INTP Laziness

[transformers]

Being an INTP means being LAZY and procrastinating like all hell whenever we have the opportunity... so what are your strategies for kicking yourself into action? How do you deal with the tendency to put things off- indefinitely?
Me, I write plenty of "to do" lists and keep them in plain sight, it seems to help (a little.)

 

[Artifice Orisit]

I give in to my obsessive compulsive side.

It's difficult to start and difficult to stop.

 

[Irishpenguin]

I still haven't found a way to deal with it at all, but I remember my counselor telling me to write "to do" lists way back when, that wasn't for me.

I'm with cognisant about it being hard to stop and start, but usually the only reason I don't want to stop something is because I know that it is going to be hard to start it again

Being an INTP means being LAZY and procrastinating like all hell whenever we have the opportunity...

Is this really an extremely common trait among the INTPs?

 

[shoeless]

i write to do lists that i never actually carry out.

i dunno. i can barely motivate myself to brush my teeth half the time... which sounds disgusting, but i always do it eventually. its just always riiiight before bed. never when i actually want to. if that makes sense.

iunno.

 

[tashi]

I try to find something that I want, to motivate myself. I tell myself that if I don't do my homework on time, that I'm going to end up living on the streets. This doesn't work all the time, but combined with my ocd side(like cog.) it's usually enough to get stuff done.

It only works with school though. To be honest, I'm hardly motivated enough to finish typing this reply :P
I go around and read all these interesting threads, and I'll have something I want to say, but I'm usually to lazy to actually type anything up.

 

[ckm]

To be honest, I'm hardly motivated enough to finish typing this reply :P
I go around and read all these interesting threads, and I'll have something I want to say, but I'm usually to lazy to actually type anything up.

Same here.

I'm extremely lazy and unmotivated. I leave all of my work, never study, never organise things. It makes me extremely unproductive and I'm inclined to do a whole lot of nothing a lot of the time.

It's a shame really.

 

[Trebuchet]

While I am not naturally inclined to follow through on things, I don't think I am lazy.

I used to procrastinate more, since I'd let myself get so worked up about something that I felt paralyzed. Then I made a vow to myself that I would do one thing every day that I really didn't want to do. It could be as small as spending 2 minutes writing a thank you note, putting away that stack of laundry, or calling someone back to answer a question. It could be larger, like actually picking out and buying a birthday present, or getting my car serviced. Many of them aren't even unpleasant, they are just things I don't want to do. This helped a lot more than I expected.

To do lists are of zero use to me, when planning for more than two hours. Projects of less than two hours do benefit from to do lists, if they are complex.

EDIT: lots of people here have mentioned OCD. I have that too, but I never figured it was an INTP thing. It certainly doesn't help me get things done. It sort of stops me from getting the right things done, while I waste time on the wrong things. I'm happy for anyone who can find a positive use for it, though.

 

[Darby]

I have regularly been considered lazy, to-do lists= zero help, I have no real solution, (for homework) I just tell myself that I respect the teacher enough to do it, i get it done about 50% of the time.

on bigger decisions, after i feel like I have spent enough time that I should have an answer but don't I just "jump in" and hope for the best, I think that may be what I do for college, just jump in to one of my top choices

 

[ktp]

I give into my laziness and procrastination and just fail.

 

[Darby]

I give into my laziness and procrastination and just fail.

I did this for three years, then my mom pulled me out of public school and sent me to catholic school, I'm a senior in high school, but if my middle school believed in holding kids back I'd be a freshman

 

[tashi]

EDIT: lots of people here have mentioned OCD. I have that too, but I never figured it was an INTP thing. It certainly doesn't help me get things done. It sort of stops me from getting the right things done, while I waste time on the wrong things. I'm happy for anyone who can find a positive use for it, though.

Yes, for many years, my OCD was a huge obstacle. I would spend hours organizing my life into lists. I wasted so much time scheduling out my day, that by the time I was done, there was no time left to actually work, so I would end up staying up all night to do my homework, which just accentuated my already present insomnia. For about a year, it was so bad that my health began to deteriorate. I ended up in urgent care 3 times within 2 monthes.

 

[Beat Mango]

I'm not lazy at all, although I might appear so to S types because of my efficiency.

 

[Döden]

I give into my laziness and procrastination and just fail.

Aww

I like writing to-do lists. I also like writing in a liberal time estimate for how long my tasks would take. When I see the frightening amount of time I'll need to spend, it usually kicks me into actions.

