How many times have you caught yourself wide-awake at 4am? If you’re an empath INFJ like me, then you know sleeping is not something we’re good at. Unfortunately, the consequence of having a constantly turned on INFJ mind is a lack of sleep. I should know, since I’m a night owl myself.
Never getting enough sleep as an INFJ
People who know me well understand why I rarely go to sleep before 5am. I can’t remember the last time I was in bed before dawn. One of the main reasons why sleep is constantly escaping me is the fact that I’m an INFJ. I care and worry all the time.
No matter how much we try, INFJs can’t just shut down our mind. Doing so would be the equivalent of ordering the sun to stop shining for a day. Of course, we want to get a good night’s sleep. But you see, the INFJ brain doesn’t want to cooperate.
Immediately after putting our head on a soft pillow, bam! We start remembering all those embarrassing things we said ten years ago. All the secrets of the universe are swirling before our eyes, and the most complicated problems come to mind.
Being an INFJ often means not getting enough sleep by default. However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do about it.
Sleep is not your enemy
I’m not going to tell you that you should sleep for eight hours every night. Nor will I ask you to go to bed when night falls. I understand you all too well to do that. So I will present you with three proven reasons why sleep is not your enemy and why you should embrace it.
1. You have plenty of time, even if you sleep half the day.
Many INFJs believe that sleep is a time thief. If we sleep less, we will do more, right? Not quite. As a former martial artist, the first thing I was taught was to get enough sleep. It’s a form of discipline and self-preservation. Getting enough sleep is essential if you’re going to pursue your goals the next day.
2. Sleep is more than just a way to recharge your body and mind.
It’s a scientific fact that while you’re sleeping, everything you did the previous day is slowly settling in. This means sleep reduces stress, and to an INFJ, this makes all the difference. More sleep equals less overthinking and improved determination to find a solution.
3. Sleeping brings you closer to your purpose.
Sounds funny, right? How can being inactive for several hours bring us any closer to what we want to do? Let me tell you right now, you won’t be able to do anything if you don’t rest. I know you want to make a difference. So please give yourself that essential component that will enable you to fulfill your potential. Even as an INFJ, you need sleep.
You’re not facing an impossible mission. Natural replenishment for your soul must come as a result of one decision.
I choose to rest so that I can progress
It’s an understatement that INFJs dislike stagnation. We can’t stand being in one place for too long. Continuous learning is like the air we breathe. But you can’t move forward if you don’t allow yourself to sleep.
Everything you ever want to have is available to you, my dear INFJ. You will fulfill your dreams, but I urge you not to abandon that one thing that will, like a motivational coach, push you to reach them. Sleep is your Mickey in the corner, and you’re Rocky, ready to take the hit and still move forward. <3
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What do you think?
Do you have trouble sleeping? Feel free to share your experience and thoughts on this topic. I would love to hear from you. ☺
Love,
Marko
Yep laying here right now analysing every aspect of my life past present and future and trying to do a list in my mind of tasks for tomorrow and how best yo achieve them. I’m so tired!! Lol
Haha, I fully understand you Jo, it can be pretty exhausting. 😀
Hi
Do INFJ RECORD OTHERS REACTION AND RESPONSES AND AGAIN RETHINK THE SITUATION FROM THAT PERSONS WHOSE REACTION HAS BEEN RECORDED AND THINK FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE THAT CONDITION OR SCENARIO AGAIN IN THEIR MIND
Hi AXAM, we most certainly do. 🙂 INFJs always put themselves from other people’s perspective, because we want to understand carefully. And because we analyze everything, which helps establishing a good communication with other introverts and extroverts, too.
I even record phone calls only to give a meaning to every sound including coughing and sneezing…
I’m awake. I need to sleep but this mind of mine… UGH. I physically feel exhausted but my mind just doesn’t shut down. I have to be up in less than 6 hours. It’s like this most every night. It just loops, and loops, and mind chatter galore. I’m checking out your forum. It’d be nice to know I’m not alone in this. I feel alone in almost every other way. Thank you for this 🙂
You are welcome, Debbie. 🙂 I understand, it’s hard and almost impossible to shut down a mind of an INFJ, especially when we want to sleep. But you are not alone in this. 🙂
I have the same problem with trying to sleep. One thing that helps sometimes is journaling. ITs amazing how that can wind me down. Not always but it’s worth a try.
