[telepariah]

I am just like this too. I have skills and an ability to produce very high quality work in a very short amount of time. Perhaps all that procrastination allows my subconscious to work on the project while I am doing other things with my conscious mind. Then, when the time comes that I absolutely realize I have just enough time to pull it all together, I work really intensely until it is done. The actual time I spend on the final deliverable is a mere fraction of the time my co-workers will spend. But for most of the duration of the effort, my brain is working on it even though the effort is occurring somewhere beneath my conscious awareness.

Nobody I work with understands me.



Kindof joking. There are a few who I am pretty sure work the same way. ID is not a bad field for INFPs to get involved in as long as we don't get too deeply into management. You get to work on a variety of subject matter, the process of designing experiences to support learning objectives can be fun if not too rigidly structured. There is a fair amount of cognitive psychology involved in ID. And a lot of it is just writing.

[chances2468]

Your post reminds me of the INFP prayer. I came across this online.
-----
Prayers for Myers Briggs Types

ISTJ: Lord help me to relax about insignificant details beginning tomorrow at 11:41.23 am e.s.t.

ISTP: God help me to consider people's feelings, even if most of them ARE hypersensitive.

ESTP: God help me to take responsibility for my own actions, even though they're usually NOT my fault.

ESTJ: God, help me to not try to RUN everything. But, if You need some help, just ask.

ISFJ: Lord, help me to be more laid back and help me to do it EXACTLY right.

ISFP: Lord, help me to stand up for my rights (if you don't mind my asking).

ESFP: God help me to take things more seriously, especially parties and dancing.

ESFJ: God give me patience, and I mean right NOW.

INFJ: Lord help me not be a perfectionist. (did I spell that correctly?)

INFP: God, help me to finish everything I sta

ENFP: God,help me to keep my mind on one th-Look a bird-ing at a time.

ENFJ: God help me to do only what I can and trust you for the rest. Do you mind putting that in writing?

INTJ: Lord keep me open to others' ideas, WRONG though they may be.

INTP: Lord help me be less independent, but let me do it my way.

ENTP: Lord help me follow established procedures today. On second thought, I'll settle for a few minutes.

ENTJ: Lord, help me slow downandnotrushthroughwatIdo.

[whoawhere]

Yeah, I need a lot of imposed structure in my life. Even if I hate the structure that's imposed, at least that gives me something to push against, which motivates me to action.

On the other hand, when I'm left alone and expected to do things completely on my own initiative, from scratch, I find it unsatisfying and unmotivating. It's great to have unstructured time now and then, but too much of it and I feel lost. The idea of starting my own business or doing freelance work appeals to me in some ways, but that's way too open-ended for me. So I feel the same way you do.

I feel a need for structure not only in work but also in socializing. If I'm in a social situation where my role is clear and interactions are standardized and predictable (like in a job or classroom), I'm comfortable. It forms a base from which I can confidently express my individuality. But throw me into a situation where are there no overt rules and social interactions are just make-it-up-as-you-go, and I feel insecure, hesitant, even intimidated. Particularly things like a party, or walking into a bar. I understand that a lot of people consider these situations as places to relax. For me it's just the opposite. Nothing makes me more uptight than a party. I'm far more social during work hours than I am at after work get-togethers (which I avoid like the plague).

[mushr00m]

I do actually prefer a structured environment, I just don't like anal retentiveness.

[Sparkle]

I certainly get more done when there are clear expectations.

But if it is too structured, with the same routine day after day i would get bored.

It depends how I am measuring " work better"

More structure means more gets done, but the quality might be worse. I usually need time to reflect on work. But, sometimes I will do that forever...lol

[pneuma]

I do actually prefer a structured environment, I just don't like anal retentiveness.

I know exactly what you mean, though I've never been able to put it into words. Cheers.

[dissipate]

I like deadlines otherwise I'm going to take forever with it and it'll always be work-in-progress. But don't draw up a timetable for me. I'll do it whenever I want however I want with whatever I want.

I don't like structure in the sense of being given a timetable, billable targets to meet, "official" office hours, a dress code.....

[SlamCannon]

I've been considering joining the military for this very reason. If I have a set plan in place, I can excel sooo much better than if I don't. I enjoy having deadlines and completing them on time, but I do I have issue with finishing things of course lol XD

[chameleon333888]

Well I certainly accomplish more, but it's not always the best thing for me.

When I was in college I was surrounded by go-getter Type A extreme people who planned out everything (they scheduled facebooking time down to the minute!) and I was sort of forced to adopt some of that personality. In one way it was kind of exciting, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment being so productive. In the end I got a little caught up in the rush of that and coupled with my inability to focus on any one thing I found myself overly involved in absolutely everything. I ended up graduating suma cum laude with a double major in two invitation only programs and a minor in psychology as well as being head of the school philanthropy board, learning Chinese, organizing a trip to Africa, being a member of the school choir, and performing in at least one play/musical a semester. Oh, and I had a part-time job.

So I was really happy because I felt I was able to access the part of me that is very efficient and proactive. Even the poems and music I created during that time was some of my strongest work. So a highly structured and deadline-oriented environment certainly got good results from me in terms of my output, but not so much for my state of mental (or physical) health. Preparing those presentations and learning all those lines and songs meant I was going another day without doing laundry or buying groceries. I would skip meals and classes to make important board meetings or rehearsals. I probably pulled an all-nighter once a week. I went entire days without eating and I didn't even realize it. Above all, the energy required to be so productive (and constantly interact with people) wreaked havoc on my psyche. I might have accomplished a lot, but I was a jittery ball of nerves for four years. The littlest thing could set me off and every night I would come home and try not to break down in tears. Looking back I'm shocked by how much I got done, but I'm also horrified by how unhealthy my life was.

Anyway, to answer your question yes. I do indeed work better in structured environments BUT they also take a toll on me emotionally and lead to some not-so-healthy patterns of behavior. Hope that helps!

[OrangeAppled]

I work well within loose structures. I too need deadlines to get stuff done. I need it to start AND to finish them. If I don't have that motivation of knowing someone is expecting something from me, then I won't pursue it with the same focus. I'm definitely a "play before work" type in that sense, & no structure at all leads to me getting less done.... Having a work environment separate from distracting elements helps also, but I still like to mix in goofing off, because I actually get inspired in those moments. The "play" can be a part of the process, as long as it doesn't eclipse the main goal.

In HS & college, I was definitely one to start the projects/papers last minute, stay up all night to finish, be running in late the morning it's due, etc, but I'd always do well on it. I'd often get one of the best, if not the best, grades in the class, and my college professors would often look the other way if I showed up late to class on the due date :D.

However, I don't like very structured environments with lots of rules, such as dress codes, strict keeping track of when you arrive, leave & take breaks, etc. I like flexibility & room to be creative in both the process & the result. A strict environment chokes me & my productivity suffers in a different way; I have no motivation to try harder when I have no freedom to be innovative.