What Each Myers-Briggs® Personality Type is Lazy About

There’s a lot of talk in the type community about which Myers-Briggs® personality type is lazier than all the rest! Some people believe that Perceivers (types with a “P” in their type code) are the laziest, because they don’t like rigid structures and a highly planned-out lifestyle. Others say that Feelers are laziest, because they “allow their feelings to carry them every which way.” But the truth is much more nuanced than that. Every single personality type is bound to be lazy about some things, while quite productive about other things. Today we’re going to explore some of the things that each type is laziest about. Let’s begin!

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Estimated reading time: 21 minutes

The Laziness of Each Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

The ENFP

You know that feeling when your brain’s sprinting a marathon and your body’s still trying to find its shoes? That’s the ENFP existence in a nutshell. Mentally, you’re energetic and buzzing with ideas. Your curiosity lights up rooms, your insights multiply like rabbits, and you can turn even the most boring project into something wildly original. Laziness isn’t really your thing; it’s more like your energy just refuses to stay in one lane.

But while you’re out chasing inspiration, the boring stuff piles up quietly in the corner, muttering about overdue bills and half-packed suitcases. (I get it. I once ignored a fridge science experiment so long it could’ve qualified for sentience.)

ENFPs often procrastinate on things like:

• Cleaning out the fridge before it becomes a biology experiment.
• Filing taxes without crying into a pile of receipts.
• Preparing for those dreaded “rainy days.”
• Showing up on time for anything that sounds soul-draining.
• Finishing a project before launching into three new ones.
• Returning library books before they become “forever rentals.”
• Packing everything needed for a road trip (because future-you will totally remember socks).
• Scheduling that dental appointment you swore you’d make last April.

The good news? Most ENFPs get a bit (it varies) more grounded with age. By their 30s (or whenever Saturn finishes wrecking their life plans), they start realizing that caring for their body, learning from their past, and aligning their actions with their values isn’t boring, it’s actually freedom. It’s the stuff that lets their wild, creative selves keep running without constantly tripping over loose ends.

The ENTP

You’re the kind of person who spots the problem before anyone else, dreams up three solutions while breakfast is still happening, and then changes course midway because “aha—better idea!” You’re curious, imaginative, and wired for trouble-shooting. In a crisis? You’re the person people want on the phone. In everyday life? The “boring stuff” often sneaks up and whacks you when you’re not looking.

Because here’s the thing: you don’t hate work. You hate unexciting work. Laundry folding, stove scrubbing, smoke alarms you’ve sworn you’ll change “later.”

ENTPs often dodge or delay things like:

• Cleaning the stove before it starts looking like a crime scene.
• Wash, dry & put away laundry right away (yes, the socks are still multiplying).
• Replacing dead smoke alarms promptly
• Having the hard talk with a partner about something vulnerable but essential.
• Filing paperwork quickly and in an organized way (ha).
• Doing those nitty-gritty cleaning tasks that require zero imagination (hello ceiling-fan blades).
• Staying on task with a project when it gets into the boring-but-necessary details instead of chasing a “better” new opportunity.

The good news? As you creep into your 30s (or whenever your brain decides “fine, I’ll adult a little”), you start getting a grip on this. You realize that paying attention to your body, reflecting on your past misfires, and mapping your actions to what actually makes sense for you isn’t a kill-joy—it’s leverage. It’s the foundation that lets your inventive self build things without every screw coming loose.

The INFP

You are the quiet revolutionary, dear INFP. You’re the person sitting in the corner of a café with a notebook full of world-changing ideas and exactly zero interest in small talk about the weather. You live by your own inner compass, guided by your values and your soul-deep need to be authentic. At your best, you’re compassionate, creative, and deeply principled. At your worst… well, sometimes you get so lost in the dream that you forget the dishes still exist.

