INTP's, how do you recharge your batteries?

[Architect]

By way of example, I recently realized that I recharge my batteries by going for long walks to think things through and work them out. Ocean is best, forests are good, city or suburbia not so great. More recently I do photography on these sojourns.

I realized this when, after years of not doing it due to family constraints (young kids that aren't good on trails, etc), that my head was progressively getting ready to explode due to psychic pressures. I took a day to go out by myself and voila, recharged and refreshed I'm immensely better. I need to find a way to go on my walks; without the family most times, or another way to get a chance to reflect, think, recharge and relieve the pressure valve. Difficult given my life here days.

Maybe there is another way. So tell me, what do you do?

 

[Pyropyro]

Walking in my university with its trees and wildbirds lifts my spirits.

A long and quiet time with the Bible and other interesting reads also help me recharge.

Also, petting random stray cats and dogs does wonders for me and hopefully to the animals as well

 

[Nibbler]

Pyropyro, are you a really strong INTP or do you border on other types? Just curious. You seem to come across as a feeler.

 

[Nibbler]

I don't really recharge. I live a lifestyle where my introverted and thinking needs are met.

But fun for me is seeing a problem. I first have a reaction and then it stimulates my thinking if it's an unexpected problem. Or I like hearing things haven't been solved yet. I begin thinking about if I could solve it.

Driving with the radio off is sometimes pleasurable. But again, this isn't a recharge since I have full access to quiet driving all I like.

Before when I lived with lots of people, I just holed up in my room or left the house and just spent time alone.

 

[Pyropyro]

Pyropyro, are you a really strong INTP or do you border on other types? Just curious. You seem to come across as a feeler.

Actually my tests either peg me as an INTP or INTJ. I do have an ongoing study on how to develop my Fe through going out with people and find how to best interact with them so perhaps I unconsciously picked up some Feeler habits along the way.

 

[Auburn]

Vegetate.

Staying absolutely motionless/dead for as long as it takes for my body to feel the need to move on it's own accord.

 

[Architect]

I don't really recharge. I live a lifestyle where my introverted and thinking needs are met.

Please describe. One of my problems is that I never get enough time alone, but maybe I can figure out a way to get that. I wonder if I can find a way to spend more time thinking, and less time doing.

But fun for me is seeing a problem. I first have a reaction and then it stimulates my thinking if it's an unexpected problem. Or I like hearing things haven't been solved yet. I begin thinking about if I could solve it.

Driving with the radio off is sometimes pleasurable. But again, this isn't a recharge since I have full access to quiet driving all I like.

Before when I lived with lots of people, I just holed up in my room or left the house and just spent time alone.

Sounds nice

 

[Nibbler]

Yes, I agree it is easy to be influenced by those you interact with frequently. When around negative people a lot, it's easy to lapse into the negative aspects of your personality (everyone is prone to it) if not careful. So I can see how purposefully developing your feeling side can happen by surrounding yourself with such.

Can you recharge just sitting there thinking without external stimulation? Your INTP side needs an opportunity to think of its own stuff.

 

[lucky12]

Walks on my farm with the dog. I don't even look around much, I know the area so well. Seeing hawks or wild turkeys is a treat though, I even saw a pheasant last year. Just happened to look up as he flew by, they used to be allover before all the development picked up in my area (long before my time).

Play pool, but I have to play perfectly. Each shot I have to try and guess exactly what is going to happen. I also play myself so I try to use two different strategies. I play straight pool on a snooker table, so yes I am a sniper. Although I seem to lose a lot at bars It's either pressure or my team mate.

Bike rides through the city. I live up on a hill and the descend allows me to maintain high speed all the way down to the lake. I have little strategies to avoid stopping and make my ride as safe as possible. Then I have to ride all the way back up.. It's a cycle. Punny? Something in that pattern does wonders for me, I get back with a lot of energy for anything.

If I'm really in need of some recharging.. I drive at night. Winter nights I practice drifting and on summer nights windows are down and I'm just looking for a place to happen. Next time I go out with a lady friend I'm going to make her take her shirt off while we drive. Don't say my cars topless, say the titties is out.

Sex?

