INTP: Procrastination and Perfectionism

The link between Procrastination and Perfectionism.

[@Cerulean0987]

Sometimes I find I want to know so much about a subject before I start a task, that I spend tons of time researching and becoming an expert, yet never start the task.

[@AnaGfit23]

+James Tarr this is so relatable...

[@swish043]

+James Tarr I went through probably 30 academic articles in depth and compiled pages and pages and pages and pages of notes to do this one poster. Ended up handing the poster in several days late and missed my demo day because I was still busy researching. My peers mostly cited 5 papers, max.

[@jennyp3430]

omg that's so me :-0 I need to know little things about the subject before I really decide to work on it

[@mauve9266]

Me all the time with homework 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@cutierenesmeegirl]

I have never met an INTP in "the real world" and while I do like being rare, sometimes I get pretty lonely and sad that I have no one to enthuse my ideas to and someone ho understands my personality.

[@ChiefBlackBear]

You can find INTPs on a Facebook group for them if you'd be interested in that.

[@MrCrystalm8]

***** Why didn't i think of that..?

[@basto1d]

MrCrystalm8 I just found a subreddit on reddit for INTP's too.

[@MrCrystalm8]

basto1d never been on reddit, whats it all about?

[@basto1d]

What is reddit not about would be a better question. Actually, it's a really difficult question. It's a user edited social networking / news site thingy, with lots and lots of sub "channels" in lack of better words. Lots of news today, and i mean A LOT OF NEWS actually turn up first on reddit. One can make a channel, called a "subreddit" for any interest one shares with others. Eg. INTP. Try this on for a size: www.reddit.com/r/INTP/ I would also suggest trying some other subjects from the top of the page.

[@Kaneki6386]

" You're so smart, but you're lazy" If I was lazy I would have dropped out of school and become a housewife.

[@harriettbanish5285]

Am lowkey considering it

[@kaitlin3102]

Being a housewife is a lot of work.

[@harriettbanish5285]

I actually red somewhere that intp women make the shittiest housewives ever. It'll be a m e s s

[@genuinedraft9549]

Are there any other INTPs that when they start overachieving they start working less because they don't want to draw attention on themselves?

[@lovevelveteen8169]

I know the feeling. The activity becomes less enaging for me when the people around me expect me to do well consistently. That kind of environment is even more suffocating than the average social interaction. So I lie low for a while until they find the next attraction aaand it's pressure-to-be-perfect-be-gone! I'm free to be comfortable with my trial and error process with the activity. Thought I might share.

[@firstlast1598]

YES

[@Dummy257]

I don't know, I've never overachieved

[@ismahenelarbi7386]

This is very accurate for me

[@rast123456789]

I feel the self doubt starts out as delusional over confidence and then when failure happens(as it inevitably will due to taking on task that are too big on) the crippling self doubt sets in. I find this strange because we are supposed to be rational but we can often have very irrational views about ourselves.

[@SommetiderHvorforDetRoligRolig]

We are kinda perfectionists on the inside.. i seek mening and understanding about everything, and this makes my inside world well thought out, but i suck in the outside world.. my room is always a mess, it keeps getting worse and worse but only till a point.. when it is TO MUCH for me, wich is way to much for ''normal'' people, i do something about it.. then 1 week goes by, and everything is a mess again.. its not that i dont care, i just dont REALLY care.. my thoughts and learning about everything is what cares for me, and i can do that untill something stops me, this could be, for an example a messy room.. also i tend to be most extreme to my desktop where my computer stands.. this is where all the stuff gathers most intensely.. the reason for this is that im always infront of the computer in my offtime (for me its my ontime if you know what i mean xD).. watching documentaries about the universe, about psychopathy (since this is one of my current interests.. its like i want to know what really is causing this lack of empathy and so on.. acturally the video ''egomania'' explains narcissism pretty well, and its the narsissistic psychopath that people fear) Its like my interests are based on 2 main pillars like the mind and the universe.. this then includes everything..

