Helplessly lost in thought

[Rei]

Thinking too much, getting trapped in your own thought cycle. Sometimes I try to solve something that's not solvable by just thought, but requires 'experiment' as well.

Usually when that happens to me I have trouble doing anything else. It's like a whirlpool of thoughts and ideas, and I have to forcefully remind myself that time is passing outside of my thought bubble, and pull out or I'll probably go insane chasing my own tail. (Or just screw my life over because I've done none of my course work, and then I'll go insane.)

Anyone else have that happening? How do you usually put yourself back in the right course of action?

[biased]

Go out with friends and try something you are completely unfamiliar with.

[bikerscars]

i nice long walk in the woods or along the beach; or exercise

[qwerty]

I simply put it in my todo later pile. It's hard and it is forcible removing it from my mind, but if I trick myself into believing that I will finish it at another stage then it normally works out fine

[Jbmontag]

I'm a walker. I prefer nights, no one sees me having animated conversation with myself that way.

[Firebert]

I'm a walker. There's actually a sculpture of a fish on my campus that I go and talk to. A little unorthodox maybe, but you're not crazy unless you name the inanimate object in question. I call him Leonard.

[GOD]

Thinking too much, getting trapped in your own thought cycle. *Sometimes I try to solve something that's not solvable by just thought, but requires 'experiment' as well.

Usually when that happens to me I have trouble doing anything else. *It's like a whirlpool of thoughts and ideas, and I have to forcefully remind myself that time is passing outside of my thought bubble, and pull out or I'll probably go insane chasing my own tail. *(Or just screw my life over because I've done none of my course work, and then I'll go insane.)

Anyone else have that happening? *How do you usually put yourself back in the right course of action?

Ahhh...this what I referred to earlier on another board about the biggest thing I learned at University.

That was to get more disciplined in my thought processes.

I used to go into the library to study my inane commerce degree and I'd get lost in the books that were on the shelves... why? There's more important things to learn in the world than stupid University courses that are simply there to prove if I have a memory.

The thing is, if you don't focus on your work (to at least get the mimimum pass) then you will fail. Failing does focus the mind.

Now, is lots of divergent thoughts and spiraling off into various areas a worthwhile and productive use of your mental capacity? Well, I do think it can be useful in the context that it improves your perspectives on various issues/concepts etc and its these that create those brilliant intuitive understandings when applied to other scenarios. However, given the knowledge of the world is quite advanced in many topics you do need to be more "senser" type and follow the path of understanding to where it ends and then apply your ability to think divergently. Effectively its about balance.

So, I think most motivated/High IQ NT types need to really block out thinking that isn't focused down the line of what they want to achieve (As best as they can).

[Ijz]

Anyone else have that happening? How do you usually put yourself back in the right course of action?

Sometimes I just can't and I need a good night sleep before it clears up. Nightly walks also seem to act as an exhaust, however often I have trouble sleeping after this.

What also may help is meditation. When I meditate (don't do it very often though) I sit on a small pillow and put my attention on the senses. When something comes up, you just silently mention the type of sensation (e.g. "Hearing", "Feeling", "Seeing", "Thinking"). Do not try to think while doing this, just observe yourself and speak the words. It may be difficult at first (especially for an INTJ) but the effects can be rewarding. After a while I usually relax and my mind becomes calmer. Things also seem a bit clearer after this. This state of relaxation and clarity may just be what you are looking for.
Anyhoo, here's a much better description for those that want to try it (if you do please share your thoughts with us):
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. and then click on "mental.mp3".

[phoenix]

Anyone else have that happening? *How do you usually put yourself back in the right course of action?

Sometimes I just can't and I need a good night sleep before it clears up. Nightly walks also seem to act as an exhaust, however often I have trouble sleeping after this.


This happens to me too, and sleep is absolutely the only thing that clears it up. It's like my brain sorts and files everything while I sleep and I wake up with a clean slate to work on.

[thegnat]

Thinking too much, getting trapped in your own thought cycle. Sometimes I try to solve something that's not solvable by just thought, but requires 'experiment' as well.

Usually when that happens to me I have trouble doing anything else. It's like a whirlpool of thoughts and ideas, and I have to forcefully remind myself that time is passing outside of my thought bubble, and pull out or I'll probably go insane chasing my own tail. (Or just screw my life over because I've done none of my course work, and then I'll go insane.)

Anyone else have that happening? How do you usually put yourself back in the right course of action?