 

[Nibbler]

Please describe. One of my problems is that I never get enough time alone, but maybe I can figure out a way to get that. I wonder if I can find a way to spend more time thinking, and less time doing.



Sounds nice

For starters, it helps to be single! I'm naturally on my own a lot, so I don't tend to be in situations where I'm constantly hounded for attention. That's my quiet time. Although there is someone I'm very much interested in and have my sights on.

And I work at the college I've returned to to pursue a biology degree. That's my intellectual stimulation.

And years of being slow to return calls or emails have sifted out the people who take offense to that and I have managed to keep the gems of people who also appreciate their own propensity to do the same.

I have a friend I met as a housemate. She once said to me that she likes that we can blow up at each other one day in annoyance and the next day forget it happened. On a separate occasion years later she mentioned she liked knowing that when we talked for the first time in a year or even two, we're happy to talk & catch up, and there is no guilt-tripping about how long it's been or mention of unreturned calls. I didn't even realize that dynamic until she pointed it out.

I naturally gravitate towards people who are smart and in control of their emotions. I do have one friend who's extroverted and emotional with a tendency to exaggerate. But I have patience for her because she's amusing, highly intelligent and respects me.

Another current friend of mine is introverted, intelligent and patient.

If people in my life generally are willfully ignorant, intellectually lazy, over-emotional, hyper-active, emotionally impulsive, attention-needy, angry or an extremist, they don't last long.

People who are patient, calm, introspective, self-sufficient stay and I stay quietly unbothered and constantly charged.

edit: Years ago I rented my house to a work friend who was an incessant talkaholic. Somewhere along the way, I had to stay with him for about a month while in transition from one residence to another. I would return home from work and just sit in my car dreading going inside. Then I'd walk up to the door and stand there, imagining him pulling the chain of his mouth-motor, getting ready to talk my ear off about his day when I walked inside. I don't miss that.

 

[A22]

Long walks are the best.

If I'm deep into my thoughts it doesn't matter if it's the city or the beach, I'm not there.

 

[Pyropyro]

YCan you recharge just sitting there thinking without external stimulation? Your INTP side needs an opportunity to think of its own stuff.

The Ti (Introverted Thinking) aspect would really like that "me-time"

 

[Dapper Dan]

Actually, a lot of my recharging involves hanging out with other people. Although I think the greater pattern is that I just need to get out of my rut (which usually involves me sitting home alone). Staying in a routine for too long wears down on me psychologically.

 

[Mello]

I sprawl down on the floor. Or I just lay on someone.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Music, alone time, walks, laying down — these restore my composure, but do nothing for my overall apathy, seclusion and low levels of energy.

What actually energizes me is hanging out and letting loose, with like-minded buddies.

 

[xbox]

^yeah same, only works if theyre like minded.

 

[Affinity]

Actually, a lot of my recharging involves hanging out with other people. Although I think the greater pattern is that I just need to get out of my rut (which usually involves me sitting home alone). Staying in a routine for too long wears down on me psychologically.

This, but that is mainly attributed to the fact that I have too much time to myself if there's such a thing.

 

[Zionoxis]

Anime, lots and lots of anime. Random note: Hellsing has me addicted. I am not sure why. Whoever made the show lacked a lot of Fi and I love it.

 

[HDINTP]

walks, music, time before i fall asleep

 

[Cognisant]

That hour between midnight and 1am.

 

[ayn]

I'm quite similar to another who posted. Normally, my batteries are constantly charged. I surround myself with only the physics club and the computer science club of my university, so I don't really have to deal with what would stress out a normal INTP. All the conversations I have are based around topics that I find very interesting or stimulating. Not to mention, many of us are fairly awkward so we can all be in the same room and not talk at all.

As I have said in a previous thread, I work at subway and as you would assume I have to work with adult-children and highschool girls. There is a ridiculous amount of drama (most of them hate me, meh.) and pointless chatter. How I manage to escape my batteries being drained in these situations is I work like a mad man. I am the one girl who keeps the whole store running, and that keeps people from talking to me--for the most part. Oddly enough, socializing with the random customers seems to charge my batteries slightly more. I am very competent and it makes me feel good to know I am doing all I can to produce the customers idea of a "perfect" sub.