It’s not that you’re lazy. It’s that the physical world just feels… less interesting than the one inside your head. You can spend hours building a universe, imagining the perfect conversation, or planning the life you should be living. Meanwhile, your real-life to-do list is quietly weeping in the corner. (Trust me, I’ve ignored enough “urgent” adult tasks to know how fast that corner turns into chaos.)

INFPs often struggle with things like:

• Fact-checking sources that might challenge a beloved cause or belief.
• Staying focused on a project when life feels emotionally turbulent.
• Holding others accountable when their excuses tug at your empathy.
• Finishing what you start instead of chasing a shinier, more inspiring idea.
• Confronting conflict directly instead of running it through your mental debate club for a week.
• Studying or working in a steady, methodical way before the last-minute panic sets in.

Here’s the encouraging part: You don’t need to “grow up” in the way that kills your magic. You just need to give it structure. Try making your ideals tangible. Write them into your calendar like they’re appointments with your purpose. Set micro-goals: one real-world action each day that moves a dream from imagination to reality. Even something as small as sending that email, doing that errand, or finishing that one task can act like an anchor that keeps your creativity from floating away.

Read this next: What Each Myers-Briggs Type Loves About INFPs

The INTP

INTPs live for understanding; for pulling the world apart, studying the gears, and putting it back together more elegantly than before. You can spend hours investigating a theory, a loophole, or a paradox, forgetting to eat or notice the cat giving you side-eye for ignoring it again.

Your brilliance lies in your ability to ask, “But does that actually make sense?” while everyone else just nods along. The problem is, the physical world doesn’t reward abstract thinking the same way the intellectual one does. While you’re unraveling the mysteries of consciousness or string theory, your laundry is quietly evolving into a new species.

INTPs often struggle with things like:

• Actually listening when someone shares their feelings instead of quietly troubleshooting them.
• Offering verbal affirmations without feeling awkward about it.
• Engaging in small talk long enough to find the person underneath it.
• Noticing and naming their own emotions instead of analyzing them from orbit.
• Making the bed — or honestly, even seeing the point of making it.
• Following a to-do list in real time rather than reinventing the system halfway through.
• Throwing out expired food before it becomes a biology experiment.
• Stopping their research rabbit hole when something practical (like eating) needs to happen.

Here’s the thing: growth for you isn’t about abandoning your curiosity, it’s about integrating it. Try running little “life experiments.” What happens if you track your sleep, your emotions, or your daily routines with the same precision you bring to your theories? You’ll start seeing patterns — and patterns are data. Data you can use to make the physical and emotional world work for you instead of feeling like a recurring error message. In short: treat self-care like a science project.

Read this next: 21 Hobbies That INTPs Love

The ENFJ

If life were a group project, you’d be the one doing 80% of the work and still apologizing for not doing 100%. ENFJs are driven, visionary, and wired to help people become their best selves. You can see potential in others like it’s glowing neon, and you’ll move heaven and earth to help them reach it. The trouble? While you’re out organizing the world and saving souls, your printer is jammed, your laptop’s gasping for updates, and there’s a box of tangled Christmas lights silently mocking your existence.

I wouldn’t call you lazy. I’d say that the impersonal, mechanical side of life feels like wading through wet cement. You’d rather be connecting, creating, doing something meaningful. But reality insists on small humiliations like instruction manuals and spreadsheets. (Personally, I’ve stared at IKEA diagrams like they were written in ancient runes.)

ENFJs often struggle with things like:

• Confronting someone about a technical or competence failure.
• Checking facts that challenge a belief or cause close to the heart.
• Asking for help for their own needs instead of everyone else’s.
• Doing tedious, impersonal tasks like filing or fixing tech issues.
• Reading through instruction manuals without falling into an existential crisis.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to love these details. Just respect them enough to delegate, schedule, or simplify them. Growth for you means realizing that logic and structure keep your vision from burning you out. Try setting aside one “maintenance hour” a week: no deep talks, no saving the world, just tiny wins like organizing a folder or learning how to fix that stubborn appliance. You’ll be surprised how grounding it feels to care for your systems as much as you care for your people.

