The Unmotivated INTP – 5 Tips To Bounce Back

Are you an INTP that lacks motivation?  I’ve struggled with a lack of motivation for most of my life, which has, in turn, led to lots of frustration and boredom.

I can’t describe how annoyed at myself I get anytime I see a friend “pass me” by accomplishing something that was also within my grasp if not for my apathy. I’m not unintelligent. I have a vast array of knowledge, but because of an inconsistent drive, I fail to excel sometimes, even in tasks that my mind has clearly prescribed for me to do. It took me forever just to write this article.

There was a moment in my life when I had hit an all time low-point; my motivation had completely disappeared. I had to figure out a way to get myself out of the funk I was in, so I pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled a plan that I, for the most part, stick to in times of ennui. Because feeling powerless, as we know, is not good for the mind, body, and soul.

Here are 5 tips to help you when you find yourself unmotivated and unfocused, perhaps struggling just to get through the day.

1. Know your “why?”. I know you’ve probably heard this before, but it is very important to staying motivated and on task. Your “why?” could be anything, a good grade, a new car, to get published, whatever fulfills you internally.

2. Our INTP brains are always in thinking mode, though sometimes we revert to over-thinking mode. This is why sometimes it’s better for us to focus on the smaller goals instead of the big, overarching one. Working on the small goals first helps us stay motivated and prevents our brains from becoming overloaded and overwhelmed.

3. As INTPs we detest routine, but without some sort of routine in place it can be hard to muster up the motivation to get anything done. So writing down our daily tasks is something that we can do. Just be sure to check each one off as you go along. You will find that this will increase your motivation to complete the next one.

4. Decompress at the end of the week. If you met your small goals, reward yourself. I want to stress again: write them down. As an INTP, I used to think it was okay to just remember them in my head. Bad idea. I would forget them a few minutes later and, inevitably, nothing ever got accomplished.

5. Most importantly, because we are motivated internally, make sure the goals you set for yourself are your goals and not someone else’s. Otherwise, there’s a good chance you won’t achieve them. Your motivation level will drop quickly as your subconscious resists and rebels against your inauthentic goals.

By just applying these 5 easy steps, I guarantee your motivation will grow along with your accomplishments, and you will feel better internally- which is exactly what everyone- not just INTPs- needs.