Of course, when I was still in high school I was forced to socialize with those who drained my energy. I can't really say /what/ I did then because I wasn't very introspective, all I ever did was emotionally abuse myself for all my quirks, mistakes and errors. So every now and then(couple of months) I would completely break down and spend 1-3 days without talking to anyone, they would find it rather uncomfortable but they understood "thats just how ayn is". I'm unsure if this was my recharging my batteries or simply some sort of depression..

Maybe it is simply I am so good at being in my head at most times that I don't realize that I am constantly charging my batteries. In recent times I have learned how to get people to talk to you enthusiastically without being "present" in the conversation. Asking intelligent questions to lead them to ramble on and on, mirroring their body language/facial expressions and nodding along, agreeing at the proper intervals.. As I am writing this... perhaps this is the real reason I don't need to recharge. The fact I am almost never really "present" in conversations unless it is on topics such as science or things that greatly interest me.

 

[Lot]

It really depends on what the problem is. Some times I drive with the music off. It's cool, because I'll drive into neighborhoods that I've never seen or out into the desert and climb a mountain. Some times I just need to go to bed early. Which usually is me staring at the ceiling and thinking things through.

I also like to hang out with my friends, but some times this leads to me wanting to shut myself in for weeks. Spending time with my older brother, and talking about what ever, really gets me going. He's an INTJ.

Sitting down and reading. I like to read the bible as well Pyropyro . I'll read manga in the tub. Some times I go to a sit down restaurant and bring a book with me. I'll Spend hours there. I like this place called "Village Inn". Free pie Wednesdays! Sadly I live back at my folks again and they live way out of the city. So it's quite the drive to an eatery. And with gas prices.

Someone mention anime. This can help, but it can also make me feel lonely as hell. Action ones are fun. Romance ones take their toll if I'm not in regular contact with humans.

 

[ayn]

Someone mention anime. This can help, but it can also make me feel lonely as hell. Action ones are fun. Romance ones take their toll if I'm not in regular contact with humans.

I've done the whole anime thing before too.. But really, why not just watch documentaries/tv shows/university lectures instead? Fill your brain with something worthwhile instead of stories and fables that have the potential to point out just how alone you really are?

 

[Grove]

A long conversation with someone who can keep up. By "keep up" I mean move quickly from one topic to another and then back again with ease. Has interesting observations, asks questions, and generally likes talking about what has piqued their interest that day/week/month. A goods five or six hours of this and I can feed off the energy gained for a week.

Before I had to commute to work (also, before my stereo died) I took long drives in the country with the radio up fairly high. I liked to get lost and figure my way back.

 

[Dapper Dan]

It really depends on what the problem is. Some times I drive with the music off. It's cool, because I'll drive into neighborhoods that I've never seen or out into the desert and climb a mountain.

I know what you mean. I get in this weird mood where I realize that the music is just noise. So I turn it off, roll down the windows, and feel the world go by. Or sometimes I'll just go for a walk late at night. No one around but the street-sweepers.

 

[Amagi82]

Deep conversation with a like-minded individual, either in-person, or chatting online, is the most reliably energizing to me. Sometimes, I also just spend time on the computer reading and learning, hanging out on forums, or reading a book.

 

[Vrecknidj]

What recharges me now isn't what recharged me once upon a time. Also, what recharges me now isn't what would recharge me now if things were different.

I work 65 to 80 hours a week, for 6 different part-time employers, at jobs that are rough on introverts. So, I need a lot of recharging, but have no time for it. (The remaining hours of my week are restricted as I have a wife and two adult children, live in a house with pets and a lot of noise, etc., etc.)

So, right now, what recharges me is about 4 hours, usually in the morning, of time when no one else is around me. This happens about once a week for me. During that time I exercise for about an hour, and engage in pure, pointless leisure the rest of that time.

In ideal circumstances, recharging would come about through a variety of means, including, but not limited to, books, long periods of solitude (such as the walks described by so many others), occasional bouts of musical indulgence, and unstructured free time.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Mostly the same. I remove my glasses (near-sided...myopia?) and go for long walks outside, usually in the canyons or forests. I don't want to focus on anything, also i try to temporarily eliminate my subvocalization process which usually works, its amazing, the silence.