The ENTJ

ENTJs have a gift for building systems, leading teams, and spotting inefficiency. You’re bold, capable, and offended by incompetence. If something needs doing, you’ll make it happen; probably faster and cleaner than anyone else. But for all that power and precision, there’s one thing you can’t out-plan: emotions. Yours or anyone else’s.

To be fair, it’s not that you don’t care, it’s that emotions don’t slot neatly into a five-step process. They’re messy, inefficient, and impossible to delegate. So while you’re out conquering goals, the personal stuff sometimes gets pushed to “later.” Later, of course, being that mythical land where you’ll suddenly have time to connect, reflect, and schedule your physical check-ups.

ENTJs often struggle with things like:

• Reaching out to affirm people emotionally without feeling awkward about it.
• Keeping up with doctor’s appointments or routine physical maintenance.
• Slowing down long enough to really listen to what’s going on in their heart.
• Weighing the emotional impact of their decisions, not just the efficiency.
• Asking for help — physical, emotional, or otherwise.
• Taking guilt-free downtime with friends or family.

Here’s the thing: the best leaders know how to command and connect. Try setting “emotional check-ins” as seriously as you schedule meetings. Ask someone how they really are, and resist the urge to solve it. Schedule your doctor’s appointment like it’s a business call. Take one day a week to rest, guilt-free, because your brain’s not a machine; it’s an engine, and even engines overheat. You’ll find that caring for people (including yourself) doesn’t slow progress; it keeps it sustainable.

The INFJ

You live in the world of patterns, meanings, and invisible connections humming beneath the surface. INFJs can sense potential like other people sense weather changes. You see what could be, what should be, and occasionally what’s about to go terribly wrong three weeks before anyone else realizes it.

But while your intuition is off building entire galaxies of insight, your physical life is… let’s just say “on hold.” You can analyze someone’s emotional trajectory with eerie precision but forget your coffee in the microwave for the third time. The present moment just doesn’t compete with the big picture; not when your brain’s running on metaphors and prophecy. (I say this lovingly; I’ve been there. I’ve kicked the can of “having fun” or “being present” down the road way too long)

INFJs often struggle with things like:

• Reacting quickly to real-time stuff (like ringing phones or flying objects).
• Making space for casual fun or spontaneous socializing.
• Giving constructive criticism when someone’s falling short.
• Troubleshooting technical problems without wanting to cry.
• Staying on top of bodily maintenance like doctor or dental appointments.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to become a sensor to survive reality, just partner with it. Treat the physical world as a form of intuition training. Try mindfulness that connects your insights to your senses: cook something slowly, touch the earth, walk without headphones, or describe what you see instead of what it means. Build small rituals: light a candle before writing, stretch before bed, breathe before overthinking. You’ll find that when you nurture your body and surroundings, your intuition sharpens.

Read this next: 7 Signs That an INFJ is Secretly Unhappy with Their Life

The INTJ

You’re the type who can see five moves ahead while everyone else is still figuring out where the board is. You’ve got a mental blueprint for how things should work; and most days, reality feels like it’s lagging behind your vision. Most people wouldn’t call you lazy. You’re just too busy trying to optimize the universe to deal with trivialities like small talk or oil changes.

But here’s the catch: while you’re mapping the future, the present sometimes starts looking like an unfinished side quest. The laundry doesn’t fold itself. The body needs maintenance. The people in your life need connection, not just insight. You can plan world domination, but ask you to “just relax,” and suddenly it can feel like you’re glitching.

INTJs often struggle with things like:

• Responding quickly to unexpected moments (like jokes or ringing phones).
• Relaxing without turning it into a productivity challenge.
• Expressing vulnerable feelings without analyzing them to death.
• Verbally affirming others instead of assuming your respect is obvious.
• Scheduling regular physical checkups or self-care.
• Making small talk long enough to discover the person behind it.

