8 Awesome Benefits Of Being A Perceiver That Other Personality Types Won’t Admit

Sometimes I hate to admit this, but I love Myers-Briggs! Sometimes, I wish that there were regular conventions, where I could go discuss types and functions with people for a week straight. Preferably ones where attendees could get tee-shirts and blown-up infographics that illustrate their type. Sadly something like that will never actually happen because introverts want to unite, but separately… in their own homes.

Anyways, speaking of introverts, Google seems to have an overstock of introvert and extrovert stories. Not many cover intuition vs. sensing, or the other two MBTI dichotomies. Today, was a pretty play-by-ear day for me, and it inspired this explanation why I love being a perceiver. In case anyone is wondering what my type is as they read, I’m likely an INFP/ ENFP mutt. I like my INFP side the most because it allows me to relate to the mysterious population. My ENFP side is still runs strong though, it’s given me strong advocacy skills, and that’s cool too!

#FYI, being a perceiver is the opposite of being a judger in MBTI lingo. It explains how one likes to plan events and go about their day. Perceivers like keeping options open, and judgers like to go by a scripted-out day. Perceivers are more likely to be male, and are overall less common in the general population. This may make it seem like judgers are the only ones who have their story together, however, there are several perks of being a perceiver…

1. Mastering the art of working under pressure.

Perceivers tend to live by the simple-yet-awesome motto, “play first, work later.” Yes, play first! People like this know how to write term papers and study for exams last minute. This is because they spend their time, when others are working, having fun. Judgers freak out when they have midnight to 8 a.m. to finish a big project. Perceivers do a little, but not quite as much. They know just how to handle it!

2. Less likely to stress about missing the turn.

We all have a friend or family member who get’s mini panic attacks when they get off at the wrong exit. They seem so flustered that they end up getting lost again, and are too stressed out to make sense of a map. Perceivers, however, keep breathing normally and pull over to check their phone one last time for directions. Because they aren’t as frantic, they seem to have an easier time getting somewhere whenever lost.

3. Disorganized bosses or professors = Not a problem.

Some of our classmates, coworkers and friends cannot get through a program when the person managing is disorganized. This is because they want things to be fully planned and predictable, as they are always craving foreclosure. Perceivers tend to get overwhelmed by bosses who are too rigorous. There’s then a lack room for creativity, and perceivers crave a different pace than the one set. Luckily, a disorganized professor in college is good news to them. They and their classmates are able to influence the pace of how things are taught, and will enjoy not being able to predict everything.

4. Trips and vacations have more unique memories.

Judgers never board a single flight without going online to practically map out an hour by hour itinerary for a trip. They might as well still be at work or school if they are going to go on an over-planned trip. When perceivers go on their ideal trips they see things at their own paces and look forward to the unexpected. Leaving them with more memories from vacations, and feeling less upset about all the bad tour guides at, say, the Coliseum in Rome. They enjoy meeting new people while finding new ways of life wherever they go. Even if it’s just a spur of the moment trip to a local park.

5. Having a variety of professional interests.

While perceivers prefer to work ‘later,’ they have a surprising amount of interest in different fields of work. If they studied communications, they graduate interested in many fields related to communication. In college most of us asked our friends at parties what they wanted to do with all of their pathetic majors. Sometimes answers were very straightforward, like, “I’m going to grad school after this,” or “I’m going to work at this lawfirm my family owns.” Perceivers know that life is more fun when career options are open. It transforms life into a daily book.

6. Any place will become home.

Team #worklater can turn any place they live into their new home. The town they grew up in feels like home, the town they went to college in feels like home and the towns they work in are also home. This is because perceivers are adaptable people. They are positive wherever they are, as they don’t worry about what to do next or crave closure. Just as they enjoy spontaneous travel, they also enjoy spontaneous living.

7. Remembering today. NOT worrying about tomorrow.

As flexible, carefree, free-spirited and random-minded human beings, they feel more satisfied about today’s adventures. As they fall asleep, they look at all the brilliant memories they had. They are thankful for today’s memories, and look forward to the ones to come in the morning. They aren’t going to lie awake thinking about tomorrow’s hectic obstacles.

8. Glass always half-full.

Life to perceivers is not a checklist. If life is treated like a checklist, then what else could possibly bring happiness other than getting it done? Not much! Perceivers understand this, and continue to create new options for themselves even when life slows down. Something about not knowing what every minute will be like keeps us fulfilled, and therefore the glass always feels half-full!

That’s all for now folks! Until next time, I’ll be doing whatever floats my boat. I just also may write a book last minute too. I’ll probably title it, Play: The Power of Perceivers In A World That Can’t Stop Planning. Yeah, I’ll be the next Susan Cain if I actually decide to stop procrastinating!