I recently found myself taking a two-week break from my blog, a decision that weighed heavily on my ISTJ sense of responsibility. I started this latest iteration of my blog about personality to share what I’ve learned, along with my thoughts and experiences, as a complement to my Personality Palette survey. My intention is to eventually blog about the results of the survey, but I need more participants before I can do that.
Why I Try to Blog on a Schedule
Writing regularly is important to me for several reasons. It lends credibility to my work and helps attract more attention to my survey. Sticking with a habit of posting weekly is crucial because I know it’s easy for me to fall out of the routine if it feels like it doesn’t matter. Consistency is key to maintaining my commitment, even when immediate feedback is limited.
As an ISTJ, my sense of responsibility is deeply ingrained. I often compare it to my Enneagram 6 tendencies, but in this context, I feel my ISTJ traits shine brighter. While Enneagram 6 responsibility is more about security in structure, for me, ISTJ responsibility revolves around achieving success as a direct result of being dependable. This sense of duty is evident in my daily work; I strive to show up, do my part, and support my team. However, this dedication can sometimes lead to the detrimental feeling that I can’t take breaks without shirking my responsibilities.
Initially, I didn’t plan to take time away from blogging. I aimed to find the time to write, but the reality was that I simply had too many other commitments. I was processing a lot after my trip to Detroit and dealing with daily demands at work. As the days passed, I felt guilty for not writing posts, but I also recognized that I couldn’t dedicate the time and energy to do it well.
Learning from My Break
In reflecting on this experience, I realized that while I appreciate everyone who reads my posts, it’s okay to miss a week here and there. Since no one pointed out the missed posts, it helped me see that taking time off now and then might not be as big of a deal as it feels. This realization has encouraged me to balance my ISTJ-driven sense of responsibility with the need for self-compassion.
As I continue this journey of sharing insights on personality, I’m learning that being responsible doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice my well-being. There’s strength in knowing when to step back, allowing me to return with renewed energy and commitment.