Here’s your growth edge: build respect for the present as part of your long-term strategy. Think of self-care, connection, and play as maintenance for the machine. Schedule downtime like a meeting with your future self. Make relaxation a structured ritual: a walk, a playlist, a hobby that doesn’t have a measurable ROI. When you give the moment your full attention, your insights actually get more powerful.

Read this next: 26 Memes any INTJ will Relate to

The ESFP

ESFPs are kinetic, spontaneous, and alive to every sound, color, and feeling around them. You’ve got a radar for fun and a reflex for action that makes you magnetic in emergencies and irresistible in ordinary life. Nobody would ever look at you and think “lazy” in the stagnant, slow-moving, apathetic interpretation of the word.

But for all your brilliance in the moment, long-term planning can feel like a nap you didn’t agree to take. You thrive on movement, momentum, and sensory payoff; so anything that requires delayed gratification feels like punishment. (I once watched an ESFP try to fill out an insurance form while audibly sighing like they were being slowly turned to stone.)

ESFPs often struggle with things like:

• Mapping out long-term goals that don’t offer instant feedback.
• Setting aside money in savings or retirement funds.
• Making wills or dealing with paperwork that screams “mortality.”
• Sticking with dull projects like taxes or technical troubleshooting.
• Slowing down to consider consequences before leaping into the next thrill.
• Talking about abstract or theoretical ideas that don’t tie to something real.

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to kill your spontaneity to build a future. Instead, think of planning like choreography: small, intentional steps that make your freedom last longer. Try creating “future Fridays,” one hour a week where you handle adulting tasks while blasting your favorite playlist or rewarding yourself afterward. You’ll still live in the moment, but with a safety net. And when you know the boring stuff’s handled, you can dive into life even harder.

You might also enjoy: “I’m Fine” and Other Lies ESFPs Tell When They’re Dying Inside

The ESTP

If the world starts falling apart, you’re exactly the person everyone wants nearby. You act, adapt, and somehow make it look effortless. I was taking a hike yesterday and rolled my ankle. I knew if I just gave my ESTP husband a call (he was at home) he’d be in the car, then racing up the trail, carrying me back to the car in rapid speed, like Superman with a cape flowing in the wind.

Whether it’s closing a deal, fixing a disaster, or making something happen out of thin air, you’ve got the charm and reflexes to pull it off.

But the same instincts that make you unstoppable in the moment can make long-term stuff feel like walking through mud. You’re all about adrenaline and feedback, not hypothetical “future outcomes.” If it doesn’t have a visible payoff right now, it just doesn’t register as urgent. Planning for ten years from now? You’ll get to it… ten years from now.

ESTPs often struggle with things like:

• Making or sticking to a 10-year plan.
• Organizing insurance or savings without falling asleep mid-process.
• Considering risks carefully before saying “yes” to a thrilling opportunity.
• Projecting into the future or visualizing long-term consequences.
• Brainstorming in the abstract instead of reacting to what’s in front of them.
• Finishing long, tedious tasks without immediate payoffs.
• Reflecting on their deeper feelings or motivations.
• Having heart-to-hearts that require emotional stillness instead of action.

Here’s the thing: your edge is presence, and presence is power when it’s balanced with foresight. Try channeling your tactical brain into micro-planning instead of mega-planning. Think: “next three steps,” not “next three decades.” Set up systems that make your future easier without killing the thrill. Automate savings, set recurring reminders, or team up with someone who loves planning as much as you love momentum (you could always marry an INTJ like my husband did).

The ISFP

ISFPs are guided by conviction, not convenience. You care about authenticity, beauty, and doing what actually matters, not just what looks good on paper. You’re at your best when your environment reflects your values: music that hits deep, people who feel real, and an aesthetic that speaks to your unique likes and dislikes. You’d rather do one thing that lights you up than ten things that feel hollow.

