INTP and procrastination

[Somnium]

Hello everybody. I just wanted to ask as INTPs, did you ever have a problem with procrastination? I read somewhere that it was common amongst INTPs... but anyways:

I wanted to know if anyone knows how to deal with it or had gone through a similar phase? Recently my procrastination has become an addiction and I barely got into my local university because of it. It has really crushed my sense of self esteem because of my horrible marks and how behind I get in classes because I simply do not do the homework. The most upsetting thing is that I know that I can do better, but I am not reaching my potential. My grade 12 summer school physics mark was 67%, I was too embarrassed to tell my friends when they asked me. I just let them assume that I am stupid and unable to understand physics. However, slowly this facade is eating away at me and I do want to do well at school when I know I have potential. Physics actually is not difficult for me to understand, and reading through the textbooks I could think through all the theories and be able to understand them to a much greater levels than a lot of my peers. However, when it came down to actually doing the homework I would feel daunted. I like to think it through, but I never want to get down to do the work.

This may have started when I entered the IB diploma program, the sudden level of difficulty shocked me as I used to simply reading through notes and getting high marks. It has caused my to become afraid of homework, almost.

It has gotten to a point where I would procrastinate until 4am in the morning when I had to go to class at 6am, and still end up doing nothing. I would disallow myself from sleeping until I did work, but instead of facing it I would simply browse the internet until I gave up and slept for those measly two hours. This has caused me to both be extremely sleep deprived everyday (even my friends know me as the one who is able to sleep anywhere) and also my grades have plunged immensely.

My parents don't help much, since they always say, "Then just do the work!!!"
Which is obvious. I know that I should, but I can't seem to get down to it...

Has anyone dealt with this? I have started university in the Science Faculty, but I am afraid that I will keep up these habits and ruin my chances of doing well. I think it's quite an amazing fluke I even go into the university's Science Faculty in the first place.

 

[Cheeseumpuffs]

Yep. Even now I have an essay, physics project, and several math assignments yet to be started. I don't usually get bad grades because I can do well on tests and I am somewhat kind of able to force myself to do the bare minimum on homework.

As for the feeling bad about grades: Yeah I get that too. If it's low enough I'll feel like shit but I'm usually able to write it off because grades aren't an indication of how smart you are. They just show how hard you work. Which is why I actually kind of feel like I'm smarter than most of the people in my class even though I don't get the best grades.

 

[ItsRelative]

I have similar problems but way wors, i'm not depressed or sad, bit bored maybe. If this continues i'll become no more than a thinking head. Lot of times i just feel there's no point playing games anymore and need to find my own meaning instead of these society values. Yes, it sounds bit schizophrenic but assure you it's only my values that are bit off from normal.
I just barely force myself to clean my house sometimes, i have job but don't care if i'd lost it. Basic things everyone takes for granted i struggle to get motivated for.

So yea, you have it easy, just ask yourself what you really want and force it, cry and do your homework if it helps

 

[ObliviousGenius]

I pretty much never did homework, at least not at home. When I was in high school (now college) I always did homework a few minutes before class started or in the first five minutes lol. I'd usually copy off a friend's paper just to turn it in. I am a major procrastinator, I put off pretty much everything. This includes but is not limited to; my interests, important errands, work, chores, and school work. Sometimes I just don't do them. More often than not though I will eventually get around to it only because I know of the consequences for not doing them.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Right now I have a pile of work 20 feet high that I ought to be attending to, but am instead posting here.

Dave

 

[Dapper Dan]

Yeah, that P at the end might as well stand for Procrastinator. I think this is easily the biggest roadblock to both success and happiness for INTPs. I know it's my biggest problem.

One thing I've sort of picked up (the hard way, of course) is that it's best to finish things off right away. In high school I would just finish most of my homework the same period it was assigned. It became a habit, which made things easier.