[@SommetiderHvorforDetRoligRolig]

Oh yeah and atlast.. This might seem like someone who has no empathy for other people aswell, but i do, i really intensely do.. when i see new sides of a new person, its like an imagined flower that blooms in fastmotion.. glistening in the dark.. the more good sides i see of people, the more light gathers.. this is my love for other people.. if they were to die, all of the light, all of the beauty would leave our world.. a world in trouble, a world in need of help, a world in need of light. This is one of the things that make up who i am, and my personal personality, together with alot of other learned things that make up who i really am.. Everyone on earth must have some of this acturally.. that would explain why people laugh about commedy.. they see the joke, understand it, and see the light fill their vast mind a little more.. the light that fills up their mind is what was given out by the commedian.. acturally is it this light that is now showing itself as laughter from you.. Narcissistic jokes on the other hand show you the darkness, but your mind quickly gathers the light and is now in battle with the darkness you just percieved.. when this happens this also comes out as laughter, because its a fight between dark and light, that makes up your feeling of some kind of euphoria where you can handle it all i have to go now, just heard there was terror here in my country some hours ago and they are not found

[@gordthor5351]

+Kennie Diamond The mind and the universe seems to be common interests for INTP's. These are my two favorite subjects by far. I'm the exact same way when dealing with a mess. There comes a time when enough is enough and something needs to be done. I really don't think it is a matter of laziness though. I have a very strong work ethic and will never let anyone out do me at work. In my younger years my home was immaculate, but back then I didn't have a computer and actually had a social life. I didn't want anyone to think I was a slob. It's no wonder why INTP's absolutely love the internet, but it really is the worst thing for them. Being INTP's I'm sure they all realize that, but there is no way they are going to give up their computer. I know that I can't go a day without my computer (actually 5 lol). Like other INTP's have stated, I wouldn't trade my mind set for anything, even though it seems to cause a life long battle within. I'm never depressed, but there always seems to be something missing (probably the elusive perfection that doesn't really exist). It seems that all INTP's claim that they don't care what others think (myself included), but I think that couldn't be further from the truth. Also the same for,"we don't need relationships". Most people think we don't feel, but the truth is that we feel so deeply that we need to suppress our feelings to avoid being overwhelmed. Not to mention we suppress our emotions out of necessity in order to avoid biases in our constant quest for the truth. It's not easy being an INTP, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[@diversyly7066]

Kennie Diamond i swear this is so me !!

[@pacha777]

Yeap that is me too as an intp. If I had no obligations I would be 24/24 on internet... well maybe 16 to be more realistic..

[@dhoakohime]

OMG...so true....and this is why i deeply envy intj... In other aspects i like intp better but this specific topic of procastination and perfectionism brings so much..bleh, it really makes you feel like sh** and batters your already low self esteem to like -5000, because you end up feeling useless and a total failure :(. And it is odd! because at the same time you notice that you are not an idiot, that you do things that people find amazing and you acknowledge that people find you more that capable of doing anything..but still this feeling of failure..it is so crippling.. In my worst moment i didn't finish the final project of a Master i was doing because of sheer terror that i was going to present something really crappy and that in the end, if i was only able to do that, that meant my capacities where that crappy..so despite all the teachers telling me that i did pretty good stuff and that i was very good, i finished the master but didn't get the diploma because i didn't finish the end-project...so stupid..

[@xiaowangismydog]

I'm an intp female and I can totally vouch for the accuracy of your videos!

[@itsjackay]

I'm also an intp and everyone just thinks I'm smart but lazy.

[@anniemcgavin1409]

holy shit... i'm a college student and this perfectly sums up my study habits... I had never really thought of myself as a perfectionist, but you nailed it on the head. Thanks for these videos, it's very INTP of you to make them

[@YourmajestyOG]

Every single thing you say about intp anything I understand to an insane level. Life is so freaking hard for us dude

[@vx633]

AMEN

[@harriettbanish5285]

An INTP-t here,. With intps there's so many questions. We constantly expand the issues and the possible reasons to explain why aren't we reaching our full potential, yet I haven't seen any solutions to it, and I'm pissed. I study veterinary medicine and tommorow I'm taking an Anatomy test that I failed, again, long story short I can't bring myself to study it and you literally just explain why. Studying anatomy is messy af, hundreds of book contradicting eachother, the structures aren't even placed correctly, there is no pattern in which I could put all the informations in and I am Hella pissed. I can't do it perfectly. I'm scared, litrelly terrified of the outcome and I can't bring myself to unleash my full potential on a suicide mission. Yet I don't have a choice. I had several panic attacks and even suicidal thoughts because of the fact that I'm failing so bad at anatomy. I need to put my finger on it and I need to do it fast, if there's any literature, pages, or just advices and other intp would like to give me I'm all ears

[@scofieldvictoria]

Yep, it's very true. I put off cleaning my room for long periods of time then once I finally give it my all and friends see the result they're in shock (till it gets messy again). One time I didn't do a five page essay till the day it was due but then I gave it 100% and got an A+ and in high school I didn't do a science project till right before it was due then gave it my all and my teacher thought it was awesome and kept it up till I asked to have it back. I'm taking forever on writing a book because I'm a perfectionist and keep getting writer's block.