Too bad I rarely make to-do lists.

Anyone else think about Googling "Tips on fighting procrastination" when you're procrastinating only to stop yourself when you realize how stupidly ironic that is?

EDIT: Christ, does that emoticon REALLY have to cry? I mean, I understand the whole "hey I'm INTP I hold in emotions til I burst" but couldn't there be something a little more...subtle?

 

[Thoughtful]

I find writing a list of things to get done tomorrow (in the literal sense.) can help a little IF I write an hour I plan to start at, and if the list has no more than 5 (less is better) items on it. I find writing it the night before is the best way to do this. Not perfect, But works better than nothing.

Also, Offering myself a material reward is helpful too, Like deciding I can buy myself Item X (Something I want), Unless I don't crash Deadlines Y and Z.

Long term goals are just a pain. Find a way to make them the here and now, Break them up into tiny things. Call X today, arrange meeting with Z tomorrow. succeed at this and buy self extra Ice Cream cone.

The more Items you have attached to a reward, the likelier you are to see one you don't want to do and say "aw, screw the whole thing" so providing a lot of little "carrots" instead of one big one works much better. Think of the trail of individual M&Ms/Coins/whatever to lead a small kid to a bigger Item. Little steps from one prize to the next.

That's what works for me, though I don't use it all the time.

 

[Anthile]

INTPs are simply nature's way to prevent that everything happens at once.

 

[Cogwulf]

I'm not lazy at all, in fact I Love hard work. My problem is I just find it extremely difficult to get started on things.

 

[Kuu]

INTPs are simply nature's way to prevent that everything happens at once.

Thank you for re-infusing meaning into my life.

 

[The Lurker]

I'm not lazy at all, in fact I Love hard work. My problem is I just find it extremely difficult to get started on things.

I'm dealing with this right now. I had about 4 days worth of free time last week to start on a rather large mountain of homework and late work. It's now monday and I've barely done anything about it.

When I'm in a working mood I can get a LOT done. It's just that getting me in that mood is very very difficult. Basically the only thing that can motivate me to get in a working mood anymore is the urgency or importance of a task (i.e. it MUST be done on Day X, no exceptions, or if not doing it is going to completely screw over my grade). I often find myself exercising the bad habit of compromising with myself if there are assignments I really don't want to do at all. ("Well, if I don't do this assignment, then these other assignments can make up for it and I should be ok.")

Ugh.

 

[Trebuchet]

Yes, for many years, my OCD was a huge obstacle. I would spend hours organizing my life into lists. I wasted so much time scheduling out my day, that by the time I was done, there was no time left to actually work, so I would end up staying up all night to do my homework, which just accentuated my already present insomnia. For about a year, it was so bad that my health began to deteriorate. I ended up in urgent care 3 times within 2 monthes.

Wow. And I thought my insomnia was bad.

 

[Agent Intellect]

I can always take solace in the fact that I'm ambitious enough not to let this happen.

 

[sagewolf]

Ummm... yeah, I'm really bad about that. I don't do anything I need to do-- although I raw often, I've produced very little recently that's worth sending into a college as part of a portfolio that I need to get a scholarship so I can actually attend said college. I can never get up early enough to do anything, and when I get home in the evening I just sit back an do nothing again. Or, one of my favorites: I'll get bogged down with a layout choice for a comic I'm working on and, as a result, HAVE to reread pretty much all of Making Comics just for inspiration. And all my Flight anthologies. Then maybe I check a few webcomics for 'reference'... I'm very good at avoiding work when I need to.

To make myself get going, I force myself to do whatever it is for fifteen minutes: geerally, for a creative endeavor, that's enough to get me going under my own steam,and if it's not working by then, at least I got fifteen minutes in. Better than zero.

For other stuff, I catch myself when I feel industrious and waste it on dishwashing. Laundry is a Saturday thing, so that gets done every Saturday night, while I'm watching anime. *facepalm*

Anyone else think about Googling "Tips on fighting procrastination" when you're procrastinating only to stop yourself when you realize how stupidly ironic that is?

You're not practiced enough in what Orwell called crimestop and can be paraphrased for our purposes as workstop. Don't worry, you'll learn how not to have those awful productive thoughts with time and practice.

 

[chloé]

I can motivate myself to work if I really lay it out in my mind and come to the conclusion that it's the best move for long-term gain. Over the years that mental process has become slightly more efficient, enough that I'm at least a bit in a groove with it.