It's harder in college because nobody's forcing you to do anything. This is when you really need to train yourself to get things done. I failed pretty miserably at this. Instead of sitting around thinking about what you should be doing and how you don't want to do it, force yourself to stand up, pull out your assignment, and start working on it. Don't think, just do.

If you're anything like me, you don't even dislike schoolwork that much. Once you're started you'll probably keep working till you finish.

 

[downsowf]

I'm the same way. I make procrastination an art form. Doing the work is not the hard part. GETTING STARTED IS. I should actually be doing work right now as I have to write a shareholders agreement for my transactional drafting class tomorrow. I thought that I'd learn ways to change my study habits as I got older. Going to the library usually works for me because it puts me in study mode. A change of environment in general helps me get more focused for some reason; nonetheless, if I have to write a paper, more than not I wait till the last minute, and that means starting at midnight and staying up till six in the morning. I agree with the last post, too, about shutting everything else down and doing what needs to be done. Easier said than done obviously, but sometimes you have to make a pot of coffee and force yourself to get down to business. But first I have to watch this football game...

 

[A22]

INTProcastination

 

[digital angel]

Ah...procrastination. I like changing my environment. You could go to the library and find a room to work in for a couple of hours.

It's great that you started University in the Science Faculty! You'll do well. Take your responsibilities one step at a time.

 

[Zionoxis]

Didn't even need to read the post. I am on that boat...

 

[ObliviousGenius]

I'm the same way. I make procrastination an art form. Doing the work is not the hard part. GETTING STARTED IS. I should actually be doing work right now as I have to write a shareholders agreement for my transactional drafting class tomorrow. I thought that I'd learn ways to change my study habits as I got older. Going to the library usually works for me because it puts me in study mode. A change of environment in general helps me get more focused for some reason; nonetheless, if I have to write a paper, more than not I wait till the last minute, and that means starting at midnight and staying up till six in the morning. I agree with the last post, too, about shutting everything else down and doing what needs to be done. Easier said than done obviously, but sometimes you have to make a pot of coffee and force yourself to get down to business. But first I have to watch this football game...

Hmm, that's a great suggestion. I probably could use a change of scenery especially since I'll now be taking an hour long train ride to classes everyday. I can get my reading and homework done while I have nothing else to do but look out the window. It'll force me (at least I hope) to actually get something done.

 

[Somnium]

Yeah, that P at the end might as well stand for Procrastinator. I think this is easily the biggest roadblock to both success and happiness for INTPs. I know it's my biggest problem.

One thing I've sort of picked up (the hard way, of course) is that it's best to finish things off right away. In high school I would just finish most of my homework the same period it was assigned. It became a habit, which made things easier.

It's harder in college because nobody's forcing you to do anything. This is when you really need to train yourself to get things done. I failed pretty miserably at this. Instead of sitting around thinking about what you should be doing and how you don't want to do it, force yourself to stand up, pull out your assignment, and start working on it. Don't think, just do.

If you're anything like me, you don't even dislike schoolwork that much. Once you're started you'll probably keep working till you finish.

Yes you are right. When I had pressure to do homework I would do it, and thus my grades kept up. However once teachers stopped checking homework I lost motivation to do it.

I should definitely just "do", haha like you said. I do tend to think too much, about what I should do, how hard it will be, time it will take, blah blah that I don't actually do it. And yes, starting is definitely the hardest, once I REALLY get into it I can sometimes be rather intense.

 

[tepellian]

I need to do mental dances sometimes to get myself to work, planning out key elements in my own head or figuring out how I can have fun with the task before I even start. Or I need to wait until the last minute. I've started trying to gauge my own abilities, and make myself aware that I have to start a task a suitable interval before it's due, else I fail whatsoever. I often pull off insane things in a short time, and if I'm not able to do that I.. fail whatever it is. This has happened with entire courses in school...

Edit: Music can help, if I manage to find something suitable. It has to be perfect, though, otherwise it distracts.

