Problems and difficulties encountered by INTP's.

[PsiKik]

These are some problems I think other INTP's might identify with.
I am trying to think of ways to solve these problems and perhaps make the solutions available to others in the form of a 'survival guide'.
I found something called an INTP survival guide somewhere, but it was intended as humor.

OK, here are some of the problems.

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
- non completion of tasks
- poor socialization
- depression due to these factors

Are there any techniques to specifically 'treat' say, procrastination?
eg. In my work as a programmer, I find that if I am not feeling motivated then reviewing what I have done the previous day helps to put me into the mood for working, otherwise I just stare at the screen or websurf.
I get anxious if I feel I have not done enough in the day.

In the past I was diagnosed with depression, but it went away as I got more control and understanding of my life and nature.
I feel the depression was caused by these factors, not some genetic or inherent physical cause.

side thought - Why would an INTP even think of something such as a survival guide for our type? Would an ESFJ think of such a thing?

[adamaw11]

I'll probably add a few comments to this, but I'm tired atm so will hold back a bit.

As for the side thought, I don't think its anything unusual for an INTP to think of something like this. When one is in a certain mood and certain things are important, or generating a lot of interest for the INTP, I think its fairly natural for them to start planning it out a bit while getting enthusiastic.

More-so back in uni or high school I found I would sometimes get really into something, and always be thinking of ways to optimise and improve it. I used to be right into overclocking my computer, and the amount of long term motivation and interest I had in this was surprising for me. Yet it was still really a procrastination thing if I was actually supposed to be working on assignments or something. If only I could build up that same enthusiasm and interest in something that earns money. Come to think of it, its been a long time since I've been anywhere near as enthused and effort giving as I was sometimes at uni - leaves me wondering whats happened to me these last few years.


So, yeah, that would be pretty cool if we could work togethor to find solutions or ways around these difficulties we seem to have.

[crule81]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
- non completion of tasks
- poor socialization
- depression due to these factors


I can completely relate at this point in my life. The last few months, I've been depressed for the very same reasons. I'm 26 and had never been depressed for more than a day or two until now. The thing that changed is that I no longer have any real goals and nothing significant to which to look forward. Most people cannot believe I have any reason to be depressed - I have a job, an education, and am living comfortably financially. I can't really help you because I don't know how to even help myself, but at least you'll know others are going through the same thing.

[PsiKik]

I have gotten over most of these, I don't get badly depressed anymore mainly because
I feel secure in my job at the moment and have spent a huge amount of time
finding ways to cope.
I have found the biggest motivator is to have a goal, any goal. Right now for me it is
to get my driving licence and improve my socialization skills.
I have also found excercising is great, I do about an hour of cycling everyday.
The feeling of continually progressing and learning is great, though you have to consciously realize this and take steps to make it happen. For me the greatest insight was to avoid stagnation.

[lauriep]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
- non completion of tasks
- poor socialization
- depression due to these factors


I can completely relate at this point in my life. The last few months, I've been depressed for the very same reasons. I'm 26 and had never been depressed for more than a day or two until now. The thing that changed is that I no longer have any real goals and nothing significant to which to look forward. Most people cannot believe I have any reason to be depressed - I have a job, an education, and am living comfortably financially. I can't really help you because I don't know how to even help myself, but at least you'll know others are going through the same thing.

I have found that I really need some type of goal to work towards, even if I get bored and change directions along the way. Otherwise, I just feel lost and aimless. A few years ago, I found myself in a seemingly great position, I didn't have to work and could just devote myself to reading and doing volunteer work. However, I have never been more depressed in my life.

[Claverhouse]

All of those. Alas.



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Boozer]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
- non completion of tasks
- poor socialization
- depression due to these factors


I can completely relate at this point in my life. The last few months, I've been depressed for the very same reasons. I'm 26 and had never been depressed for more than a day or two until now. The thing that changed is that I no longer have any real goals and nothing significant to which to look forward. Most people cannot believe I have any reason to be depressed - I have a job, an education, and am living comfortably financially. I can't really help you because I don't know how to even help myself, but at least you'll know others are going through the same thing.

Exactly where I'm at.

[Nighthawk]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
- non completion of tasks
- poor socialization
- depression due to these factors


Motivation - I have to piss on an electric outlet every morning just to get up enough energy to go back to the drudgery at work

Procrastination - I'm the master of unfinished projects. Half a dozen unfinished websites out there.