But when the world starts demanding outcomes, schedules, and plans that require you to think ten steps ahead? That’s when your inner rebel quietly packs a bag and leaves the chat. It feels like your energy tanks the second something feels empty, ugly, or forced. And honestly, who can blame you? Trying to thrive in a sterile, joyless environment is like trying to paint with sandpaper.

ISFPs often struggle with things like:

• Creating an efficient, step-by-step plan to finish projects on time.
• Staying focused when emotions are heavy or the vibe is off.
• Working in gloomy, cluttered, or chaotic environments.
• Continuing a project once it loses personal meaning.
• Doing their best work in crowds or under frequent supervision.
• Addressing relationship issues directly instead of waiting for the right emotional moment.
• Entertaining opposing arguments to causes that feel deeply personal.

Here’s the good news: your depth is your power; you just need structure that protects it. Try making your routines aesthetic rituals instead of chores. Light a candle before cleaning. Make playlists for different moods. Give each task a sensory cue that makes it feel intentional instead of mechanical. When life feels meaningful, you’ll do anything — and when it doesn’t, you can create meaning through the way you show up. You don’t need to plan every detail; you just need to infuse purpose into the next small step.

You might also enjoy: 12 Awkward Moments ISFPs Hate

The ISTP

You’re the kind of person who can fix almost anything except, occasionally, a conversation. You notice how things fit together, how systems break, how to make them run smoother. Whether you’re repairing an engine, crafting something with your hands, or dismantling an argument, you immediately see what makes sense and what doesn’t. You’re curious, independent, and frustrated by fluff.

But when it comes to people, the “system” isn’t always so clear. Emotions don’t have diagrams. They’re unpredictable, messy, and don’t respond to logic the way you wish they would. That’s when you check out. People may accuse you of not caring, but that’s not really accurate. It’s just that trying to understand feels like trying to fix a computer by hugging it.

ISTPs often struggle with things like:

• Remembering to verbally affirm others on a regular basis.
• Making small talk long enough to form genuine connections.
• Exploring their own feelings or inner values without overanalyzing.
• Sticking with projects that only have long-term or abstract payoffs.
• Brainstorming theoretical possibilities without eye-rolling.
• Predicting outcomes without concrete data to go on.

Here’s the thing: your curiosity just needs an entry point. Think of emotions as another system worth decoding. You don’t have to “get all mushy” to understand people; you just have to observe them the way you’d observe an engine: cause, effect, adjustment, result. Practice curiosity instead of avoidance. Ask one more question in a conversation, sit with a feeling five minutes longer than usual, or reflect on why something matters to you before brushing it off. You’ll discover that emotional insight is just another form of mastery. And mastery is kind of your thing.

You might also enjoy: The ISTP Flirting Style Explained

The ESFJ

You’re the one who remembers birthdays, refills the coffee, and makes sure everyone’s okay before you even think about yourself. ESFJs are grounded, loyal, and heroic in the everyday ways that actually keep the world from collapsing. You’re not lazy. In fact, if anything, you’re the opposite. Most ESFJs I know will clean an entire house before you let yourself sit down.

But where you do procrastinate? It’s usually on stuff that feels cold or impersonal. If there’s no clear human benefit — no warmth, no gratitude, no face to care for — it feels like pushing a boulder uphill. Reading a technical manual? Torture. Giving someone blunt feedback? Emotionally risky. Digging into abstract logic with no obvious heart connection? Might as well be learning Klingon.

ESFJs often struggle with things like:

• Reading technical manuals or troubleshooting mechanical issues.
• Giving direct criticism about someone’s work performance.
• Entertaining arguments that challenge their deeply held causes or beliefs.
• Prioritizing long-term goals over immediate needs or people’s requests.
• Determining cause-and-effect patterns when emotions cloud the data.