[@billybbob18]

I'm a coder, and I procrastinate as well. I've been getting better at starting my projects. I have to tell myself, "ok, take the first step goddammit!" Every great work starts with a first step. One foot in front of the other. If I can temporarily take on the character of an INTJ in the beginning, then the INTP can carry me the rest of the way. We are full of possibility, yet lack in probability.

[@daxmogis9953]

Dude you are awesome. I hope you start producing more content. I love it

[@breakingthemasks]

This! Just another intp chiming in to say, yep, that's how it works. Gotta lock that perfectionism up if we want to achieve anything.

[@AnaGfit23]

I get the whole perfectionist thing, but, as an INTP, one really doesn't tolerate redundancy and does not keep an idea/project/ or skill in their head long once they've theoretically figured it out. And for me, that translates even more to physical projects and papers and assignments. I hardly ever do rough drafts, and if I do I actually normally end up giving up on writing one half way through and delete everything, sometimes even deciding to go in a different direction than what I originally was gonna do. Also, I see a lot of people here talking about, after turning something in/submitting something for review, thinking of things they could've done better. However, I on the other hand never think this. Once I'm done with a project, I'm DONE -unless it comes up later and then I'll get interested in it again. This is probably also due to procrastination; while as an INTP I move quickly from subject to subject, I also procrastinate, so it doesn't give me time to question what I could've done better. Also, I'm probably exhausted after the overdrive I probably had to kick myself into in order to get something done on time (or if it was on a really boring subject.) Along with this though, and maybe this is just strictly something about my personality, I really value the idea of stream-of-consciousness- thinking and writing. I think its my personalities inferior feeling/sensing complex that makes me feel this way, but I really enjoy it and wonder if other intps can relate.

[@MarettDagum]

I actually know that I procrastinate because I am a perfectionist. I have read about that somewhere before, and now I use it as justification whenever my friends ask why I haven't started doing something yet. (It's unbelievable how long it took me to type this comment.) Thanks for the videos!

[@AnaGfit23]

+Marett.A yes, you are talking about being an "Incubator".

[@danniefiction]

I completely agree with this! Its not good enough! Never. This is so spot on with me!

[@photoboy2005]

One of the best hings to do is to realize that you are not going to be good at everything, even though you really, really want to be. Personally, I am not good with languages. English has always been my worst subject, except for foreign languages. And I really want to be able to speak several different languages, but, honestly, I can barely speak English.

[@elimooorhouse4824]

+photoboy2005 Well you can certainly type it! Being an intp can be hard in that way, but I just came to a realization that when INTPs ARE considered very good at something, they completely ignore it as a success and just think about what else they fail at. I still do this, even though people keep telling I have very good talents and it shows. I guess wouldn't kill to be proud of oneself sometimes.

[@jennaistired2060]

Oh my goodness, I agree with everything you have said 100%. Please don't stop making videos your awesome!

[@coyotebonesandbrains]

I'm really glad I found this video, because it helps me understand why I get so anxious about taking tests. Particularly standardized tests. I'm taking the GRE in a couple of days and I keep procrastinating on studying, since I'm worried about not getting a high enough score. Not necessarily because I need a really high score, but if I don't get a really high score then I'll be disappointed in myself.

[@Abby71516]

This is why I sucked at high school. I never knew anyone else did this or thought like this. Mind blown.

[@safran2411]

That's so me :D I'm so chaotic you would never think that im a perfectionist but when I have to do presentations and stuff i procrastinate a lot bc I don't know how to make it perfect or I don't want to bc my mind is somewhere else but at the point where I have almost no time anymore I get the best out of it and the presentation is always pretty good tho I always think that it could be better! like I also have to understand EVERYTHING to feel comfortable presenting it

[@ColdLittleAshes]

As yes, crippling self doubt. One of my favourite things about being an INTP. We want so badly to succeed but are so afraid of failure that we procrastinate our projects until the last possible moment. Then we are disappointed by the result and our fear of starting the next project increases. It's a vicious circle.