Indecision About Career - I hope this doesn't disappoint anybody, but I still have that same problem at age 42. I've changed careers every 10 years and I'm coming up on year #10 as a software engineer. Currently looking for something else that might motivate me more. I have a feeling it will involve going back to school.

Poor Socialization - I had a lot of "training" to be outgoing, flamboyant, visible, and to socialize when I was younger ... at a military academy. I was outgoing and socialized a lot during my 10 year stint as an army officer. When I got out, I stopped socializing. If I'm not forced to do it, then I won't. It's not a confidence or shyness issue, just a preference.

Depression - big time ... runs in cycles. I flip-flop every few years from attributing it to environment, to blaming it on a chemical imbalance. Try medications every few years as well. Wellbutrin is working pretty well at the moment. I do believe however, that my job has a lot to do with the depression. I work at a bank, which is Guardian Central. Nothing but rules, process, meetings, procedures, and business as usual. They are just finally getting on board here with .NET ... over four years after it came out. Nothing new or risky. Five managers for every developer. Three documents for every line of code. SJ heaven, but NT hell. Jeeez ... no wonder I'm depressed.

--------------------

I agree with the goals comments. I am usually happiest when I'm pursuing a challenging goal of my own choosing. When I'm "in the zone" that way, all is right with the world.

[Seraph]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )

Oh yes. I constantly skip class, because I just don't care anymore. I feel like school is a massive waste of time.

- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )

Yup. I will procrastinate til the end of time if possible.

- Indecision ( about career in younger years )

Well, I do know what career I want. But if you send me to the store to get a box of cereal, I'll probably be there an hour deciding which one to get.

- non completion of tasks

YES. I'll get 1/8 the way through, and then my "P" will say, "This is boring...I know! Let's do this instead!" and it's on to the next project.

- poor socialization

What socialization?

- depression due to these factors

Well, not really. I'm learning to accept myself for the most part. If things get bad, I just recede into my imagination.

[Sam172]

- Low motivation
Bingo....I want to do things, just I don't have the motivation to do it. Once I got myself motivated to learn juggling.....then I mastered it in a few days and went back to doing nothing again
- Procrastination
Oh yeah. I do believe I have procrastinated, and now have an essay and a large piece of coursework to do for tomorrow. I think i'm in the poohole now ¬_¬
- Indecision
I have no idea what career I would like to aim for, none whatsoever
- non completion of tasks
Yup, I started tidying up this room 2 months ago. It should have taken an afternoon and it still isn't finished...
- poor socialization
Unless it's one of my friends from my little circle....then yup
- depression due to these factors
Never been really badly depressed. Though I do from time to time...mostly due to above yup. Everything else in life is peachy..


I can't say I know any solution to it though :(

[Arcades]

woot. first post! :cheers:

I am pretty much dealing with the same things as you guys for the whole spectrum of items. My biggest problem recently has been that I cannot figure out what I want to do with my life. I took 2 years of college for forestry then came to the realization that I hate Latin. So I joined the Air Force, this was fun and interesting for the first 9-months or so but then there was nothing more to learn. So I went back to school and have spent the last 5 years jumping from subject to subject never actually completing a full degree. Now I am about to reenlist for another 4 years because I STILL do not know what I want to do with myself. I don’t feel like I am bragging on this forum when I say that Iv never run into anything I cannot do, (except for spelling). Therefore, I am left with nothing to help me decide about what I should do with the rest of my life.

[Witticism]

Alas, horribly true.
Has anyone noticed that INTPs all seem to share the same faults more than virtues?

[Werdna]

Has anyone noticed that INTPs all seem to share the same faults more than virtues?

Maybe because people are on this board because of their faults rather than their virtues? I think I am. Just a thought.

- Low motivation
The reason I choose this college was because it would be easy to find a cheap apartment and they have good broadband connections. ;)

- Procrastination
I have a math project i should be working on right now.

- Indecision
I started studying computer science because I've always found it interesting and it was something I knew I could do. I'm not sure it's what I want though.

- non completion of tasks
When it comes to hobbies, yes. I have a computer game I've been working on since first year in high school. I occasionally try to write short stories, same thing.

- poor socialization
I never socialize.

- depression due to these factors
Used to be, but not anymore. I sometimes get depressed because I feel I can't understand something, when all I really need to do is study some more. But I don't have enough motivation... :(

What to do about it, I don't know.
This site was mentioned in another thread:
http://www.9types.com/descr/5/
It's about the enneagram, but it does have something on how to deal with ones INTPness under E-gram transform to the left, assuming you're also type 5.[/i]

[Tranzors]

Poor socialization, me i'd socialize more if there weren't a lot of stupid people on earth. A lot of people on earth should have been blanket stains. I'd talk to a lot of INTx if there were a lot.

