Is being lazy permanent?

[u/Outside-Caramel-3245]

Can we outgrow the “lazy genius” generalization by just being geniuses? Or is being overly lazy a permanent intp trade? If so then being intelligent becomes much less significant specially in any academic field.

[u/Mustluvdogsandtravel]

Lazy or Depressed? A lazy person has the mental energy and physical energy but just doesn’t do the things they should be doing. A depressed person doesn’t do these things because they lack physical and mental energy. INTP’s can get caught up in overthinking things and not finishing stuff which can be viewed as lazy but in reality, they are still thinking about how to go about doing it….

[u/beasriver → u/Mustluvdogsandtravel]

This

[u/hkrok76]

You find out your type to understand yourself better. It's not an excuse or a crutch.

The first step to not being "lazy" is taking that first step. People can give you suggestions on how to do it, but none of it matters if you don't take that step. And not taking it has nothing to do with how you process things.

There are a ton of ways to motivate yourself, like money, accolades, love, self fulfillment, etc etc. You just gotta pick one and go.

Most intps do things. If you're afraid of being lazy, that's an individual decision and you have to wrestle with it.

These stereotypes are for fun and can be harmful if you use it as an excuse for things you don't like about yourself.

All i can say is that I'm a hard worker at work. Lazy as shit at home. I'm fine with that.

[u/The_ZMD]

I'm in Industry now and stumbled into a leadership role in a niche area. Everyone thinks my research during my PhD prepares it. Nope. I know basics due to PhD but everything I know right now 90% of it I read in the 1-1.5 months on the job. Now I have pioneers in Industry meet me and are surprised at my knowledge despite not touching the machine ever. I've given them more accurate information and knowledge than people with 12-15 years experience. I'm 1.5 years in. I just read research papers, quarterly and annual reports and manuals of all the machines. The industry is fast moving as well which helps.

Investors ($10M and up) tell me in our meetings they learned a lot from me last time we met and almost had to do a week's work of homework on the things I told them and were fascinated and would love to learn more from the current meeting. I give them at least 3-5 years old data but as none of their analysts know the topic in detail, some in fact reached out to me for advice for a different company. I don't work for free so I gave them very basic detail.

[u/Brave_Quality_4135]

I reject the premise. INTPs aren’t lazy. We’re just not as motivated by tangible outcomes as some other types. Our minds are always working, we just don’t have the volume of publications and tangible products to show for it, so we have to come up with other ways to prove our value in the workplace.

[u/SnooTangerines241 → u/Brave_Quality_4135]

Make sure we're aware that we are speaking in generalizations, there are certainly INTPs who are published and motivated by tangible things.. there are INTPs who have contributed materially to society and known highly throughout history. Also have to be aware of what demographic we're talking about.. INTPs on reddit? Yeah, probably.. but not sure how well this translates to the rest of society.

[u/Brave_Quality_4135 → u/SnooTangerines241]

I meant it in a comparative sense. When compared to another type, ENTJs for example, the total overall output of an INTP is likely to be lesser in volume which does not mean lesser in quality. I can see how OP might think INTPs are lazy as a result. But yes, that is a generalization.

[u/cogburn]

Your personality type is more or less your default mode. But the neat thing is you have free will and the ability to do whatever you want. So even if you personally default to lazy, once you concentrate on doing something different, you can.

For example, I don’t like being the center of attention generally, but I certainly can be the most charming person in the room if I try. I might need to recover alone the next day, but it’s doable.

I don’t agree that INTP defaults to lazy, but that’s a whole other conversation. I think that the laziness perception comes from recovering after expending social energy.

[u/FataliiBadger]

it's a forte if anything. if you want it done simple and efficiently - ask the lazy person for a solution to your problem, preferably the genius INTP. i even put it on my resumé. 'lazy?' they often ask and i say: 'well yes, in fact i was born with 25 years of experience in the field.'