[@Sapphiamur]

Yes, this is me.

[@downey6666]

Great analyse on the inner-conflict hampering INTPs from comitting to a project & I'd also add on the Procrastination side, that its very easy to think of a reason NOT to do something.

[@rachaelwilliamson7433]

Dude...this is my life...

[@Chi_di]

This video really hit home. So true!

[@rast123456789]

I agree. I find being able to figure out others almost instantly while at the same time not knowing how to interact effectively is ironic.

[@lauryne.3354]

YOU KNOW ME SO WELL. Lol, love ur vids. Subscribed definitely. From a fellow intp.

[@dewdrop303]

of all of your videos, I've been able to relate to this one the most, i find myself never studying for tests for the reasons you stated. I also think that you should definitely keep doing INTP videos because they are really interesting but feel free to spice it up with some other videos :)

[@Dragonchild12]

I did this a lot concerning tests and exams. I would study, but never as much as I should have. If I did poorly then I was always like "oh well I didn't put much effort into it anyways". But there were many time where I did do well and I was like "I am awesome" lol.

[@MrCrystalm8]

I love this guy !! :DDD

[@morgandodson5320]

I love how when watching your videos you say basically the same things I say on a daily basis.

[@AnaGfit23]

look into the term "Incubator", I think it describes a lot of INTPs and honestly the INTP thinking process in terms of how we go about projects.

[@TheJerbol]

As an INTJ I can totally relate to this. It's very strange how we (INTx I'm guessing are fairly similar in this regard) can be perfectionists holding ourselves to this very high standard and yet procrastinating and doing poorly at the same time.

[@Damiano54]

I have been procrastinating bigtime as far as selling my house because I want every thing to go just right, so yeah, I keep putting it off. I've felt like I was a perfectionist for a long time, and yes, I am an INTP. I've enjoyed your INTP videos and would be interested in seeing videos from you on other topics.

I feel in home here. Let's make a sect :D XDD

[@kalymu5639]

ok, after a week on my open tabs I think I can watch the video

[@rast123456789]

I really needed this comment. Thanks :)

[@joshjd01]

I'm so much like this! Holy crap!

[@johnbarnum5907]

right on INTP brother

[@ismahenelarbi7386]

"you don't want this bad result to reflect who you are"

[@tollerest]

so true. I wondered why I feel bad about being competitive. I thought it was because I feel that I have an unfair advantage and don't want to be seen trying as it would look like I'm rubbing it in. Man I'm so out of touch with myself. Really I get anxiety because I'm overthinking the best was to focus for the task, and never settle on one thing for fear of being imperfect. Same for procrastination? I'm not sure. I know I can't be taught, I will ignore solutions to problems in order to solve them intuitively and I can figure the ins and outs and then look at the efficiency/accuracy of the my method compared to the common one.

[@queajy3952]

It's been 6 years, I've been procrastinating watching your videos since then..... uhmm

[@bonycrow3556]

Id rather not test my limits because i prefer to assume i have none. even though i know this is false i continue to leave open the possibility because the reality is too depressing.

[@aidenturvey5049]

I can relate to this strongly, I never put even half effort into things because I'm scared about not being good enough and reject that idea. So I use that as an escape so I can always say I could do a lot better in something, if I even attempt it.

[@OutlawMantis]

Yup. I truly am my own worst enemy.

[@theonknownone]

Holy shit!!! This is so true

[@blackpearl1t]

yeah thanks

[@currikane5456]

I totally agree on this. I wanted so bad to perfect my dissertation I let it sit until I was near the deadline. I ended up extending the time to write it and again I procrastinated until it was weeks toward the second deadline. I really hate this INTP trait but most of the time I can't help it (because of perfectionism).

[@anthonyigo]

I definitely have this complex. I came to this same conclusion when I was recently trying to understand (aren't was ALWAYS trying to understand?) why I hadn't finished this screenplay. When I'm in critic mode, I talk about writing and story as an expert...and I fear that if my actual product doesn't live up to greatness then I'm a false prophet. I believe I can be great at it, but it'll take 100% effort. Meanwhile, I have a rapidly accelerating career that I enjoy at only 60% effort. It's safer

[@smehskeh]

I had always contemplated the reasons for my procrastination and this was always something I had considered but really put off digging deeper about because it made me feel flawed heh that's ironic.

