This was on my list

[bunchofgrapes]

I am an ISTJ\INTJ (I tend to flip flop between Sensing and Intuition). What I score depends entirely on what’s going on at the moment but my job is about details (ISTJ) and the big picture (INTJ) so I’m always a little conflicted. Generally the needle is barely over the line of one or the other but the last time I took the test, I was an ISTJ and if I had to define myself, I’d say I was an ISTJ so I’ll go with that. My strongest trait is the T (the needle is off the chart on this one) but my J, also very strong, tends to be closer to a P when I’m at home. I hate to make decisions when I don’t have to and at work I have to make decisions. But I know I really am a J because I will make a decision. I just don’t like it.

I really am a classic ISTJ. I’m all about a deadline, so much so that if I don’t have one, then I have a hard time completing a job. I absolutely hate to be late. I know where I’m going and how I’m going to get there before I leave the house. I always have a plan B and many times I have a plan C. I make lists. I make lists for lists. When I die, someone is going to laugh their butt off at all the lists they will come across in my house. It’s sad but without a list, I accomplish nothing. And that includes shopping for groceries or clothes.

Lists are the whole reason I bring this up because this morning at work I did what I do every Friday: I made a list of things to do over the weekend. If I don’t make this list, and put it in a place where I can see it and accomplish it, then I will wander around the house all day, looking for things to do but not really doing anything. What works even better is when I give myself a deadline to get these things accomplished. The Caps play at 7pm tomorrow night so I will work to have everything done by that time. And I will get it done. How bad am I about lists? I needed to install a new smoke detector. It sat on the dining room table for weeks. I knew I needed to install it but I never did – until I put it on a list.

Whether it’s cleaning up a messy house after the painters or contractor trash the place or crossing things off a list, for me it’s all about that end result, that sense of accomplishment. I don’t do well with open-ended tasks or things that are nebulous. I have to have that closure otherwise it truly stresses me out.

So that’s my blog for today: lists. And now that I’ve posted this, I can cross it off my list.

And then add it to tomorrow’s list.

Comments

[boubabe14.livejournal.com]

ISTJs unite! I am also a classic ISTJ (70% of scientists are BTW), except for the list thing. I hate writing a list, but I think it is because I keep mine in my head, not on paper. Drives my friends nuts, because they have to have them in writing. Otherwise, introvert is my strongest MB trait. Really strong in that one. And I haven't flip-flopped yet in anything although my second test was a tad more centric...a little.