I read this - and laughed - because I've done that too.

tons of times...

anyway - I used to have trouble thinking because my mind would think about a billion things before I slept. So what i do now is I listen to music and focus on the music before I sleep. Preferably some song you know the tone/lyrics to so it's not something new. I think it works for me because it's focusing on something familiar and then it can clear.

I exercise. yesterday I took a walk down to the barn. I had to get out of here because I wasn't doing anything and it was getting stuffy. It clears my mind relatively well.

Maybe if I'm thinking about something I'll just force myself to look at something different and think about it - even if it's not school work. Then I might be able to focus on school work. I'll kind of go oh, I can do school work now that I'm off x train of thought (even though I'm on y). Perhaps I'd go with a familiar train of thought that I like again. Like I'll look at a horse book. I'll know all the stuff so I can go, "why not start now looking at school work?" I guess it's kind of like a gear shift?

I hope that all makes sense.

[Ijz]

Anyone else have that happening? How do you usually put yourself back in the right course of action?

Sometimes I just can't and I need a good night sleep before it clears up. Nightly walks also seem to act as an exhaust, however often I have trouble sleeping after this.


This happens to me too, and sleep is absolutely the only thing that clears it up. It's like my brain sorts and files everything while I sleep and I wake up with a clean slate to work on.

I believe that is exactly what happens.

[thegnat]

This *just* happened to me:

Someone was saying they needed to find a generic name of a drug. And because I'm a chem nerd I'm a little interested in that.

So I look it up - then I notice it's a mixture of enantiomers as I learned that in organic - something I retained, woot! Anyway so I wanted to look up the structure of the molecule - again because I'm a chem nerd. And I found this website - that had the structure - but not only that - it was rotatable - you could put the molecule in wire frame, label the elements, spin it around however you want.... which highly amused me....then I noticed there were all kinds of molecules on there - including inorganic molecules except of course the one we're working with in inorganic....

Well anyway that's when my brain started telling me, "You're looking at the wrong kind of chemistry! Look at pchem!" Thus I got off that site, and am now going to start on it....(due Thursday, I have plenty of time...).

so my point is that's another way of how I go back to work. Or something haha.

[Rei]

Well anyway that's when my brain started telling me, "You're looking at the wrong kind of chemistry! Look at pchem!" Thus I got off that site, and am now going to start on it....(due Thursday, I have plenty of time...).

so my point is that's another way of how I go back to work. Or something haha.
LOL!
As in talk to yourself more ::)
That's what I do too.

[Firelie]

This happened to me this morning. At 3 am when I just got up to go pee. I was sitting there on the toilet, blissfully in a brain fog (I'm not a morning person at all) when I thought to myself "Man, it's nice to simply sit here and have no thoughts flitting through my head" which of course switched my brain on and kept me awake for at least half an hour after that even as I was all curled up and warm in bed again. It sucked.

This actually happens pretty often, so much so that I don't turn on the lights when I get up to use the bathroom anymore (I've found it's easier to not think if I can't see anything around me...I dunno) and I try to force myself into not thinking about anything while I'm up.

[mind_wander]

I read this - and laughed - because I've done that too.

tons of times...

anyway - I used to have trouble thinking because my mind would think about a billion things before I slept. So what i do now is I listen to music and focus on the music before I sleep. *Preferably some song you know the tone/lyrics to so it's not something new. I think it works for me because it's focusing on something familiar and then it can clear. *


This part I totally agreed on. The music allows all your ideas to flow into one basket. Once,you figured out your answer write it down. Then referred back to it as an appendix guide 101 INTJ management. Also, walking is great too, while listening to music. Sleeping is great and why is that? You think way too much, the brain needs to be shut off, but your dreams helps you also figured out your unanswered solutions[I am not a dream phychologist can't help you here].

Oh yeah, put your ideas into good use. For me, I don't mind helping out someone online. He/She help me I do the same too. For example, someone helped me get my mp3 player up and working[unworking mp3 player for 3mins is too long]. She mentioned about her mom's birthday is coming. Me = no good at giving gifts. Conclusion, ask questions what really interest her mom. She said to give flowers for her birthday. Then, I asked if your mom likes gardening, if so then that is the perfect gift to give. At first she wanted to buy an iPhone, but I mentioned. Trust me, sending the correct gift someone really likes is better than having a present he/she does not want, regardless how much it cost. The chances of someone negative ranting is very high. This is honestly, my thought process when approaching this; the fix it helper. Both sides happy; mp3 player working/ other side got an idea for a gift.