 

[Lemony_Orange]

Hello everybody. I just wanted to ask as INTPs, did you ever have a problem with procrastination? I read somewhere that it was common amongst INTPs

hey i can totally relate to this, i know exactly what you mean, the difficulty shocking you and all that. This is kind of happening to me right now, i took much higher classes than others because i was *ahem* pretty good the year before in all subjects and it's starting to give me stress. Like you said, it's not like i am not capable of doing them, i am perfectly convinced that if i just stop thinking about number theory or other stupid abstract stuff and concentrate on one thing at a time i can get shit done (might sound as an excuse but i know i can do it because sometimes i get really fed up having to cram the last minute and i detach myself from reality and do my stuff as productive as possible). It also has to do with the thought that i am -it is quite shameful to say this in public but since most here are INTPs i hope they can relate to this instead of criticizing me- all-able and i am somehow better than other normal people so i will be able to start things later than average and still finish at the same, if not higher, efficiency. Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but somehow i am always under the delusion that i will be able to if i want to. it's weird yes, basically i know that i can do it so i don't do it at that required moment because doing it is irrelevant to my sense of fulfillment and accomplishment which i already obtained from the idea that i could finish it if i really wanted to. This is why it is so common in INTPs. They think this way, not because they are arrogant or over-confident, but because they know that they are capable of doing it. The reason why people tend to procrastinate less on easier subjects is because they feel less stress over doing something that they believe is unnecessary because it takes less time or thinking.
Usually people don't procrastinate over things that they are interested in. this is usually not an academic subject because the person feels committed, which INTPs detest. They are likely to be personal ideas or experiments they want to conduct. So INTPs are not really procrastinators, they just find the doing part unnecessary and useless.

 

[Dapper Dan]

So INTPs are not really procrastinators, they just find the doing part unnecessary and useless.

Don't trick yourself into thinking that this is a good thing. It's an obstacle for the INTP to overcome if he wants to have any sort of satisfaction.

Take romance, for instance. I know that I'm funny and likable. Even if I had my doubts, I've had girls tell me this to my face. I know enough attractive girls that I could probably get two or three dates (or more, or less, who knows) just by asking. My natural reaction, of course, is "meh, I don't feel like it" or "my life can't sustain a girlfriend right now". And usually that's true. But is it any wonder that I've never even been on a date before?

More importantly, if I keep up this attitude of "I could do it if I wanted", I'll have no romantic satisfaction. That will only come with action.

Edit: I got a little preachy there, so I'll say this: Your post reflects my natural attitude very accurately.

 

[Meddle]

http://www.paulgraham.com/procrastination.html

I think many people here will identify with what this guy (Paul Graham) has to say on procrastination and might find it motivating (although possibly not in the direction you are most lacking motivation).

 

[Crazythinker1]

I will take over the world!!!!! Tomorrow....... or maybe the next day

Yeah, for me it was a huge problem. Still is to some extent. What I have to do is force myself to do whatever project it is I'am working on, then give myself some sort of reward later.

 

[Lemony_Orange]

Don't trick yourself into thinking that this is a good thing. It's an obstacle for the INTP to overcome if he wants to have any sort of satisfaction.

i never meant it as a good thing, nor a really bad thing either. I just wanted to say that a lot of INTPs procrastinate for that certain reason, and i'm sure from what you wrote you do that too. haha I know exactly what you mean, 'i could ask her out if i want' i keep telling myself that and i never do them because i can't really imagine myself committed to a relationship. I mean, i would love to have a really loving relationship but i'm more of an idealist and i keep looking out for the right person. This isn't such a good idea though, since i have a strong P most of the time and i can't decide which one is the right one.

about the satisfaction thing, there's another way actually: we overthrow the government and set up a non-permanent hierarchy (non-permanent as in if someone was born in a class of INFP and he was actually an INTP then he would have the option to transfer to that certain class, and since every class has their own special personalities proportionate to their population it wouldn't cause so much rebels) and each class has its own privileges. INTPs can be a specific class and they would be allowed to not be so strictly bounded by social obligations. This would allow INTPs to fully explore their mind and the world to come with new ideas and they would come together to perfect them and share ideas, which in turn will be sent to the INTJs or whoever and will become the foundations of Utopia.

