The Best Hobbies for INFP Personality Types
The Best Hobbies for INFP Personality Types
Who is the Mediator?
The INFP personality type—otherwise known as the Mediator—is one of the rarest of the Mysers–Briggs personality types, accounting for only 4% of the world’s population. Until you get to know them, the Mediator can present a rather reserved and unassuming exterior. But to those close to them, this personality type is incredibly vibrant, kind-hearted, and full of passionate creativity.
A Mediator’s empathy is one of their greatest strengths. Arguably the most caring of the personality types, the Mediator’s attunement to the emotions of those around them is second to none.
This sensitivity to the feelings of others makes them very compassionate and understanding individuals, ready to listen and engage in the joys, frustrations, and sorrows of their loved ones at a moment’s notice.
Supporting their friends through tough times and sharing the weight of these emotions fulfills the Mediator’s sense of purpose like few other things do, though they must be careful not to burden themselves with the feelings of others so much that they can’t take care of their own. Mediators have a tendency to be selfless and generous to a fault.
As outwardly empathetic as the Mediator is, they’re just as thoughtful on the inside. This is an introverted personality type and though they love and value the genuine connections they form with those around them, they also value their time alone.
Mediators tend to be incredibly introspective people, constantly analyzing their own thoughts and behaviors and searching for ways to improve themselves and to chase their passions. When not focusing on self-improvement, the Mediator is often lost in the fantasy realm of their own mind. Spectacularly imaginative, this personality type often spends hours exploring the worlds and ideas in their head—so much so that they risk losing touch with reality.
The Mediator’s penchant for creativity often expresses itself externally too, through hobbies and career choices. The fires of passion are well stoked in the heart of this personality type, who often finds themselves chasing their imagination in multiple directions at once.
The arts are the perfect field for the Mediator to explore their creativity, though inspiration hits so often that they may sometimes find themselves paralyzed, unable to commit to a single course of action.
Let’s explore some of the best hobby choices for the INFP personality type.
The best hobbies for the Mediator
Poetry and creative writing
Mediators are often drawn to the written word as a way of expressing their creativity and it's no surprise that many of this personality type become authors. Mediators already create and explore vivid worlds in their heads—worlds that can feel very real to the imagination—so the next logical step is to express these words on paper.
Music
The enjoyment and/or creation of music, be that through playing an instrument or composing scores, is often a hobby dear to a Mediator’s heart. Music is unique in its capability to elicit and channel emotion, and for a personality type that’s so sensitive to and in tune with emotions, music can provide the perfect outlet.
Drawing and painting
Traditional art in the form of drawing and painting is another medium that provides an excellent outlet for emotion and creative thought. For Mediators who prefer to express themselves through visual means, painting and drawing can be the perfect choice for externalizing their thoughts, their feelings, and the fantasies inside their heads.
Photography
Photography is a much more tangible medium for creative expression, more rooted in reality than those above. But photography can also be abstract and introspective. For the Mediator who has an appreciation for the physical world and wishes to capture its beauty, photography may be the ideal means.
Drama and theater
Plays, musicals, shows, and the like—whether watching them or participating in them—can be an excellent outlet for the Mediator’s wellspring of emotion and creativity. For a personality type who desires meaningful connections with others, this community-oriented hobby can make for the perfect environment in which to form those connections.
Arts and crafts
Sometimes painting or drawing just isn’t enough and a person may itch to create something more tangible, more 3D. Arts and crafts is an endlessly broad and versatile hobby that provides the Mediator with the perfect channel for their boundless creativity and a fun pastime for anyone who isn’t afraid of getting a little messy.
Interior design
For something that can be more reserved and pristine than the chaos of arts and crafts, a Mediator might turn their discerning eye to the world of interior design. Just as much an artistic outlet as any other creative endeavor, this hobby provides the perfect means for a Mediator to use their imagination in a tangible, real-world setting.
Cooking and baking
Who doesn’t love tasty treats? For the Mediator who isn’t so artistically inclined, cooking and baking could be the perfect way for them to get their hands dirty and to explore their creativity. This hobby also plays excellently into the Mediator’s kind-hearted and generous nature, as edible treats never go underappreciated as gifts.
Reading
For the Mediator who prefers more low-key, solitary relaxation time, getting stuck in a good book can be the perfect way to chill out and wind down. Already saddled with a vivid imagination, books can provide the Mediator with an excellent gateway to another world. What’s more, their acute attunement to emotion means that the Mediator can often become very invested in and attached to fictional characters.
Yoga and meditation
Finally, here’s a quiet and relaxing hobby that can be enjoyed solo or in a small group. Bonus points for helping with health and fitness! As an incredibly introspective personality type, the Mediator may already be drawn to the practice of yoga and meditation. Not only do they encourage self-awareness, but they also teach healthy and positive self-talk—something that the Mediator sometimes struggles with.