The best thing though? Mold your work completely around what you like to do. My ultimate goal is to do nothing that I don't find pleasurable. I'm hedonistic like that.

 

[Scourgexlvii]

I procrastinate, but often find ways to bs my way through most stuff.

 

[justajoe]

Write a not to do list... see tim farris post here.

The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now 192 Comments

Written by Tim Ferriss Topics: E-mail Detox, Filling the Void, Low-Information Diet

This is how the world felt before Crackberries. ( LeoLuigi)

“Not-to-do” lists are often more effective than to-do lists for upgrading performance.
The reason is simple: what you don’t do determines what you can do.

 

[Felan]

A trick that has worked for me in the past is flip flopping. By this I mean I start out doing something fun (playing a video game for example) for a set period and then for a set period doing something less fun that I know I need to do. The period should be long enough to benefit you but short enough that you have several flip flops.

At one point I was burning the candle at both ends trying to finish up a project for work. I was utterly disgusted with myself and worried I would miss my deadline. This trick helped me in final stretch of that project. I just alternated between playing a video game for an hour and coding for an hour. The coding was more bearable because I knew I would get a break in an hour. Honestly I would say I was more panicky than worried, but once I started doing this I got in a groove with it and the panick went away.

 

[JimTaylor]

I have to agree with Felan. How I have started doing better in school/work/life about this stuff is just do little things at a time. At work I will finish a project and give myself some time to browse the web, read, write, etc... and since I started doing this my work has gotten better. At home I will do something then reward myself by doing something fun, it is sort of like tricking my own mind into seeing the reasons behind doing stuff; the reward. So really just rewarding myself when I do something gives me enough motivation to continue doing it and now I am doing better but not great when it comes to laziness. Some areas I am really good, like I get up 10 min after my alarm rings instead of 40 min, so now I have time to get ready and look like I am acctually alive. lol. School work though is still one thing I have troubles doing because I know I can do it at the end and still get a passing grade, but if I acctually tried I would get A's easy but general ed is so boring.

 

[ohrtonz]

i dunno. i can barely motivate myself to brush my teeth half the time... which sounds disgusting, but i always do it eventually. its just always riiiight before bed. never when i actually want to. if that makes sense.

makes since I do it too. it coule be 3am and i wont have brush my teeth yet until i go to bed. i always figured it was a habit from a story being told that sugar attacks your teeth at night if you dont brush. so like only when youre sleeping. if i brush my teeth earlier ill just eat/drink something before bed in the meantime anyways. =[

 

[Minuend]

I do as Felan. My breaks tend to be a bit longer than my workingz, though..........

Listening to good music is nice too. Maybe having a cup of tea. If I can't get started at all, it helps talking with a friend about it. That way you have somewhere to start. And you see that it's not that hard to understand (depends on what you're doing, of course).

 

[roby]

I was going to make the same thread, no surprise so many people have the same idea.

I'm pretty much on the same boat for.. 5 years? I'm 20 now. Wake up put clothes on, computer, pass out. I seem to be able to work up motivation during later on in the day, but usually around the time I go to sleep. Mornings/early afternoon are just my "EVERYONE GTFO OUT OF MY SIGHT" time.

The longer I wait, the harder it gets to start. My mental fortitude has improved since before, and especially recently. But I know once my foot is out that door it's a whole lot easier.

 

[Infinite Regress]

Have people around you that will kick your ass into action.
Worked for me

 

[rachelp]

I'm a big fan of David Allen's GTD system. It's great for an INTP. He says procrastination happens because you don't know what the next step is, or it seems too big to tackle, or you're not in the right place at the right time to do something when you think of doing it. So the trick is to have a task list that is very small tasks broken down by setting. So @car, @phone, @computer, @livingroom, @errands, @work. I had a goal which was to clean out my closet of junk. The first step is to break this down into lots of sequential steps that all have a setting and that all take no more than 30 minutes. @errands - get boxes from liquor store. @closet - pull out three items that could sell on Craigslist. @livingroom - photograph these three items. @computer - create craigslist ad for one item (3 of these). etc. When everything is written down then create index cards and put the @livingroom list in the living room. @errands list in the car. etc. Only one line on one list should say "NEXT." Everything else gets ignored completely until it says NEXT. His book or various websites describe this system a lot better. Hope this helps. -Rachel

 

[bluesquid]

Ivery

 

[Cogwulf]

It's 2:17 on a Tuesday morning and I've just finished a piece of coursework that I've had for a month, is due to be submitted in less than 12 hours from now, and I just started working on less than 12 hours ago.