I know i'm being too idealistic but it sounds appealing to me. what about you?

 

[SkyWalker]

INTPs are just super skeptical. Being over-skeptic does not help execution of a task, it hinders it. It is constantly looking for logic of WHY NOT TO DO IT.

So you are actually not procrastinating, you are actually working super hard in your thoughts, but on WHY NOT TO DO IT.

I am ENTP (NeTi) instead of INTP (TiNe). For the ENTP the Ne is stronger, which makes the ENTP do more stuff than the INTP, but it is impulsively on Ne only. But since Ne generates new ideas all the time, it is making the sufferer switch tasks all the time. the sufferer will run multiple tasks parallel, which also has a procrastinating effect on each task (never finishing any one of them, only running them all "a bit").

 

[Philosophyking87]

Yup... about the only useful thing I can think of doing is to become a philosophy professor, yet rather than constantly study as much as I can about philosophy, I've been blowing off the past few years (mostly on video games). This has caused me to take extremely long just to get a bachelor's degree, and I still haven't received an associate's. The biggest reason is that classes were usually full by the time I went for late registration, so that I usually had to wait entire semesters to take classes. But again, that's procrastination. So procrastination is definitely my Achille's heel. If it weren't for procrastination, I'd probably have a bachelor's/master's degree by now, working my up toward a PhD in philosophy. SON OF A B....

How do I deal with it? Lately I've been following a daily "schedule" that provides me with a limited amount of structure, so that "some" things get done throughout the day. For instance, I'll read particular books at certain times, do some statistics at other times, and then study either psychology or philosophy at another time. If it weren't for this schedule, I'd never study or read at all (as I used to play video games 24/7). So perhaps creating a schedule of some sort will give you the needed structure and routine you need to really buckle down and spend at least part of your time constructively.

Good luck.

 

[Tudordee]

I've been having a lot of problems with procrastination as well. I read in a psychology magazine about some "just start" rule, which is basically what others have said, instead of over thinking, just start doing it. It works well for me, but I shudder at the phrase "don't think, just do." ugh it makes me sick..

But I have also thought of another way to get all the work I want to get done. I pack up all my shit that I want to work on and go to my college library. I find a nice corner on a relatively empty floor and get down to work. The quietness of the library and the atmosphere tickles my intellectual bone and I get a lot more done than I would at home where I honestly get distracted by the internet, television and daydreaming.

Possible ways it can go wrong:
1. you don't end up leaving.
When I gather my stuff together, I sometimes end up picking up an interesting page and start reading it and thinking up which eats up some time. Others times, I think I'll go to something else before I go to the library, like go to the park and do some sprints. So I don't usually leave for the library until a couple hours after my intended time.

2. I also spent a good half hour picking a spot. It had to be quiet, with no one directly around me. It had to have good lighting and an outlet.

3. I think its possible for people to get distracted at a desk without anything around. You have your thoughts, and you have projects you want to work on that have nothing to do with school. That's what I ended up doing. I'm glad at least I got something done.

Hope this helped

 

[thelithiumcat]

It has really crushed my sense of self esteem because of my horrible marks and how behind I get in classes because I simply do not do the homework. The most upsetting thing is that I know that I can do better, but I am not reaching my potential. My grade 12 summer school physics mark was 67%, I was too embarrassed to tell my friends when they asked me. I just let them assume that I am stupid and unable to understand physics. However, slowly this facade is eating away at me and I do want to do well at school when I know I have potential. Physics actually is not difficult for me to understand, and reading through the textbooks I could think through all the theories and be able to understand them to a much greater levels than a lot of my peers. However, when it came down to actually doing the homework I would feel daunted. I like to think it through, but I never want to get down to do the work.

