Let me just start by saying—I don’t follow a morning routine that a life coach would be proud of. My day begins with a cigarette, a caffeine fix (absolutely required), and a scroll through WhatsApp, mainly to see if any clients have sent me something urgent overnight. Not exactly monk mode, but it works for me.
While I’m washing up, my brain’s already processing. I mentally sort through which messages are critical, which can wait, and whether I need to write an email, make a call, or just quietly hope the issue disappears (spoiler: it doesn’t).
Now, here’s where my INTP logic starts fighting my INTP laziness—I know that the time I spend commuting from home to the office is kind of a waste. I could technically resolve most of those problems before I even put on pants. But hey, the structure still exists. So I play along.
Once I’m in the office, I check my email. I delete all the junk first (INBOX ZERO gives me weird satisfaction) and then send out replies to clients. That is, unless there’s a scheduled meeting. Meetings throw off everything. If one pops up, I basically pause my productivity engine and hope I remember where I left off later.
Now, I’ll admit something: sometimes, I completely miss emails. I don’t do it on purpose. It’s just that if I don’t answer it the moment I see it, it drops into the mental void. A day or two might pass, and then I’ll catch up on everything in one sitting—assuming nothing else distracts me.
And about those deadlines? Yeah… I procrastinate. I’ll stare at the task for days, think about it constantly, convince myself I’m almost ready, and then finally power through it right before the deadline like I’ve just been handed a last-minute school project. It’s a stupid habit, I know. But it somehow works—until it doesn’t.
So how do I actually stay productive?
Honestly? My system is a patchwork of scribbles, apps, and last-minute surges of effort. I rely heavily on paper—just writing something down helps me remember. I email myself notes when I need a digital breadcrumb trail. For organization, I use:
- OneNote for work notes
- Apple Notes for personal stuff
- TimeTree to track appointments and meetings
It’s not elegant, but it gets the job done—most of the time.
Distractions? My lifelong frenemy.
Once I get sucked into a topic—like writing this post—it’s game over. I’m all in. I can’t stop. I won’t stop. Until… I do. And then it’s really hard to refocus. That’s the INTP curse: hyper-focus until the dopamine drops, and then poof, gone like a thought mid-conversation.
I also like making fast decisions. Fast thinking is my thing. But if someone doesn’t respond fast enough? I forget the conversation even happened. By the next day, I’ve mentally moved on to a new idea, a new problem, or a new weird research rabbit hole.
And speaking of thinking—INTPs think deep. Deeper than people realize. I process tons of information all at once and I’m always trying to find a creative or unconventional solution. I don’t just want to fix something—I want to fix it smarter. I’m a problem solver… just not the most patient one.
So how can I do better?
I’ve been working on a few practical tweaks to keep my brain in check (and if you’re an INTP too, you might want to steal some of these):
1. Build a “Command Center” for My Brain
Since I use so many tools (OneNote, paper, Notes app), I’ve started creating one weekly page to summarize everything. Just 10 minutes on a Sunday. Helps prevent info from floating off into the abyss.
2. Use a Distraction Timer (Reverse Pomodoro Style)
Instead of forcing myself to focus first, I allow 10–15 minutes of “fun distraction time” first. Then I switch into focused mode. It’s weirdly effective.
3. Voice Notes When Motivation Dips
When I’m too lazy to write, I record voice notes. Random thoughts, ideas, rants. I revisit them later and turn them into action steps—or blog posts.
4. Keep a “Dopamine Task List”
I made a list of quick wins I can knock out when I’m dragging—like replying to one easy email or organizing my workspace. Little progress sparks motivation.
5. Name My Rabbit Holes
When I get sucked into something random, I label it: “Today’s Curiosity Spiral: Japanese vending machine logistics.” Somehow this makes it feel like a feature, not a flaw.
Final Thoughts (Before I Get Distracted Again)
My productivity system isn’t pretty. It’s caffeine-fueled, paper-scribbled, email-hacked chaos. But it’s mine. And I’ve built it around how my INTP brain actually works—not how I wish it worked.
If you want to understand why productivity feels like such a strange battle for INTPs, check this out too:
👉 Why INTPs Struggle with Productivity (and What Kind Actually Works)
And if you’re ready to turn your own chaos into something productive? Just start. Don’t overthink it (okay, overthink it a little).
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