Are you friends with or in a relationship with an INFJ?
If so, you may have noticed that they have a tendency to take on more than they can handle, leading to stress and anxiety.
As an INFJ, they may struggle with finding ways to calm down and relax.
But fear not, there are ways to help your INFJ partner or friend find peace and tranquility.
In this article, we’ll explore some tips and tricks on how to calm down an INFJ and help them find their inner balance.
So sit back, relax, and read on to learn more.
How To Calm Down An INFJ
Reduce Their To-Do List
INFJs have a tendency to take on more projects and responsibilities than they can handle. This can lead to stress and anxiety. One way to help calm them down is to reduce the number of items on their to-do list. By doing this, you can help them feel less pressure and strain.
Engage In Meaningful Conversations
Most people prefer to discuss concrete, practical matters and the things they observe with their senses. However, INFJs crave deeper conversations that explore the why and what if. Talking with another intuitive introvert can be refreshing for an INFJ. It gives them the opportunity to open up and reveal what’s really on their heart and mind. Conversations with logical introverts like INTJs and INTPs can also stimulate their big-picture thinking.
Give Them Quality Time
INFJs crave quality time, not just shared space. They want to know that you enjoy being with just them. When it’s just the two of you, they get to talk meaningfully in the way they crave. So, tune out distractions like social media and group outings and focus on spending time with just them.
Respect Their Need For Personal Space
Crowds, noise, and frequent interruptions can be overwhelming for INFJs. They need their personal space and may experience great anxiety if they have too much contact with people in one day. In such situations, INFJs tend to either shut down or externalize blame and become angry with the world around them. To help them regain their equilibrium, give them regular periods of solitude in a simple, non-threatening environment. Exercising alone or spending time in nature can also be helpful.
Try To Understand Their Perspective
Another way to comfort your INFJ partner or friend is to try to dive deep into their perspective. By trying to look at the situation through their lenses, INFJs will know that you are genuinely interested in understanding them. Even if you can’t fathom and make sense of their reasons, keeping your presence felt during their lowest is something that INFJs appreciate.
Hit The Reset Button
As an INFJ, it’s easy to get bogged down with small details and feel stressed by things that typically don’t bother you. When this happens, hit the reset button as soon as possible. Shut the door, put in earplugs, turn out the lights, and meditate in total silence for ten minutes. Doing this twice a day can help you get back to feeling more like yourself in no time.
Use Humor
Finally, turn stressful situations into humor (nice humor). It takes the weight off the subject and can make an INFJ feel calmer.
Understanding The INFJ Personality Type
INFJs are complex and insightful individuals who have a unique way of seeing the world. They are introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging types, which means they tend to be introspective, empathetic, and organized. INFJs are often described as being “the counselor” or “the protector” because of their natural ability to understand and support others.
One of the most notable characteristics of an INFJ is their tendency to take on more responsibilities than they can handle. They have a strong desire to help others and make a positive impact in the world, but this can lead to stress and anxiety. INFJs need to be mindful of their limits and learn to say no when necessary.
Another aspect of the INFJ personality is their sensitivity to conflict within close relationships. They have a deep need for authenticity and can feel hurt when others seem opposed to their opinions or beliefs. INFJs tend to absorb the feelings and beliefs of others, which can lead to personal discomfort when external conflict arises. In low-pressure environments, INFJs may put up with many things in a relationship for the sake of keeping the peace, but there is always an invisible line that others shall not cross. When this line is crossed, INFJs can react with intense anger and wrath.
To help calm down an INFJ, it’s important to understand their need for personal space and quality time. Crowds, noise, and frequent interruptions can be overwhelming for INFJs, so it’s important to give them regular periods of solitude in a simple, non-threatening environment. Engaging in meaningful conversations that explore the why and what if can also help an INFJ feel understood and valued.
INFJs also benefit from hitting the reset button when feeling overwhelmed. Taking time to meditate in total silence or engaging in creative activities like writing or painting can help them regulate their emotions and feel at peace with themselves.
Finally, using humor (nice humor) can be a powerful tool for calming down an INFJ. It takes the weight off the subject and can make them feel more relaxed and at ease.
Identifying Signs Of Stress And Anxiety In An INFJ
INFJs are prone to experiencing stress and anxiety in various areas of their lives. According to the MBTI Manual, INFJs rank at the top in more areas than any other personality type. This includes work, intimate relationships, and school. They tend to take on more projects and responsibilities than they can handle, leading to pressure and strain. Additionally, INFJs are particularly vulnerable to hurt feelings when there is conflict within a close relationship. Feeling chronically misunderstood can strike at the heart of their authenticity and bring into question their value when a friend or partner seems opposed to their opinion.
INFJs also have a tendency to absorb the beliefs and feelings of others as if they were their own. When external conflict grows, so too does their sense of personal discomfort. In a low-pressure environment, they typically will put up with many things in a relationship for the sake of keeping the peace. But there is always an invisible line that others shall not cross. When they do, INFJs stress reactions can be cataclysmic. An angry INFJ can deliver a wrath and intensity that most people have probably never experienced before.
INFJs may also experience anxiety and stress due to their heightened sensitivity in both their feelings and senses. This is understandable since as an INFJ, they are both a feeler and also have dominant and inferior perceiving functions. Se (extroverted sensing), is their inferior function and this is a highly unconscious function together with their dominant Ni (introverted intuition). They operate mostly together in their subconscious and Se fuels their primary Ni with external information.