[@jarredharris5862]

I am an INTP and I work as a detail guy at a car dealership. What really sucks is I cannot spend the time I want on a car to make it perfect and many times I have to stop and start the same project over and over because of other random things going on. The result is I'm angry... ALL THE FREAKING TIME!!!

[@iFreeThink]

You're awesome! :p If only I could be as articulate as you... Maybe you could do a video for tips on how to be less awkward and more social? :p

[@bakita3416]

Thanks for that. Great insights for me although you kept say "I don't know..." . Yes, I thought that room of yours looks too tidy. ; )

I'm spanish and a INTP, I learn english all by myself in a few months, but I feel like a little girl when I express myself in english because I have this huge inner world that I can't totally share with people unless it is in my mother language... I mean, I can in a 80%... but I speak slowly and I look idiotic, so, I doesn't feel good when I have to spend much time in another country :(

[@TheYTCable]

Motivación Para Tu Vida Yeah its horrible to not know the technical English or not have/knowing the right vocabulary to convey a message and meaning as intended. Maybe reading a lot might help.

[@Shawouin]

Motivación Para Tu Vida This inhability to express yourself the way you want because of the barrier language is really frustrating, probably even more for an INTP, it show you are not good enough at something, even though you are better than a lot of people. It's never good enough anyway, perfectionism

[@minnamjin7017]

cause we're perfectionist we tends to tell in what's wrong with people and they think that i'm a know it all but they deep down know that i'm right.

[@curiniul]

So who are the great starters and finishers among the mbti types, and how to acquire their skills?

[@nidakamal9038]

so true

[@neotokyo03]

I am an intp procrastinator and a have the exactly same conclusion

[@rast123456789]

Thanks haha. Idk if I am that articulate but I guess I could do a video about that.

[@mskiptr]

I put off a lot of tasks not because I'd fail but just "they need to be done properly". (I mean, it would be pretty hard to e.g. 'fail' cleaning a room.) So yeah… If someone knows a good approach to handling this, I'd love to hear about it!

[@abelbeans]

wow..............thought I was one of a kind

[@raincatz]

its ssssooooooo true

[@machoke666]

ok but here's my pov, humans are imperfect and everything humans do will always be imperfect. things can be better and worse, but they'll never be perfect because perfection doesn't exist. apart from that there's a certain charm apbout things being imperfect; look up the term "wabi-sabi"

[@rast123456789]

Also on a side note, people say that Alan Greenspan is an INTP haha

[@beyondallreason-du4pq]

This is accurate in my case, if I know it is not going to be perfect i don't want to start...but does perfect even exist?

[@Fate2024]

Can you make a video dissecting young intp females, not literally

[@randyvanegten6534]

I think we do sometimes have a irrational view of ourselves, because we are not so social and we reflect less in social situations... do you agree upon that? It is linked with the constant sense of failure we have to deal with...

[@rast123456789]

Good luck in this market :/ too bad it wasn't ten years ago when you could have been riding the housing bubble before it popped. Damn Greenspan!

[@blackult1]

I like to think that once I realize in my brain that I can accomplish something it becomes fullfilling enough just to KNOW i can do it. Does this line up with INTP? INFP?

[@xRamonahx]

Wow. It's like someone's reading my mind. Did you research all this or was it simply observation?

[@elimooorhouse4824]

+Emma He's an intp. I'll take an educated guess and call this improvisation.

[@RB-nh1om]

this is me with school

[@MissHeyheyhey1994]

this is exactly me. fuck.

[@biohazardcel]

Happens to me

[@naym2268]

Do ypu tidy your room for your videos?

[@rast123456789]

Unfortunately yes lol

[@Chloe-rs8nv]

I'm 2 years late, but I'm here just to say, your reply made me laugh.

[@ILoveeArabic]

+Tomacity(Rast) Lol! :p

[@mauve9266]

2:20 Yeesh attack me then 🪓

[@23stephh]

:)))))))))))

[@jaibrown91]

You actually do quite well, You might find it a little easier if you speak slower though.