Why Traditional Productivity Advice Gets INFPs Stuck Every Time

[@rebeccalang3072]

I'm an INFP who has gone through this productivity cycle specifically with my writing, spending years trying to set up schedules and goals, only to find myself absolutely miserable. Even if I was able to produce a quantity of words, these schedules did nothing for the quality of my writing, hence I'd just end up throwing great amounts of writing out. It took me a long time to let go of my rigidity. This video was validating, because, even though I'd already figured out that traditional productivity advice didn't work for me, I didn't understand why, until you said that this advice revolves around creating a structure and eliminating free time in order to force you to get work done. It occurred to me that this not only went against my own natural way of working, it went against my values. I don't believe in using systems to oppress the individual, even if its my own system that I am using to oppress myself. And once my values were threatened... well, messiness ensues.

[@joyconmoy]

Yes, this is right.

[@paperklutzify]

Omg my major struggle is rebelling against things that bring structure which turns into procrastination. Thank you for this video.

[@julieolson1402]

Productivity advice that doesn't make you hate life whenever you try to implement it. Exactly what I'm looking for.

[@sornlooksorn5776]

100% agree. Too structure = put us on a hault. So constrained.

[@melaniewanner7728]

Lol, I had to laugh when you said "rebel against it", that's exactly what happens to me every time. And it confuses me so much, why am I so hellbound to rebel even whe the person who made the rules is me.

[@neverendinchaos4800]

Literally me. I am my own worst enemy.😅

[@AmandaLinehan]

I hear ya! Thanks for watching!

[@WAZZA1235]

'Rebel' really is the perfect word. It isn't comprehension or motivation. It's like, deep down, there's an upset child that wants to not do his chores for no other reason than to cause trouble. It really screwed up my school life, when I was a kid.

[@LeslieMcHugh]

Things I say to myself “you’re not the boss of me”

[@melaniewanner7728]

@@LeslieMcHugh 🤣

[@kinocrone7275]

And in another edition of "Is it INFP or ADHD?"

[@SophieBird07]

Both for me perhaps.

[@suzannenichol6077]

No not me. I am infp but no adhd.

[@PlanetC64]

One’s a personality type and one’s a ND disorder so the “or” is a headscratcher. Some traits overlap and some completely opposite. I actually took quiz b/c KZbin seems to think i have both. Super sympathy for anyone living with both. This happens to be good productivity advice for anyone including us

[@Mochi-re8cv]

Maybe both

[@Mochi-re8cv]

Bc I have the feeling it’s both with me but Better get diagnosed

[@oooo1743]

Love it❤️.INFP's need some structure but not some systems.Based on my experience if someone try to put some systematic approach to my work i will shut down and runaway.

[@AmandaLinehan]

Thanks! Yes, I'm very similar. :)

[@Daeva83B]

Systems/Structures, Potato/Potata 😜 But yeah, i do notice it.. I despise rigid structures and stuff. At the same time, when i finally got my chaos. It's also not good for me. That i do know. What i don't know yet, is where my sweet spot lies.

[@mikeedwards8911]

@@Daeva83B finding that sweet spot is so hard !

[@arabesquearomas]

So true about the self esteem issue! This is so insightful. I've just ordered your book as well. Thank you!

[@thisismysuperawesomeusername]

Thank you for the video, really reassuring to hear someone I resonate with give what feels to be proper advice that I really get the meaning of. Stay cool Amanda, g'luck on your projects!

[@AmandaLinehan]

Wonderful! Thanks for watching. :)

[@Nimariel]

Another thing that can happen in my experience is that I switch into a Te grip type mode, which results in productivity but I lose creativity and ability to interact with anyone else in the process. Depending on the task, sometimes that’s useful and can feel high-achieving, but it’s also draining overall and cuts me off from what actually drives me and from what normally makes my work a true contribution.

[@AmandaLinehan]

Yes, I can also go into "grip" mode and I'm careful to get myself out of it once I notice it. Like you said, it can be productive but generally doesn't make me feel great. I want to be productive and relaxed.

[@SandervS]

Great video Amanda, thank you.

[@AmandaLinehan]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it. :)

[@maria.1c1313]

This is very interesting to consider, thank you!

[@KruezFam]

So glad I found you. Thank you ❤️

[@AmandaLinehan]

Join the For INFPs newsletter: amandalinehan.com/courses/mini-course

[@mark_tolver]

Thanks for this, it makes so much sense. I’ve been struggling to get through a project that I should, on paper, absolutely love but this has made me realise that mentally, I’ve felt like I’m caging myself in when I sit down to work on it. I hadn’t realised it was because the way I was trying to work was grating against my INFPness. Little lightbulb moment - thanks so much for the insight.😊

[@AmandaLinehan]

Thanks for watching. Glad it helped. :)

[@mark_tolver]

@@AmandaLinehan Thanks, I’m still struggling but at least I’ve got a little path forward to help so it’s very much appreciated! Us INFPs have got so much to offer the world, it’s just a shame that we’re so poor on the follow through. The INFPs who actually deliver in all artistic fields are quite literally the best there are - it would be helpful to know how they dealt with their INFP struggles. I like being an INFP but f*ck me, it makes normal life hard!