Other signs of stress and anxiety in an INFJ may include feeling overwhelmed with tasks, becoming easily irritable or angry, experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches, feeling constantly worried or anxious, withdrawing from social situations or isolating themselves, experiencing indecisiveness or procrastination, feeling like they are not good enough or that they have failed, and having trouble sleeping or experiencing nightmares.
It’s important to identify these signs early on so that appropriate measures can be taken to address them. By reducing their to-do list, engaging in meaningful conversations, giving them quality time, respecting their need for personal space, trying to understand their perspective, hitting the reset button, and using humor, you can help calm down an INFJ during times of stress and anxiety.
Creating A Calm And Comfortable Environment
Creating a calm and comfortable environment is essential for INFJs to feel relaxed and at ease. Here are some tips on how to achieve this:
1. Keep the Environment Simple
INFJs can become overwhelmed with too much stimulation, so it’s important to keep the environment simple. Avoid clutter and excessive decorations. A clean and organized space can help an INFJ feel calm and centered.
2. Provide a Quiet Space
INFJs need a quiet space to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed or stressed. Make sure there is a quiet room or area in your home where they can go to decompress and recharge.
3. Use Soothing Colors
Colors can have a significant impact on mood and emotions. Soft, muted colors like blues, greens, and grays can be calming for INFJs. Avoid bright or bold colors that may be too stimulating.
4. Incorporate Natural Elements
Nature has a calming effect on many people, including INFJs. Incorporate natural elements like plants, flowers, or a small fountain into the environment to create a peaceful atmosphere.
5. Provide Comfortable Seating
INFJs value comfort and coziness in their environment. Provide comfortable seating options like soft cushions or cozy chairs where they can relax and unwind.
By creating a calm and comfortable environment, INFJs can feel more at ease and better equipped to handle stress and anxiety.
Encouraging Mindfulness And Meditation
INFJs have a constantly active inner world, which can sometimes lead to stress and anxiety. One way to help calm their minds is to encourage mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and fully aware of one’s surroundings. Meditation is the practice of quieting the mind and focusing on one’s breath or a specific object.
Meditation can be especially helpful for INFJs because it allows them to clear their minds for a short time each day. This can help them to relax and rejuvenate their minds. There are many different types of meditation, so INFJs should research and find a practice that works best for them. They can try guided meditations, silent meditations, or even walking meditations.
In addition to meditation, practicing mindfulness can also be beneficial for INFJs. They can try to be more present in their daily activities, such as focusing on the taste and texture of their food while eating or paying attention to their breath while walking. By being more mindful, INFJs can reduce their stress levels and improve their overall well-being.
Yoga is another great way for INFJs to ease into meditation if they are feeling hesitant. Yoga combines physical movement with mindfulness and deep breathing, making it a perfect fit for INFJs who want to incorporate meditation into their daily routine.
Encouraging mindfulness and meditation can be a great way to help calm down an INFJ when they feel overwhelmed or stressed. By incorporating these practices into their daily routine, INFJs can improve their mental health and overall well-being.
Offering Emotional Support And Validation
INFJs are highly sensitive individuals who often struggle with feeling like they are not understood or validated. Providing emotional support and validation can be crucial in calming down an INFJ during a stressful situation.
Validation is the act of acknowledging and accepting a person’s feelings, thoughts, and experiences as valid and real. For INFJs, validation is essential because it helps them feel heard and understood. When an INFJ expresses their emotions, it’s important to listen actively and empathetically. Avoid dismissing or minimizing their feelings, even if you don’t agree with them.
Offering emotional support can also be helpful for INFJs. They may not always express their emotions outwardly, but they still need someone to talk to and confide in. As a friend or partner, be available to listen when they need to vent or process their emotions. It’s important to be patient and non-judgmental, allowing them to express themselves freely without fear of criticism or rejection.
When offering emotional support and validation, it’s important to understand that INFJs may process emotions differently than other personality types. They may take longer to process their emotions and may need more time alone to do so. As a result, it’s important to respect their need for space and not push them to talk before they are ready.
Encouraging Healthy Coping Mechanisms
INFJs have both healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Unhealthy coping mechanisms include playing ego-defensive survival games, shutting out emotions, misinterpreting others, and becoming judgmental and self-righteous. Healthy coping mechanisms, on the other hand, involve being comfortable with the fact that not everyone will like them or see things in the same way they do. INFJs can learn from a variety of people who are different from themselves, allowing them to be more open-minded and accepting.
To encourage healthy coping mechanisms, INFJs should make sure they are getting their needs met, just as much as they are meeting the needs of others. They should also build the skill of knowing their boundaries and creating contracts around them. Communicating these boundaries to others is important for INFJs to feel respected and valued.
INFJs should also strive to be responsive to triggers rather than being reactionary. By controlling their judgments instead of being controlled by them, INFJs can choose to understand others rather than being understood. This can help them develop better relationships and feel more emotionally stable.
Finally, INFJs should try to avoid getting overly sensitive or overwhelmed with details. They can do this by focusing on the bigger picture and not getting bogged down with minor details. By doing so, they can reduce stress and anxiety and feel more in control of their emotions.
