✅ DO's

• Pay attention to appearance and style. ISTJs value standards of beauty and detail in appearance, so dressing well is important.
• Stick to agreed-upon plans. Certainty and structure bring comfort to ISTJs, so sticking to plans avoids creating unnecessary stress or anxiety.
• Be polite and respectful. Respecting their space and personal belongings shows you value their boundaries and orderliness.
• Be honest and straightforward. Communicate clearly and directly without emotional complications. They appreciate honest, practical conversation.
• Help with practical needs. Gestures like offering help in tangible ways will be appreciated. They value actions that demonstrate care.
• Take the lead in social situations. While reserved, they’ll appreciate someone guiding them out of their shell to have fun.
• Show attention to detail. Pay attention to the small things—they notice and appreciate thoughtful gestures.
• Be punctual and dependable. Time is important to ISTJs, so being on time will show that you respect them and are reliable.
• Listen attentively. Showing genuine interest in their words builds trust and strengthens your connection.

❌ DON'Ts

• Don't embarrass them in public. They are sensitive to embarrassment, and the discomfort can stay with them for a long time.
• Avoid vague or unrealistic conversations. ISTJs prefer practicality and clarity, so being vague may cause frustration.
• Don’t pressure them to socialize too much. They enjoy alone time and may feel overwhelmed if pushed into excessive social interactions.
• Don’t break promises or commitments. Reliability is key, and breaking a commitment can be damaging to the relationship.
• Don’t show up late. Tardiness is a big issue for ISTJs as they value punctuality and consistency.
• Don’t be emotionally overreactive. Discussing emotions calmly is more comfortable for them than dramatic or overblown reactions.
• Don’t appear lazy or messy. They appreciate order and structure, so showing disorganization can be off-putting.
• Don’t rush the relationship or force emotional conversations. ISTJs move slowly in relationships and may need more time to open up.
• Don’t disrespect rules or social propriety. They value tradition, order, and following rules, so being dismissive of those will cause tension.