[giftedmadness@hotmail.com]

I don’t feel like I am bragging on this forum when I say that Iv never run into anything I cannot do, (except for spelling). Therefore, I am left with nothing to help me decide about what I should do with the rest of my life.

I will brag too. I took this aptitude test from the State that lasted 2 full days that was supposed to give me some guidance as to what to do with my life, as far as a career goes. The conclusion? "Mr. M can do anything if he applies himself."

It left me in a worse off position than I arrived in.

Sometimes I feel having every option in the world is like having a ball and chain holding you down. I'm afraid to devote time to anything for fear that I picked the wrong career.

[giftedmadness@hotmail.com]

Oh, as far as the depression, no goals, lack of motivation, and no direction with a career, my website and online journal deal with that topic alot, as I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2000.

www.EternalHarmony.org

www.livejournal.com/users/scuzks

[lauriep]

I don’t feel like I am bragging on this forum when I say that Iv never run into anything I cannot do, (except for spelling). Therefore, I am left with nothing to help me decide about what I should do with the rest of my life.

I will brag too. I took this aptitude test from the State that lasted 2 full days that was supposed to give me some guidance as to what to do with my life, as far as a career goes. The conclusion? "Mr. M can do anything if he applies himself."

It left me in a worse off position than I arrived in.

Sometimes I feel having every option in the world is like having a ball and chain holding you down. I'm afraid to devote time to anything for fear that I picked the wrong career.

I have been trying to figure what to do for a career and finally went to a counselor for some advice. Same thing - you can do anything if you just apply yourself. I just left more frustated than when I began.
But having had too many false starts, I'm afraid to pick just one. It's a great feeling to know that you can do anything you want if you just stay motivated but how to stay motivated if it's the wrong choice.

[Johnny]

I think the biggest problem for INTP's is the notion that the world (including the people that inhabit it) isn't a model, an elaborate and intricate design, but a dynamic, ever-changing thing that is constantly in motion. It's perfectly O.K. to work hard, very hard, at some particular thing that we have tranfixed ourselves upon as though we were questing for the Holy Grail and fail...failure simply isn't synonymous with doom. Worse, were failure not to exist and everything be static, there would not be an opportunity for improvement, for growth, or simply change.

Change is life, and life is change. I think this is the hardest part for a person with an INTP preference to really appreciate and reconcile, because we see so much beauty in thought (e.g., mathematics, law, religion, even in the intellectually-forged weapons we use to disassemble them).

The funny part, to me, is that change is the one thing that both Moses and Darwin can agree on...

:sombrero:

[Nighthawk]

Sometimes I feel having every option in the world is like having a ball and chain holding you down. I'm afraid to devote time to anything for fear that I picked the wrong career.

Don't sweat it too much. If you get into something you don't like, its not terribly difficult to switch directions and do something else. Plus, you learn a lot about what works best for you by actually trying something ... whether it works out or not. Most careers look very different once you get inside them and actually start doing the work. My first career choice (military) was an abysmal failure, so I switched careers to software engineering at age 29.

Now I'm a bit disillusioned with the software field, so I'm thinking of switching yet again. I had a lot of anxiety the first time I switched, but it actually ended up being a lot of fun. It cures the monotony of doing the same thing over and over again ... which tends to happen at some point in many careers.

[Crazy]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
Always a problem. People thought I was narcoleptic in school.
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
I didn't even finish reading all the posts before I posts, there's more, but I'll get to that later
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
Yes, I have a very big lack if direction and decisiveness when it comes to my future
- non completion of tasks
It would take me better than an hour to think of all the things that are currently not completed that I started. Most will never get finished.
- poor socialization
Well, if the Military would pay better, I would have rich socialization, or at least middle class socialization ;P I think I may have as many as 4 people I socialize with.
- depression due to these factors
No, I must be immune to depression.
side thought - Why would an INTP even think of something such as a survival guide for our type? Would an ESFJ think of such a thing?
No, an ESFJ would write about thier experiences in a diary. INTP's see that they have trouble with certain things, see a way to improve it, and eventually, they actually get around to producing something in order to let other INTP's know that there is a better way.

[booyalab]

in my experience with ESFJs, they don't need diaries, they just relay their experiences to the next person they see....even if it's you and even if you dont care.