Hooray for procrastination

 

[James Black]

I'm a big fan of David Allen's GTD system. It's great for an INTP. He says procrastination happens because you don't know what the next step is, or it seems too big to tackle, or you're not in the right place at the right time to do something when you think of doing it. So the trick is to have a task list that is very small tasks broken down by setting. So @car, @phone, @computer, @livingroom, @errands, @work. I had a goal which was to clean out my closet of junk. The first step is to break this down into lots of sequential steps that all have a setting and that all take no more than 30 minutes. @errands - get boxes from liquor store. @closet - pull out three items that could sell on Craigslist. @livingroom - photograph these three items. @computer - create craigslist ad for one item (3 of these). etc. When everything is written down then create index cards and put the @livingroom list in the living room. @errands list in the car. etc. Only one line on one list should say "NEXT." Everything else gets ignored completely until it says NEXT. His book or various websites describe this system a lot better. Hope this helps. -Rachel

I've never really pointed blame to my procrastination for much other than "I'm an INTP" or "I'm lazy", but I do agree this is a big part: and I wouldn't be surprised if it was similar for other INTPs. If I had to take a guess at why this would be the reason behind my/our (our as in other INTPs) procrastination, I would blame our values: perfection over action, inaction over flawed presentation. Before I get started on anything, I want to know everything I'm going to do, but most tasks are just too daunting, too much (even for an INTP) to have all figured out--And some tasks, like daily tasks, are just too boring to do, or to put time into figuring out how to do. This method might just work, though: sort of how a flow-chart or psuedocode helps make programming something large easier: smaller steps that are easy to comprehend one at a time.

However, that logic doesn't explain why simple tasks like brushing our teeth (yes, I feel the need to procrastinate it as well as those who have mentioned it) or writing a reply to a thread/post are difficult for us to do.

 

[Darby]

I used a dayplanner for awhile(and it worked), but after about three weeks, I started procrastinating writing my homework assignments down(or any task, although they were the most frequent), and it started all over again, now it just takes up space in my bookbag

 

[Jarhead]

For two weeks I've been browsing this forum and my 'laziness' is the very reason I have not posted anything. lol. Whenever I read through a thread it seems like my thoughts have already been posted

The only thing that can get me to immediately do my work is pressure. But even then I'll just half-ass it or stall if I really don't want to do it.

If it's something I'm interested in then I'll have trouble starting. But once I 'break through' I'll create some quality product and then I'll go back and change the beginning.

 

[dieserotefrosch]

Being an INTP means being LAZY and procrastinating like all hell whenever we have the opportunity... so what are your strategies for kicking yourself into action? How do you deal with the tendency to put things off- indefinitely?
Me, I write plenty of "to do" lists and keep them in plain sight, it seems to help (a little.)

I try to organize myself. I make schedules. I make to-do lists.

However, I often failed. Without inspiration, I don't have interest in completing my tasks (e.g. when others will push me to action during my uninspired moments, I do it for the sake of compliance). But with inspiration, I over-work, even staying awake at night, to do what I'm inspired to do.

 

[anyaa]

Ya...me too...most people I know...say.. I'm LAZY...but I'd call it LACK OF INTREST ..
I just find ways/info so that the things start making sense to me...that arouses my interest ... ones intrests up...theres no stopping.....hopefully...

 

[Eef]

Being an INTP means being LAZY and procrastinating like all hell whenever we have the opportunity... so what are your strategies for kicking yourself into action? How do you deal with the tendency to put things off- indefinitely?

Oh hohoho~ you're absolutely right there, amigo. I mean, believe it or not I'm lazy than I'll ever be. Can't even force myself to get some water from the fridge when I'm sitting beside it. Well, I've got my own reasons :-P don't judge immediately. However, when it comes to my personal interests, I can get all hyped up. So simply put, don't have the energy level to do normal stuff, but full-blast energy level on my quirks and knowledge-gathering.

But don't get me wrong. I'd love to get some good rest and I try as hard as I could to get that 8 hours of sleep during the night. Even though that learning and gathering more facts is best during the night, I must have my sleep. Otherwise, I'll go insane.

 

[Adamastor]

Thank you for re-infusing meaning into my life.