I hear you, Yelli… I’m so glad that journaling helps you! 🙂
My life story. Was up for a month straight without sleep. The problem is better since I got put on Benzos by the doctor. Slows my brain down as it is always in super hyper mode. I even take benadryl and rozerem as the meds wear off so quickly. Constantly thinking about something analyzing every situation and a deep thinker. I have extremely vivid dreams and go into sleep deprivation mode at times where I have parasomnia. Too much to deal with. It’s a super power for sure. Also can predict things such as the sex of a unborn child among other things. Unbelievable!
3 years ago, I was so sleep deprived, waking up in shock on an average of 3 times a night and clocking accumulated 5 hours per night. Finally, I got on 7 mths of medication to regulate my sleep pattern. I’m now off medication for 2 months and had normalised average 8 uninterrupted sleep.
Intuitively, my mind would used to recall the day’s conversations with people or media I’ve watched and start analyzing them. Then, flashbacks of memories plus new chores or future events start to clutter my mind too!
Now, I update schedules and key in a to-do list on my mobile. I put it away 1 hour before my desired sleep time. I wind down with instrumental music and put myself on the massage chair or lay prone to relax.
Sleep is my new discipline to keep! I do feel more productive and purposeful the following day.
I’m so glad to hear you are now having a peaceful sleep Pamela, and that you feel more productive because of it. 🙂
One of the other things your mind does while sleeping is sort through all the day’s material and sort it into a filing system in the brain, as well as toss out of the mind what doesn’t need to be kept. This process is so priceless especially for the INFJ who analyses so much material already. The more our brain can naturally toss out the better right! So if we don’t sleep our brain can’t subconsciously sort.
Love this explanation, Angie! The analysis description is awesome! 🙂
I keep taking many different personality assessments and keep getting INFJ. I’m a demisexual Capricorn too. Christmas my bday. I’m reading more about what this means. Sleep deprived, physical problems going into the “real world” bad chest pains until I find my solo company. Most days I’m not a fan of people. I want to bring beauty into the world. Use my empathy to bring comfort to those hurting. Can’t stand conflict, violence, or suffering. I saw a quote….I came, I saw, I made it awkward. Oh yhrn there’s the they don’t understand me and I’m unable to explain. I divorced back in ’95. I’m still hurt. I’m disconnected from my body. Tragedy happened back in ’03 now I’m unable to take on traditional work. Stressed about money. Gotta pay bills. Not a fan of the money reward system. Don’t understand why governments kill for the almighty dollar. The world wtf can’t we all just be cool with each other? It’s like past midnight can’t sleep though sleep deprived. I don’t know who I can talk to about me not sure if I can allow myself to open. I get angry/upset a lot. Am I just a crazy person? Or am I infj burnout? I’d like to be romantic however I’m not sure if I have that kind of trust in me. I have one dear friend she’s very cool she has a good idea about me. My counselor is lost. How does one explain that we just “know” or that we finish other people’s thoughts. Invasion of privacy? I have so much on my mind. So many questions. I have many blessings yet I’m broke. I see many people who are minimally exceptional and they have tons of money. How’s this fair? Again, am I a crazy weird person? If anyone can help me understand wtf is happening, I’m listening.
Thank you for choosing to share this Christopher. It’s okay, you are not crazy or weird. You are an INFJ and we are unique. There’s a lot of things we have different views on, but that doesn’t mean you are crazy. Feel free to read more INFJ articles here, I am sure they will give you more insight, and also check out our private INFJ forum, it;s a safe space for all INFJs where you are free to express yourself (just check the INFJ section in the upper right corner of the site). 🙂
Understanding that you need to sleep doesn’t help you turn your mind off and sleep. Is there help for that?
Right now I am at 5am no sleep. Reason, suddenly my mind is obsessed with the sun dying the end of life, all those problems with no solution. Trying to reason with my mind that obviously these are pointless thoughts that somehow leads to anxiety and a sense of doom. :/
Loved reading this article.
This Article was very validating and encouraging. Thanks so much for putting it up on this site. As great as the topic was, the comments section is really the star. I angonized and cringed reading the comments, most of them sound like my thoughts and truly what a comfort knowing there is an INFJ community out there not only supporting each other but helping curious and exasperated INFJ’s like me find solace.
Hi, i must to say its so rare to see a male INFJ. 1 a.m here and i’m also hard to fall asleep. Even my daily life already tiresome i used to sleep at 3 a.m. This happened esp. when i have an exciting plan for the next day, such as travelling to hike with my dog. I feel anxious and thinking many things such as what do i miss to bring and what the possibility will happened tomorrow. I know this is so silly and lastly i took a sleeping pil because if i don’t sleep how i could drive for hours? 🥲