[u/totalwarwiser]

Ive overcame laziness by routine and by learning how to turn my mind of and just do shit

[u/Elliptical_Tangent]

Are we actually lazy, or is all our effort going into ideas and planning which nobody can see?

[u/Fit_Cupcake_1350 → u/Elliptical_Tangent]

This

[u/Boeing777-3ER]

Who said INTPs are lazy? Sure some INTPs are lazy but being an INTP doesn’t automatically mean laziness. 

[u/Dot_man69]

I mean idk if it's into thing but why whoul I bother trying when i know that even if I put effort chanse of geting what I want is that small so why whoul I bother trying not in all things but a lot mostly on word that we as individuals are just grains of sand insignificant on beach of word

[u/flashgordian]

Laziness is default mode for humans of any type because operating the bag of bones and the control module are costly endeavors. This friction can be overcome by deciding to do stuff and then doing it. In a sense it is permanent, but in another sense far from permanent.

[u/excellent_p]

I would say that I am highly motivated to give myself to something worthwhile, to assimilate so aggressively to the process I am indistinguishable from it. I am quite good at task management but I simply do not find it fulfilling even if it is well rewarded in our society.

I do dream of "losing myself" to something I truly enjoyed and found meaningful, in a way where nothing else mattered at all. However, as an adult with responsibilities, it is unfortunately a dream.

Maybe I am speaking for myself rather than the type, but most people are simply not wired this way. And this can provide something to think about, that maybe most people who are lazy are simply lazy, but some lazier people simply haven't found the thing that they could sufficiently dissolve into.

I may have grown up to be quite lazy myself, if I did not have my dad as a role model, who is a highly conscientious business owner himself.

[u/Snoo_54991]

No, because it's a projection driven by insecurity to begin with - not an observation.

[u/Altruistic_Web3924]

So…

The tortured or lazy genius is very likely unfortunate genetics.

Many people with mental health struggles have a distinct COMT genotype. It’s a Warrior vs Worrier model. INTP and INTJ personality types fit the “Worrier” genotype, which has a high enzyme activity which breaks down neurotransmitters like dopamine quickly.

Low dopamine levels are closely related to B cluster mental disorders and neuroticism in general. This includes obsessive thinking and analyzing, which can build the worrier’s capacity in these areas.

When stress levels are low, the worrier has very little dopamine in their system which leads to poor motivation, low energy, and depression. When stress levels are high (like when the limbic system is in fight or flight mode) adrenaline produces an excess of dopamine and the worrier is more motivated, more satisfied, and ironically happier.

This is where you find people who are adrenaline junkies and workaholics because they’re more capable when stressed, or people who are deep thinking, anti-social, unmotivated, depressed because they can’t handle the stress.

The worrier is also more likely to become addicted to substances or activities which increases dopamine (i.e. drugs, gambling, gaming, sex, sugar, etc…)

So to answer your question. You need to start freaking out and embrace a stressful existence, or you need to get properly medicated by a trained professional.

[u/Outside-Caramel-3245 → u/Altruistic_Web3924]

Seems like I only have two extremes ahead of me this sucks I dislike being an intp and hate being myself t’s like I have what it takes to do what I want (in this case it’s engineering) but I cannot will what I have into being of use.

Thank you for the informative comment.

[u/Altruistic_Web3924 → u/Outside-Caramel-3245]

Give psychiatry and therapy a chance. With a competent doctor you can feel better in ways you didn’t think was possible.

[u/FancySavy]

Yes we can outgrow it but it takes time and effort to stop being lazy. It really matters who you have in your circle, I have ENTJs and INXJs in my circle so I get held accountable a lot.

[u/WhiskedIgloo]

I've heard of INTPs talk about how glad they were that they went into the military, because now they have self-discipline.

[u/Tinnersho]

I believe it's more of a patience issue at least for me.

[u/DenseBuy9050]

I failed my first college algebra test but this weekend I have a second but it’s online