[Sackanaka]

I agree about ESFJ's needing to relay experiences; my suitemate is fascinating to observe. His attention to detail is amazing, but his ability to make everything cohesive is another issue. We try to help each other ;).
I think it's safe to say that most INTPs share these same faulty characteristics. When I do feel depressed about myself (that's another thing- whenever I'm most depressed, it's usually at myself), I tend to collect my thoughts and realize that I still owe it to myself to at least not be a whiny person and attempt to change things. Then when things don't change on the outside, I usually change the way I view the situation. This itself may lead to more depression... in which case I try to completely turn off my thinking by playing games, exercising or watching cartoons/manga.

[giftedmadness@hotmail.com]

[b]- No, an ESFJ would write about thier experiences in a diary. INTP's see that they have trouble with certain things, see a way to improve it, and eventually, they actually get around to producing something in order to let other INTP's know that there is a better way..

Wow. This actually grooves with my website idea, giftedmadness.com, as discussed below (taken from my online journal)

"GM.com will be a website for the mentally ill that brings together people who have managed their illness successfully with those who have been recently diagnosed. This mentoring relationship can be pursued through the phone, email, or even in person. Also, healing through the simple act of self expression will be encouraged. Patients can submit their pieces of art work to be showcased on the website.

I have battled bipolar disorder since 1998 and for the past 3 years have managed my illness with a certain degree of success. It is my goal to bring together those who are experienced in managing their illness with those who need the help most. Although the newly diagnosed may have support from their family members and educated professionals, nothing beats the experience of actually living through a mental illness and this mentoring relationship is something that would be hard to find anywhere else."

[giftedmadness@hotmail.com]

This itself may lead to more depression... in which case I try to completely turn off my thinking by playing games, exercising or watching cartoons/manga..

I have found this to be true with a few addictions I have.

[synchronous]

Low motivation:Always.

Procrastination: Always. Still a big problem at middleage

Indecision: Big time. Still do at middleage sadly enough.

non completion of tasks: have many unfinished projects.

poor socialization: Yes. Always been. I don't like small talk, and generally don't like to socialize except for one or two people. I have mediocre social skills overall, but, have improved over the last few years,

depression due to these factors: Ebbs and flows. Career has been a disappointment, but, I do understand now why this happens.

"In the past I was diagnosed with depression, but it went away as I got more control and understanding of my life and nature":
Yes that makes sense. I've used the Enneagram to understand my motivations and learn how out to get out of my rut. Essentially, in order to release the energy to get the things I need done, I have to move counter-intuitively. Give more (my space, time, energy) to others; get out of my head and move towards my gut - excercise, walk, do even if I don't feel like it. confront instead of withdrawing.

[Crazy]

in my experience with ESFJs, they don't need diaries, they just relay their experiences to the next person they see....even if it's you and even if you dont care.

very true. My wife is an ESFJ. Everytime we have marriage problems, everyone and thier brother knows about it. It's very frustrating that everone else knows my business, sometimes better than I do.

I don't think she would ever come up with a survival guide for ESFJ's. Not because she isn't intelligent, because she is, but the thought would never cross her mind.

[booyalab]

in my experience with ESFJs, they don't need diaries, they just relay their experiences to the next person they see....even if it's you and even if you dont care.

very true. My wife is an ESFJ. Everytime we have marriage problems, everyone and thier brother knows about it. It's very frustrating that everone else knows my business, sometimes better than I do.

I don't think she would ever come up with a survival guide for ESFJ's. Not because she isn't intelligent, because she is, but the thought would never cross her mind.

ESFJs seem to manipulate social settings so everything revolves around their style. (as opposed to us INTPs who take our cues from others) So they don't really need a survival guide either. My mom's an ESFJ and I'm alternately impressed and annoyed by her ability to have control over conversations and social interaction this way.

[Crazy]

It's interesting when an ESFJ loses control of the conversation, and they try so hard to get it back. My wife will put out alot of BS and pretend she is knowledgable about the subject. She'd rather have control over the situation than listen to what the other person(s) have to say.

[heeroyuy]

The worst thing about the one ESFJ I know closely, is that he complains continuously and will refuse to take ANY advice. If he asks what to do, and you say one thing, he'll complaian about why that's bad, then about why the other's bad. If you threaten to stop listening, or say that you have to go, he gets angry and says that he'll kill himself with his razorblade which he keeps on his wall (so that if we're at his house we can see it). Everyone I know is annoyed by him. He'd be a nice guy, if he'd just realize that he needs to grow up a little and stop whinning about _everything_.