When I am talking in conversation setting, I can easily lost my train of thought. Need to use concepts, but which one; too many on the list.

[Rei]

This happened to me this morning. At 3 am when I just got up to go pee. I was sitting there on the toilet, blissfully in a brain fog (I'm not a morning person at all) when I thought to myself "Man, it's nice to simply sit here and have no thoughts flitting through my head" which of course switched my brain on and kept me awake for at least half an hour after that even as I was all curled up and warm in bed again. It sucked.

This actually happens pretty often, so much so that I don't turn on the lights when I get up to use the bathroom anymore (I've found it's easier to not think if I can't see anything around me...I dunno) and I try to force myself into not thinking about anything while I'm up.

I don't know about not seeing anything... But I must say if i get some engaging instrumentals going, it makes it easier to glaze over.

By the way, I don't know how you guys clear your head with walks. Walks are usually what stimulates my thinking. I mean, what else to you have to do but think about random things while you're walking? Esp when I see things that interest me. It'll get my brain going.

[thegnat]

This happened to me this morning. At 3 am when I just got up to go pee. I was sitting there on the toilet, blissfully in a brain fog (I'm not a morning person at all) when I thought to myself "Man, it's nice to simply sit here and have no thoughts flitting through my head" which of course switched my brain on and kept me awake for at least half an hour after that even as I was all curled up and warm in bed again. It sucked.

This actually happens pretty often, so much so that I don't turn on the lights when I get up to use the bathroom anymore (I've found it's easier to not think if I can't see anything around me...I dunno) and I try to force myself into not thinking about anything while I'm up.

I don't know about not seeing anything... But I must say if i get some engaging instrumentals going, it makes it easier to glaze over.

By the way, I don't know how you guys clear your head with walks. Walks are usually what stimulates my thinking. I mean, what else to you have to do but think about random things while you're walking? Esp when I see things that interest me. It'll get my brain going.

That's true to me too. Even if I notice not so interesting things. Unless I really do just look at the nature around me and just kind of focus on it....Like how awesome the trees look, the sun against them....how they're almost shadowed to the point where they look black but not quite (I LOVE that time of the evening, the trees are so gorgeous).

[Rei]

That's true to me too. Even if I notice not so interesting things. Unless I really do just look at the nature around me and just kind of focus on it....Like how awesome the trees look, the sun against them....how they're almost shadowed to the point where they look black but not quite (I LOVE that time of the evening, the trees are so gorgeous).
I love when it's really sunny at noon. The sun hits the top of the leaves only, and the bottom is shadow, it creates this amazing contrast and depth.
My campus has SO MANY squirrels. And they do the most amazing things; just the other day I saw one fighting a crow, one being chased off by a chipmunk, another using a tunnel to cross a street, another eating a muffin (peeling the paper off I might add). I always walk by and laugh at them because they either look like they're trying to stare me down, or they look like they're trying to melt into whatever they're sitting. It's so sad that no one else seems to enjoy them.

[patobrocks]

This happened to me this morning. *At 3 am when I just got up to go pee. *I was sitting there on the toilet, blissfully in a brain fog (I'm not a morning person at all) when I thought to myself "Man, it's nice to simply sit here and have no thoughts flitting through my head" which of course switched my brain on and kept me awake for at least half an hour after that even as I was all curled up and warm in bed again. *It sucked.

This actually happens pretty often, so much so that I don't turn on the lights when I get up to use the bathroom anymore (I've found it's easier to not think if I can't see anything around me...I dunno) and I try to force myself into not thinking about anything while I'm up.

I don't know about not seeing anything... But I must say if i get some engaging instrumentals going, it makes it easier to glaze over.

By the way, I don't know how you guys clear your head with walks. *Walks are usually what stimulates my thinking. *I mean, what else to you have to do but think about random things while you're walking? *Esp when I see things that interest me. *It'll get my brain going.


the reason i am goofing off now, is that too many things are happening at once in the old brain. I like to walk becuse it helps me sort things out and come to conclusion or an epiphany, or just remember again what I never knew. A lot of times when i get an intrusive thought, I write it down. Sometimes that settles it, or if their is something that I need to take care of, if I can I let it interupt me and take care of it. Sometimes, i say screw it and just think myself silly.

My problem is that I have no consistency. What I do one day, Might, or might not, be different from one context to another. I can't even second guess myself, although I can second guess a lot of other people. I wonder if my thinking follows patterns.

