how someone responds to stress. I’m a “Turbulent Mediator” (aka INFP-T).
Side Note: If you choose to take a personality test it's important to keep in mind that these tests are not definitive, and while they can provide insights into your personality and tendencies, they should not be used as a strict guide for behaviour or decision-making.
But Why do INFPs Struggle with Perfectionism?
“Introverted” (I) personality types tend to be hard wired to be hard on themselves, which means each of the “I” personality types from MBTI, such as INFJs or INFPs, struggle with perfectionism, but for very different reasons. For INFP some possible reasons include:
INFPs tend to be highly creative and imaginative, meaning they’re multi-passionate and are full of ideas, but they can find it difficult to translate their ideas into tangible results. This can lead to frustration and self-doubt, which can in turn lead to perfectionistic tendencies because they worry about selecting the best idea to move forward with.
INFPs are often driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world, which can translate into a desire for perfection in their work. They may feel that anything less than perfect is a failure, which can be a difficult mindset for them to overcome.
INFPs tend to be highly sensitive and emotional, which can make criticism or negative feedback particularly difficult to handle. This can lead to a fear of failure or a desire to avoid mistakes at all costs, which can contribute to their perfectionistic tendencies.
If this is resonating with you then know that I am with you, I experience all of the above with every project I work on! That's why I’m sharing the insights and tips I’m currently using to overcome my perfectionistic tendencies, plus the fact that as an INFP my idealistic trait means I want to help lift others up 😉
Four Ways I’m Conquering Perfectionism as an INFP
I struggle with using phrases such as conquer or overcome because it stinks of toxic productivity and hustle culture. However, I’m going to use the classic “tell people what they want (how to conquer) but give them what they need (how to cope)” approach:
Brain dumping. I get it all out by putting pen to paper, I even allow my train of thought to go off on tangents - but on paper instead of keeping it going around in my head! You can find out more about brain dumping here.
Planning. I make a date with myself by blocking out a set amount of time in my diary. Not only do I clearly define a time boundary but I also state what my goal or expected outcome is. Setting a boundary and outcome is particularly helpful when I’m brain dumping so I don’t get stuck endlessly overthinking.
Mindful moments. To avoid burn out or getting caught in a critique/revision loop, I take regular breaks to reset my focus so I can come back with a fresh perspective. This usually involves getting out into nature, such as sitting in my garden while I re-hydrate or going for a walk.
Radical acceptance. I’m currently practicing the art of accepting flaws in my work as part of the personal growth process. This involves learning to embrace ‘good enough’ by asking myself “Does this work need to be 100% perfect? If so, why?”. I’m also working on accepting the less-than-desirable traits of my personality type because they are the things that make me me, if I reject them in any form then I’m actually rejecting a part of myself.
So there it is, my 4 toxic-free productivity strategies for overcoming perfectionism. Let me know in the comments if you’ve had any a-ha moments after reading this, or if you think any of my coping strategies could work for you!
Until next time Planner Friend, to ultimately live our life to its fullest potential we must learn to radically embrace our whole self.
Chloe x
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