So yes, I do agree, ESFJ's (from my limited experience), do tend to do this.

[spirilis]

a dumb quote to add-

If you feel something is missing in your life, chances are there probably is. Work with yourself to figure it out.

[Boneca]

This site was mentioned in another thread:
http://www.9types.com/descr/5/
It's about the enneagram, but it does have something on how to deal with ones INTPness under E-gram transform to the left, assuming you're also type 5.[/i]
I think this page was quite good...something like a mantra. (I can really imagine my Ju-jutsu trainer say some of this while we are meditating!).

It will probably take quite some time to learn to agree with all this though.
"I have faith in the future and in human beings"...yeah, right! I believe humankind will go to hell. (But since I don't believe there is a hell either, where does that leave me?)

[KoDeN]

Low motivation. I had teachers and friends in school say that if I applied myself to something that it would be scary.

Socialization. I can socialize if either someone starts talking to me... or if I am speaking on behalf of someone else or on behalf of an organization.

Indecision. I'm not sure.

Non-completion of tasks. Yeah I have that too, I really think that I

Procrastination. I'll get to this one later.

But really. I think that people in general don't understand intp's. I think that our way of thinking is so alien to other people that they think there is something wrong with us. ie, today I tried to pick up the front end of a 4-5 hundred pound lawn mower. Someone asked me if I was stupid, I said "No, I just wanted to see if it could be done."

INTP's are the type who would nail a table to the cieling just to see if it could be done. They innovate, and not only do they like thinking of new and better ways to do things, they like to think of new things to do. And they get bored with anything that has already been done.

[athman]

I said "No, I just wanted to see if it could be done."



I find that too. One of my favourite sayings is; 'why? - because I can'

[Tranzors]

The worst thing about the one ESFJ I know closely, is that he complains continuously and will refuse to take ANY advice. If he asks what to do, and you say one thing, he'll complaian about why that's bad, then about why the other's bad. If you threaten to stop listening, or say that you have to go, he gets angry and says that he'll kill himself with his razorblade which he keeps on his wall (so that if we're at his house we can see it). Everyone I know is annoyed by him. He'd be a nice guy, if he'd just realize that he needs to grow up a little and stop whinning about _everything_.

So yes, I do agree, ESFJ's (from my limited experience), do tend to do this.

I think a lot of ESFJs, not all of them, are closed minded.

[mgb]

This is great.

Most of these answers are pretty much my report card comments all the way through school.

Also, I really liked the blanket stain comment from Tranzors, I hope I can use that.

I am 27, I have a degree and no job right now and I am back in school for another degree. I just discovered Myers Briggs. I guess I would say that low motivation comes from not doing something you are interested in. For me its philosophy, something that doesn't pay well until you have like 10 years of school, which I don't. So I am relegated to things like retail working for bosses that are functionally illiterate and this can slowly strangle the life out of you.

I think the unfortunate thing about INTP is that the jobs we would be best at require a lot of schooling and a high level of commitment. So career change would be a tough pill to swallow. I feel a sense of urgency to figure out exactly what I should do because everyone tells me I have to do something. I guess "something" is good enough for most people but not so much for me and probably not you either.

And yes, compound that will feelings of isolation because most people just don't get it and life looks pretty miserable because they don't.

[KoDeN]

he threatens to kill himself whenever you leave? Tell him to "Either grow up and get a life or grow some balls and kill yourself."

[crule81]

I put my boxers on backwards this morning. Just noticed it when I went to pee for the first time. I've put tee shirts on backwards frequently. I just think about other things when I'm getting dressed. This is a problem.

[cjs55]

Heh. I've never put on my boxers or t-shirt backwards, but they definitely are inside-out often...

[glassmoon]

I didn't see anything about missing important details. I think this is a great pitfall for the INTP. I often build theories about things which I later find to be completly wrong because of failing to see a crucial detail.

Oh wow, I just realized this forum is actually an INTP's support group... As INTP's are so rare and probably the least understood of all types, it might explain the over representaion of this type in the web.

[glassmoon]

Heh. I've never put on my boxers or t-shirt backwards, but they definitely are inside-out often...
I don't remember even one time when I wore it right. I ALWAYS wear it backwards and I'm used to move it back.