I know what you mean. The same thing's been happening to me for a long time. From time to time it feels like my façade is wearing away too. In fact, a few weeks ago I had a big collapse in my intellectual self-esteem (the only thing of any real worth to me) and my friends had to be rather blunt to me to kick me out of it. I get so wrapped up in my self-critical world that I go too far sometimes. The only way I get around to work in a school year when it's all piling up is to stop caring about it so much and just see it as something which probably isn't going to happen but I probably should do anyway.

With specific regards to being daunted, I actually tense as if there is an actual, physical pressure from the work. I imagine it as being almost a tangible object which is invisible and big. This causes me to feel somewhat overwhelmed and trapped by it so I try to escape by forgetting about it.

It has caused my to become afraid of homework, almost.

Same. I get like this from time to time; especially when I remember how much importance they have after I've been suppressing it. It really doesn't help when people try to convince me to do something by emphasizing its importance.

It has gotten to a point where I would procrastinate until 4am in the morning when I had to go to class at 6am, and still end up doing nothing. I would disallow myself from sleeping until I did work, but instead of facing it I would simply browse the internet until I gave up and slept for those measly two hours. This has caused me to both be extremely sleep deprived everyday (even my friends know me as the one who is able to sleep anywhere) and also my grades have plunged immensely.

My parents don't help much, since they always say, "Then just do the work!!!"
Which is obvious. I know that I should, but I can't seem to get down to it...

(Funnily enough, it's coming up to 4am at the moment).

I do the disallowing tactic quite a lot and it usually ends in failure and slowly wearing away my mental awareness and agility because I end up just sitting there, unable to focus. That's at school. When I do it at home I might even bring the work up or get the document open but I'll do computer stuff and not the work - always. As far as I'm concerned home has neither been the place for work or somewhere I'm comfortable doing it for a long time now.

My grades are probably not what they could be. I used to get Cs and Ds at GCSE with no revision and a very tired mind working on the spot with what little I remembered and what was in front of me. Nowadays I get the same but at A-level. However, achieving the higher grades isn't quite as easy. It's so difficult to be a night owl when society's qualifications and system demand that one should be that which one is not.

I haven't yet figured out exactly why I don't do things - or perhaps I just don't want to admit it to myself. I almost decide on a reason but then I can't put direct evidence into a tangible form. I'm afraid of it, but sometimes I think that's just a façade. Then there's whether it's too much at once so I just don't do any of it, although that still needs a reason why... I get stuck and work slowly when I do decide to do something because the aforementioned imaginary pressure rather blocks my thoughts and movements. Or perhaps it's just not at the forefront of my mind so it isn't on the to-do list, as such. It's probably a combination of all these things but I don't really want to think about the work because of them so I try to avoid it all together. There doesn't seem to be a direct reason for it anymore, but I think it's come from past experience that I now push it away without thinking.

Anyway, this is landing me in a lot of trouble; especially now I'm doing A2 qualifications, there's UCAS and deciding on these things is just another pressure which doesn't get terribly high up on the to-do list (otherwise known as the list of things which actually spring to mind).

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[VroumVroum]

Procrastination is not so bad as long as you manage to do what you have to do in the last minute. And it’s funnier than working every day.


But you describe a paralysis state where you fear to fail and to be incompetent. This is far worse than common procrastination where you want to keep your possibilities open and act freely.


I guess you don’t mind studying physics but you think you’re going to fail and you can’t stand it. So you try to avoid the entire thing.


You say you should be able to succeed if you work. Maybe just try to study a little so that you can see if you understand and if you’re able to solve the first exercises. First chapters are easier. You’ll have no real problem with them. Take your time. You have nothing to lose but regrets.

 

[opheliaesque]

Yay! Another one doing the IB!