I am never bored, but some people or telivision shows are tedious. I am supposed to be studying now, but screw it. I am tired so I am going to watch a movie--get more things to think about.

Funny, I am new hear, but I trust this board, pretty much.

[Bossy Mom]

I constantly daydream, and have missed exits when I'm driving. I daydream at work, especially when I'm bored. Sometimes I get my best ideas when I'm daydreaming in the car. I seems when we take the same routes to/from work every day, it is easy to get bored and start thinking about how to solve problems (and it works for me). And, by the way, I have an excellent driving record!

[Rei]

I constantly daydream, and have missed exits when I'm driving. *I daydream at work, especially when I'm bored. *Sometimes I get my best ideas when I'm daydreaming in the car. *I seems when we take the same routes to/from work every day, it is easy to get bored and start thinking about how to solve problems (and it works for me). *And, by the way, I have an excellent driving record!

Well as long as you're not driving at 80 on a speedway with a 100 speed limit. Whatever works for you.
I get my best ideas when I'm in the shower. I mean... what else could your brain be doing in the shower? I mean, if you're in the loo you can read or something, but in the shower, there really isn't anything to use your brain for.

[cielo market]

I've found that if I daydream, it's about the future or solutions to certain things. This is done while walking at school, watching TV or in the shower. Daydreaming about nonsense or fantasy takes place at night, but falling asleep takes forever because my brain just keeps going and going.

[logan235711]

Sometimes I try to solve something that's not solvable by just thought, but requires 'experiment' as well.
that's what forums are for >:)

[thegnat]

Sometimes I try to solve something that's not solvable by just thought, but requires 'experiment' as well.
that's what forums are for >:)
No. It's what labs are for ;)

erm....and wherever else you can simulate a lab...

[GOD]

I've found that if I daydream, it's about the future or solutions to certain things. This is done while walking at school, watching TV or in the shower. Daydreaming about nonsense or fantasy takes place at night, but falling asleep takes forever because my brain just keeps going and going.

Ahhh...

Thats one of the questions I used to always ask of people....

What do you think about when you're sitting on a bus etc?

Its surprising the number of people that completely disengage their minds.... such a huge waste of thinking (computing) power....

Its surprising the number of ideas that I have appear from a reflection on some other situation... so many people don't seem to see that answers to many concepts can stem from different fields... thats why I always try to be as divergent in my learning as possible. (Although its a balance of course).

[patobrocks]

I constantly daydream, and have missed exits when I'm driving. *I daydream at work, especially when I'm bored. *Sometimes I get my best ideas when I'm daydreaming in the car. *I seems when we take the same routes to/from work every day, it is easy to get bored and start thinking about how to solve problems (and it works for me). *And, by the way, I have an excellent driving record!

I almost hate to admit this, although part of me is proud of it, but I used to drive a big truck and I'd forget crossing states, like Nebraska on I-80. What is funny, is that I function perfectly, even stopping at the two ports of entry to get weighed. I love crossing the plains states--my mind would wonder.

I want to thank everyone that has helped me understand that i am not wrong for liking to think. I can't imagine what other people do with their minds. When i have a big decision to make--Road Trip. And I cross the US and sometimes never play music or talk on the CB. I like music a lot, but sometimes I need to think and daydreaming is like getting high or something.

I like to write and then think about what i am going to write next.

[Rei]

that's what forums are for >:)No. It's what labs are for ;)

erm....and wherever else you can simulate a lab...

See.. unfortunately, the labs we do these days are not self designed. It's boring, and unhelpful ~_~
Except when someone breaks something. Then it's just funny ;D


It's just really annoying sometimes to experiment. I hate trying something unless I have an expected outcome. It's frustrating just striving for an unknown.

[TruorTupnm]

Well, I would hope to never be hopelessly lost in thought, but sure, it does sound blissful. I always keep papers and writing implements in pocketses. Ideas are written out when I gots time. If I don't really have time to write enough that I think I'll be able to figure out what I was thinking about later, I tell myself that I'll remember and usually don't. ::) It takes a while to get to sleep because I am usually catching up on all kinds of things. When an idea comes, I gain a wild glint in the eyes and begin writing furiously. A few evil mastermind laughs might occur. If I gots no time for writing, I will be preoccupied while doing whatever else I had to be doing. It is annoying, and I usually forget the details of my great idea. oh well. I wouldn't wish to get out of creative mode. Gots to hang on. Wish I knew how to induce it. I'd stay up all of the time and forget to eat and stuff, if possible. Why not?