 

[SpaceYeti]

I play video games, work on the design of my game, play a game, work on the story for the games I run, eat, sleep, or whatever I can do to avoid other people interfering in my process. Frankly, masturbation, too. Masturbation isn't only a method of getting rid of a boner, it's also a highly self-centric, fun, solo activity that allows me to re-center myself and focus. I don't consider masturbation an alternative to sex, it's it's own activity with benefits similar to, but separate from, sex with another person. Try explaining that to a self-conscious woman, though! No, you're not inadequate, you're simply not me!

 

[Architect]

I play video games, work on the design of my game, play a game, work on the story for the games I run, eat, sleep, or whatever I can do to avoid other people interfering in my process. Frankly, masturbation, too. Masturbation isn't only a method of getting rid of a boner, it's also a highly self-centric, fun, solo activity that allows me to re-center myself and focus. I don't consider masturbation an alternative to sex, it's it's own activity with benefits similar to, but separate from, sex with another person. Try explaining that to a self-conscious woman, though! No, you're not inadequate, you're simply not me!

[MENTION]SpaceYeti[/MENTION], have you ever considered ISTP?

 

[SpaceYeti]

[MENTION]SpaceYeti[/MENTION], have you ever considered ISTP?

For my type? I have, and I'm more similar to an ENTP if not INTP, than an ISTP if not.

 

[TimeAsylums]

@curious about the ISTP thought, I don't see any problems with INTP

 

[SpaceYeti]

@curious about the ISTP thought, I don't see any problems with INTP

Yes, what did I say that indicated S instead of N?

 

[TimeAsylums]

I'm assuming it wasn't in your first few words, but rather the way you described masturbation, but I saw nothing off about it, i'd say the same...hmm

Edit: I guess I can sort of see where he might get that. But it merely spins off as more of 'artistic' and physical, which doesn't fight off anything INTP - imo anyway, although with Se your five senses would pull all the information in - e.g. masturbation - so I suppose an argument could be made.

 

[Magus]

I'm trying to get into minimalist/ultra light camping.

Haven't started out yet (like so many other plans...) but I guess its a weekend long extension of going for a walk by yourself.

Watching documentaries while eating food is something I enjoy. I order a pizza or something and just watch 3-4 hours worth of documentaries on something really random like medieval weapons or the American Civil War. I find it helps me to unwind.

 

[mu is mu]

As some previous posters have mentioned, being around people who share interests of mine energizes me to a high degree; unfortunately, this experience is extremely rare for me, and the experience of being around people whom I am obligated to socially interact with is quite common, can tire me, and usually interrupts my intensive contemplation, which can be irksome. Being at the listening end of obviously one-sided conversations for a large portion of the day can be draining and might even raise basic issues of fairness for some people.

Journaling, interestingly enough, can be a huge relief for me and I suspect that it can allow INTPs to exercise their linguistic skills to the max--as some online articles have said, INTPs can make talented writers. Also, I can be as blunt and strictly logical in my writings as I wish and after a writing session I often have a much clearer grasp of myself or events in my life (or the world) than I had before I had written the entry. For me, journaling also seems to fill the "iNtuitive void" in my life, as I can write extensively of matters that would likely not interest a Sensor. In my experience it seems that journaling exercises every function in the INTP's functional stack, even Fe. It can also serve as a record of your history, which you may find surprisingly helpful at some later date--that's definitely been my experience.

Similarly to what someone else has written, driving to work or school with no radio/music playing can energize me and allow my mind some time for much-needed contemplation.

Running, lifting weights, cycling, and other forms of exercise (usually alone, or otherwise with no social involvement) also seem to energize me and seem to put me in a unique, desirable mind state.

Reading books that interest me (right now I'm reading a book about memory) also charges me up and provides data for me to analyze and contemplate.

 

[Valentas]

1) Me and Pink Floyd(only Vinyl-Rip format)
2) Me and Vivaldi/Strauss (only Vinyl-Rip format )
3) Up on a bike and pedal for several miles(I get bored after that much)
4) Sit on the grass and do nothing
5) Read Linear Algebra books. (wtf is this you ask, but it somehow relaxes me...)
6) Lifting weights(very inconsistently, I get terribly bored)
7) Play accordion...I am good at this shit. 10+ years experience lol

In conclusion, anything to get me away from computer and move my ass as much as possible. And yes, I do all of this alone usually. Sometimes I want to run with someone else. Silently. No talks. Just running.