[glassmoon]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
Do I ever! INTP's need to work alone and have freedom in their work.
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
I do everything in the night before, realy, even if I can do it when I get the assignment and I know how to do it, I still procrastinate it as long as I can and the quality suffers because of this.
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
I just don't wanna make ANY choice. I'd prefer doing everything and not narrowing down my options (I know it's impossible).
- non completion of tasks
I usually complete the important ones...
- poor socialization
INTP's are less likly to go to parties and social events, but as long as one has a few friends (or A friend) I don't see a problem.
- depression due to these factors

They usually have complex characters, and may tend to be restless and temperamental.As was discussed throughly before, it might be the mental diorders correlation.
It's tough being different, I guess :unsure:

[Ka.avik]

As to the first few bullets, I'd say you hit the nail squarely on the head. I'm always flitting from project to project, just to keep my interest up enough to get more than, as another poster said, "1/8th done". If I were an actual programmer, I'd write a window manager that rotated my various text editors/graphics programs/ whatever every minute, or faster. So I'd be typing, and all of a sudden that photo I wanted to retouch would be in front of me. Just as I decide what to do with it, (and before I can change my mind!) my photoshop-contest entry would pop up. I'd start adding godzilla to the forest when my blog entry would be in front of me.......etc.....

> depression

Yes...and no. I've come to grips with who I am, even if no one else has. I'm going to quote the great philosopher Popeye, and explain to you that I yam what yam, and that's all that I yam

Of course, what edible tubers that resemble potatos have to do with the INTP personality, I've forgotten...So I'm just going to wander off and eat breakfast now. g'night.

Ka'avik

[s0978]

- Low motivation ( boredom in school, college or job )
- Procrastination ( finishing assignments, papers, studying, doing documentation )
- Indecision ( about career in younger years )
- non completion of tasks
- poor socialization
- depression due to these factors

yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes

I think the "survival guide" is a fantastic idea. I know I would love to read it. Hope you haven't dropped it (but it's quite likely you have).

[glassmoon]

[QUOTE=s0523I think the "survival guide" is a fantastic idea. I know I would love to read it. Hope you haven't dropped it (but it's quite likely you have).[/QUOTE]

:rofl:

[misutii]

I think the unfortunate thing about INTP is that the jobs we would be best at require a lot of schooling and a high level of commitment. So career change would be a tough pill to swallow. I feel a sense of urgency to figure out exactly what I should do because everyone tells me I have to do something. I guess "something" is good enough for most people but not so much for me and probably not you either.

And yes, compound that will feelings of isolation because most people just don't get it and life looks pretty miserable because they don't.

tru dat, i'm in my 3rd year of university and just hoping i can continue bullshitting and slack my way into a masters program. after that i don't know, maybe a phd, and i love telling these "pre-law" students that lawschool is my backup plan

than again, all that university has taught me is how to bullshit, slack off and get away with it, in a sense i think it's preparing me for the real world, and people wonder why i'm so cynically pessimistic...or pessimistically cynical, wateva

[s0978]

Glassmoon, glad I gave you a chuckle, but I actually wasn't even trying to be funny. I was being INTP-serious. :)

[misutii]

I think the "survival guide" is a fantastic idea. I know I would love to read it. Hope you haven't dropped it (but it's quite likely you have).

As long as it includes lots of free drugs, cigarettes and slaves...er i mean organizational assistants

[garak]

If I were an actual programmer, I'd write a window manager . . .
Funny you mention it, because throughout all of the focus-shifting I do, writing my "ideal" window manager has still been my ultimate goal over the past couple years.

[SimonG]

It seems to me that when we are interested in something, we are really interested and therefore there is no problem with motivation or procrastination.

Is the trick therefore to reframe our view of the task in our mind to make it more interesting? This could be to make mental connections, the hint of complexity or simply getting excited about the outcome.

I have found it helpful to limit the number of the things I start as the more I start the more unfinished tasks are in my mind, stopping me from focusing on the task infront of me.

[Elro]

It seems to me that when we are interested in something, we are really interested and therefore there is no problem with motivation or procrastination.

Is the trick therefore to reframe our view of the task in our mind to make it more interesting?

Exactly. Plenty of tasks are boring to me, but if I can find some interesting aspect of, say, a boring school subject, it makes it come alive (so to speak).

I build robots, and once I really started to research it, I noticed all sorts of ties to the courses in my later years of high school. Chemistry, Physics.. Even stuff like Calculus. Although (other than Chemistry) these subjects may have been interesting without noticing the connections to my hobby, I think it increased my interest further. Some subjects/tasks are harder to tie in to your interests than others, but it's worth the effort.

I did this with Economics to understand concepts, and I still use analogies like "economies of scale" to random ideas today. Which partially annoys me, and definitely annoys most people I mention it to. But it just shows how much it can help one learn.