LoL

I have thought about doing a to-do list maaany times, but for some odd reason I have never actually written one

Like many, I (try to) do the enough. Whenever I got the chance (Okay... I am exagerating here, but this is my goal.) I look for interesting things to waste my time with, hopefully these things will be of any use in the future, thus the time spent with it will be productive.

I like lying down for as long as I can (until my back hurts), doing nothing, looking at the sky and things like that, but after these moments I am always caught telling to myself: "I am wasting my life, am I not?"

 

[lafmeche]

I'm not lazy at all, in fact I Love hard work. My problem is I just find it extremely difficult to get started on things.

This is part of my problem. Once I'm working on something, I'm generally OK. It's making it over that first hump that's hardest for me.

Have people around you that will kick your ass into action.
Worked for me

This would just make me resent those people. It wouldn't matter if I asked them to or not, I would not be happy about it. I need to feel in control of myself and my life at all times. If I don't, even in a small way like that, it all goes downhill for me.

As far as to-do lists go, I make them all the time at work. Unless it's something critical it generally doesn't get done. Granted, that's partly because I don't have the time, but to-do lists never work for me at home either, so there must be something to it.

 

[Words]

Not "lazy". Just lack of "motivation". Following that, i'm not really sure if true "laziness" exists.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I do procrastinate, and I prefer laziness over being over-worked. However, I manage to get quite a bit done most of the time.

My motivation is that I prefer not to starve, I like heat in the winter, and I have a family to support and it would just be stupid and rotten of me to deny them food and heat.

Dave

 

[Words]

it would just be stupid and rotten of me to deny them food and heat.

Dave

Generally and your definition of "stupid"? I'd rather not call it stupid but rather... different. Who's to say its irrational if you yourself aren't bothered by it?

 

[The Black Raven]

I used to solve this problem by having the industry (and jobs) I was attempting to enter into, interesting to me. But the further along my education went, the less interesting it became and the more raw hard work it became. In effect, I would have a really odd work ethic. Somehow getting it done and at the same time being rather laid back.

My motivation for not procrastinating? I don't have the luxury of pushing back deadlines at my convenience. Shit needs to get done on time, or I'll never keep and get a job.

 

[Prinznobody]

My personal motto for being an INTP is, If I'm not happy with what I'm doing or someone asked me to do then It's pointless to continue as it will only bother you... P types are into paralysis...

 

[13lack_Light]

Yup, now if there was a job that paid you to be lazy, or in fact instructed you to be lazy...I wonder how that would pan out. If you are being TOLD to not do it...hmmmm...

 

[Geminii]

I write up lists of ALL the things I have to do, and convince myself that in order to get them done by their due date I have to do the first one RIGHT NOW.

It doesn't work so well when things have nebulous due dates, though.

 

[MattKelevra]

I've tried many things. It's almost crippling to me. If I wasn't a genius I would have failed out of school by this point. Last semester of college, I have NEVER studied for a test more than a night before, and probably not for more than 4-6 hours at max. Never listen in class either, always daydreaming.

I recall a perfect example, sitting up the night before a test. I would sit in my chair and stare at my closed textbook on the ground. I'd look at the clock, daydream a bit, and then stare at the book, almost in a paralysis of sorts. Thats how strongly I did not want to read it or study. This continued for 5 hours with my just sitting there looking between the clock and the book, until eventually my mind said "Enough, you don't have enough time to learn what you need to anymore, if you waste another single minute you're done". Panic gripped my heart, and I finally began. 4 hours before the test started.

 

[Scott33]

I'm extremely lazy. After dropping out of school and getting my G.E.D. I spent 4 to 5 years more or less to my self, mary jane, and a few friends who liked to come by and listen to me speak, they viewed me has a "philosopher" of sorts has they still do. Some would say that period in my life was due to me being a loner and not because I'm lazy but has a mature INTP I can honestly admit without a doubt it was both. A few girls came in and out of my life but not to be cruel that was about getting certain desires out of the picture. I guess I was lucky to meet a woman who runs a profitable website who just so happened to want someone to more or less do everything she didn't want to do for one reason of another. To this day I'm still lazy and anti-social has I most likely always will be but I got lucky. I suggest other INTP's leave the house now and again though, I don't get bored but I got lucky to get a good paying job. Though I do get out more now but some people half my age have been to 10 to 20 times has many parties has me. I think I'm up to like 4 at this point in life.

PS. sorry I didn't notice the last comment was old until after posting.