Don't worry, I procrastinate miles wide, ugh. Do you find the actual content hard? Or the amount of work? I'm not really finding the current workload as stressful as everyone claims, and I'm almost in year 12 now. My grades do have some to be desired, but I'm closer to that 7 for history and art at least |D

 

[ObliviousGenius]

Possible ways it can go wrong:

2. I also spent a good half hour picking a spot. It had to be quiet, with no one directly around me. It had to have good lighting and an outlet.

3. I think its possible for people to get distracted at a desk without anything around. You have your thoughts, and you have projects you want to work on that have nothing to do with school. That's what I ended up doing. I'm glad at least I got something done.

Hope this helped

This is me, sometimes I'll walk around for a long time until I finally decide on the perfect spot, especially when I want to smoke downtown. (I'm never satisfied with my spot). When I finally do settle in, I get distracted by pretty much anything. I start wondering and going inside my head when I need to work, read (especially read) or write. In order for me to concentrate on my work I try to get in my "zone".

 

[thelithiumcat]

Spoiler

Procrastination is not so bad as long as you manage to do what you have to do in the last minute. And it’s funnier than working every day.


But you describe a paralysis state where you fear to fail and to be incompetent. This is far worse than common procrastination where you want to keep your possibilities open and act freely.


I guess you don’t mind studying physics but you think you’re going to fail and you can’t stand it. So you try to avoid the entire thing.


You say you should be able to succeed if you work. Maybe just try to study a little so that you can see if you understand and if you’re able to solve the first exercises. First chapters are easier. You’ll have no real problem with them. Take your time. You have nothing to lose but regrets.

Thanks for this; it's been very useful. I keep thinking about it.

This is me, sometimes I'll walk around for a long time until I finally decide on the perfect spot, especially when I want to smoke downtown. (I'm never satisfied with my spot). When I finally do settle in, I get distracted by pretty much anything. I start wondering and going inside my head when I need to work, read (especially read) or write. In order for me to concentrate on my work I try to get in my "zone".

I am the same. I often consider how I need to get into my 'zone' to work, and how many things are disruptive in reaching it. For example, I need to play music to block out other people and this in turn distracts me and causes me to zone out and lose focus. At home I need to put on the tv or music to cut out my family but I can't work around them anyway. All in all, reaching my zone requires the presence of no one. This is rare.

 

[Fghw]

[/QUOTE]Yeah, for me it was a huge problem. Still is to some extent. What I have to do is force myself to do whatever project it is I'am working on, then give myself some sort of reward later.[/QUOTE]

I usually end up incredibly distracted by the reward. In the end, I have a reward and absolutely no work done.

 

[Fghw]

i never meant it as a good thing, nor a really bad thing either. I just wanted to say that a lot of INTPs procrastinate for that certain reason, and i'm sure from what you wrote you do that too. haha I know exactly what you mean, 'i could ask her out if i want' i keep telling myself that and i never do them because i can't really imagine myself committed to a relationship. I mean, i would love to have a really loving relationship but i'm more of an idealist and i keep looking out for the right person. This isn't such a good idea though, since i have a strong P most of the time and i can't decide which one is the right one.

about the satisfaction thing, there's another way actually: we overthrow the government and set up a non-permanent hierarchy (non-permanent as in if someone was born in a class of INFP and he was actually an INTP then he would have the option to transfer to that certain class, and since every class has their own special personalities proportionate to their population it wouldn't cause so much rebels) and each class has its own privileges. INTPs can be a specific class and they would be allowed to not be so strictly bounded by social obligations. This would allow INTPs to fully explore their mind and the world to come with new ideas and they would come together to perfect them and share ideas, which in turn will be sent to the INTJs or whoever and will become the foundations of Utopia.

I know i'm being too idealistic but it sounds appealing to me. what about you?

When you make reason of faults, they become inexplicably more acceptable.