[@mark_tolver]

@@AmandaLinehan Sorry, after writing this, I had a little spark of enlightenment that instead of wallowing in our own depressive INFP down states, we should look to those INFPs who’ve overcome the downsides of being an INFP and changed the world for the better. If they’ve managed their struggles, the rest of us can follow their lead! Here’s my list of inspirational INFPs that I would love to have a conversation in the pub with to help spark ideas (ok, some of these can be mistyped, usually as INFJs. Also, some are no longer with us which means they get out of buying their round!) Anyway, here goes: George Lucas (only just found out that he’s one of us!) Neil Gaiman JK Rowling Vincent Van Gogh Kurt Cobain Aurora Tolkien All of these have thrown their heart and soul and authenticity into their work. The rest of us just need to find and develop the smallest spark of that.

[@AmandaLinehan]

Mark, I hear ya! ;)

[@MatheusPrabowo]

so relieving... thank you..

[@AmandaLinehan]

You're very welcome :) Thanks for watching.

[@robiocraft]

Hi, I have non hyperactive adhd and infp personality. The procrastination and depression is really bringing me down, is there any more advice clips like this that might help me on this journey?

[@AmandaLinehan]

Hi! Yeah absolutely. Probably the easiest thing to do is check out my INFP playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL4jgk7q9tJACdLvzza4kE83I6nFYESWlX This video is part of a series and I've got another series going now too, but you can find all that on the playlist. Thanks for watching!

[@carrikartes1403]

I wrote this for children with autism but it is basic for all people and especially INFPs Repetition, boredom, and frustration. I have often said that individuals with autism do not lack the ability to understand. They actually have 67% (on average) more neurons in the prefrontal cortex. The problem is that the connections are not strengthened and unimportant neural connections are not pruned. ABA therapy focuses on molding behavior incrementally. Rewarding behavior you want and ignoring behavior you do not want. This is the belief that all behavior is desire driven.... I have never bought into that. Often we do things we don't want, sometimes for reasons we don't understand. Instead I believe behavior is motivated by emotion and emotions are governed by our thoughts and beliefs. I see much of therapy based on repetition. And repetition is very low in emotional engagement. It is emotions that build strong connections in the prefrontal cortex. What excites us. Stimulates our interests. Makes us happy. That is what we learn and remember. ( Or conversely what hurts frightens or threatens us) That is why repetition is not very good for forming connections in the prefrontal cortex. Yes knowledge is built. One concept connects and builds on another. But repetition is not for building but strengthening connections. And it is actually an ineffective means of strengthening connections. It is emotions that tell us the relevance of information. And repetition and boredom is an indicator of low relevance. Because it happens so often we don't need to pay attention to the information. Repetition is not the same as habit. Habit is ingrained response that is so frequent it doesn't need attention. Repetition is a means of forming a habit but it is not a means of aquiring and building knowledge. It just makes it easier to recall knowledge. Emotional engagement it a more effective and long term means of aquiring and recalling knowledge. The biggest problem with repetition is that there are negative emotional consequences to it. Because connections are best formed by emotions. Repetition has an emotional component. Research shows that the emotional response of repetition is either a high arousal response or a low arousal response. A low arousal response is feeling depressed and unmotivated. A high level response is feeling frustrated and trapped. Both are connected to fear. Fear that the situation will not change. That the individual has no power in the situation. The less power or control the individual feels the higher the arousal level. The greater the fear. And we know what an uncontrolled fear response leads to with individuals with autism. Meltdowns. Our children are not dumb. They don't need to be constantly drilled in therapy. For best results use positive emotional engagement. Use joy and love to make connections that last. God bless

[@robiocraft]

@@carrikartes1403 Hey, thanks for doing your research and relaying this info to me! This seems like an interesting idea, but then it becomes a whole another subject of how we can incorporate this technique into our lives, or in teaching others, - it's definitely not as simple as just acknowledging it, it will take a bit more. For me personally, the thing with interesting and emotionally engaging things is I'm already studying them about them and devoting all my time to anyway, it's more of an issue of managing time in the day and doing the tasks in said time.

[@carrikartes1403]

@@robiocraft Same here. I guess I was trying to say that my focus should be relational not productive. INFPs excel at being in a relationship. We are understanding and supportive with others helping them to find harmony and fulfillment. I believe we can turn that abilities on ourselves also. Celebrate our small triumphs. It is important the attitudes we have for others also extends to ourselves. It is hard to explain but this is what I have been (wrestling/exploring?) Lately.

[@letsreadtextbook1687]

"Traditional Productivity Advice" you mean stuff Te-doms say

[@AmandaLinehan]

Yes, exactly. :)

[@TheKaka145]

hi, Why you stop making more videos?

[@SophieBird07]

INFP?

[@TheKaka145]

@@SophieBird07 yes

[@AmandaLinehan]

I'll be making some more soon. This INFP does a lot of stuff. ;)

[@TheKaka145]

@@AmandaLinehan 😂 INFP never stay at one place... Always keep trying new things,

[@robiocraft]

Because thats what happen with infp’s ; )

[@meinungabundance7696]

Structure does NOT mean to eliminate free spaces/free time. "Structure" means to know what is important and what is not. Here, INFP sucks.

[@olyabutorina6869]

Everything. Everything is important 🎉

[@skyblazeeterno]

No we don't suck

[@meinungabundance7696]

Then find your OWN method if you dont like traditional advice. But INFP generally sucks on productivity. They don't realize their goals. How many of those books you are writing have you published??

[@themacocko6311]

They don't suck on productivity given the right environment. They suck at being put in a box and being a drone.