 

[Late2theParty]

By way of example, I recently realized that I recharge my batteries by going for long walks to think things through and work them out. Ocean is best, forests are good, city or suburbia not so great. More recently I do photography on these sojourns.

I realized this when, after years of not doing it due to family constraints (young kids that aren't good on trails, etc), that my head was progressively getting ready to explode due to psychic pressures. I took a day to go out by myself and voila, recharged and refreshed I'm immensely better. I need to find a way to go on my walks; without the family most times, or another way to get a chance to reflect, think, recharge and relieve the pressure valve. Difficult given my life here days.

Maybe there is another way. So tell me, what do you do?

Top 3 things for me.

1) Meditation

2) Jin Shin Jyutsu or some other form of energy work.

3) Walks


1) Meditation - by far, nothing clears me out better than this. I can't always do it , but when I can get a good session in, I feel like I've completely rebooted and revitalized. The techniques that this guy named Mooji has are the best I've found. But there are quite a variety of techniques and approaches that may suit you better. One I've been experimenting with recently is "Hemi-sync" which is audio you listen to that tries to get your brain into a more meditative state. Combined with traditional techniques it can be very powerful. When I am able to do it well it gives me all the effects of the stuff below, plus more.

2) Jin Shin Jyutsu / Energy Work / Chi Gong - I fell into this completely by accident. Some time ago someone I really respected reccommended an experimental chiropractor who did some strange energy work I had never heard of. It actually didn't fix what I went there for but ended up fixing other things. I noticed the energy work made me feel totally refreshed, and like I was operating at my maximum potential. I thought it was complete and utter bullshit before I went though. If it wasn't for my friend I would have never followed through with it. So I started digging around with different forms of energy work and they are all fairly related (accupuncture, yoga, chi gong, working with chakras, mudras, Somato Respiratory Integration etc) They all give you a similar feeling, but some are more potent than others.

But the biggest bang for your buck I have found is "Jin Shin Jyutsu". You can grab a book on it (only 13 bucks on amazon called "The Touch of Healing") and perform it on yourself. It's incredibly easy to use... you literally only have to touch certain points on your body.. that's it. I've tried some other things listed above and sometimes I was unsure if I was feeling anything at all. JSJ is the only thing I've tried where I was like "whoah" and I immediately felt results. It has a very potent calming grounding effect, and it can make tension / stress completely evaporate. I have no explanation for why it works or what it is actually doing... either chi is real or you are somehow hacking /exploiting your own nervous system.

One thing I'll say about it though (and most energy work in general) is that I don't think the people who created it / practice it completely understand it either, so some of the descriptions in the book about what points will fix what don't always add up. The way I use it, is that I try out different points and combinations of points until I feel something then I stay on those points longer. The ones where I feel nothing I just move along. After doing it for a while I can kinda tell what is "acting up", and getting blocked and I can hone in on it.


3) Going for Walks - this one is very good. Not as good as the two above, but going for walks daily is highly recommended. Especially around flowing water.

I've been working on a big project the past 2 weeks for work and I'm super behind and stressed about it, I've been doing JSJ daily and meditation every few days and it's made a huge difference. By the end of the day I'm ready to bury my head in the sand and cry but I am able to reboot pretty much daily and keep going.

All these methods also help recharge the social energy we lose by talking to people.... faster as well.

 

[Late2theParty]

One more I'd like to add is....

Reducing body tension

There is a very strong correlation between mental stress / needing to recharge and tension within the body. (especially in the spine) In fact it is a two way street, affect one and you affect the other. All the things I recommended above will do it, but sometimes it's best to target the body tension directly to get the mental results you are looking for.

There is a large variety of things that can do this, such as yoga. The most effective form of yoga I've found so far is "Yin Yoga". You basically get into certain positions and stay in them for a very long time (usually about 5 mins). It really does wonders. But I found my results inconsistent with it though. Sometimes it would perform as good as JSJ, and sometimes it would be worse than walking.

There is a lot more to be said on this topic, but in general "breathing into" areas of tension does a lot to reduce it as well.