Here’s the good news: logic doesn’t cancel out empathy. Instead, it helps you balance heart with self-preserving reason. The more you understand systems, patterns, and root causes, the more effectively you can help others (and yourself). Try viewing analytical or technical tasks as just another form of caretaking; fixing the environment so people can thrive in it. Set aside “rational hours” each week for problem-solving, and pair it with something warm: your favorite tea, music, or a phone call afterward with someone you love.

The ESTJ

If there’s a job to be done, you’re already halfway through it while everyone else is still talking about it. You like things done right and preferably yesterday. You crave structure, clear expectations, and measurable results. Lazy? You? Not likely. You probably feel guilty for sitting down too long.

But even you have a weak spot, and it usually shows up when things get too abstract, emotional, or uncertain. You like control, clarity, and competence, which means you can drag your feet when a task requires emotional vulnerability or ambiguous experimentation. Feelings aren’t black and white, and that’s a problem. (I once saw an ESTJ look at a meditation app like it was trying to sell them snake oil.)

ESTJs often struggle with things like:

• Reflecting on their emotions or sharing them openly.
• Slowing down to rest without feeling unproductive.
• Dealing with people who prioritize feelings over logic.
• Adapting when a plan falls apart or the rules suddenly change.
• Entertaining theoretical or abstract discussions with no clear outcome.
• Letting others take the lead when they think they could do it better (which, to be fair, they often could).

Here’s the thing: your drive is your superpower, but so is flexibility. Growth for you means making room for uncertainty without labeling it as weakness. Try scheduling a little “non-productive” time each week; something creative, relational, or just plain pointless. Go for a walk without a destination. Listen to someone’s story without fixing it. The world won’t collapse if you don’t manage it for an hour, and you might be surprised how much insight shows up when you give yourself permission to pause.

The ISFJ

You’re the person who remembers the details, follows through on promises, and holds everything together while everyone else forgets where they put their keys. ISFJs create peace through consistency. You bring order to chaos, calm to noise, and comfort to the people lucky enough to know you.

But even the most dependable person has their blind spots. When life demands improvisation or experimentation, you’d rather have a manual; preferably one laminated and color-coded. Most ISFJs I know have a perfectly aesthetic planner or a well organized Calendar app on their smartphone.

The only downside to all this preparedness is that it means the unknown can feel like a cliff with no railing. And brainstorming? Half the time it feels like mental anarchy.

ISFJs often struggle with things like:

• Trying new methods or experimenting without clear instructions.
• Taking risks when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
• Imagining long-term potential beyond what’s proven or practical.
• Brainstorming or improvising possibilities on the fly.
• Giving direct criticism about someone’s performance.
• Troubleshooting complex technical issues without step-by-step guidance.

Here’s the good news: your reliability doesn’t have to be a limit. Growth for you means experimenting safely. Try tiny changes inside your comfort zone: tweak a recipe, rearrange a room, or explore a new idea for five minutes without demanding perfection. Let curiosity replace certainty once in a while. Your steady nature gives your ideas roots, and your intuition — when you let it stretch a little — gives them wings.

You might also enjoy: The ISFJ and Grip Stress: What It Is and How to Get Out Of It

The ISTJ

If the world had more ISTJs, we’d all get our oil changes on time and paperwork wouldn’t feel like a psychological horror film. You’re steady, dependable, and one of the few people left who still reads the instructions before assembling something. You take pride in doing things right. When people need reliability, they call you.

But even the most responsible human occasionally ghosts their inner visionary. Anything that feels abstract, speculative, or emotionally murky can seem like wasted energy. You’d rather deal with facts than feelings, proof than potential. Asking you to “brainstorm possibilities” might as well be asking you to levitate.

ISTJs often struggle with things like:

• Brainstorming new ideas or imagining unproven possibilities.
• Sensing the hidden potential in something untested.
• Trying unconventional methods instead of tried-and-true ones.
• Expressing emotion or vulnerability in relationships.
• Offering regular verbal affirmation (even if they feel it deeply).
• Enjoying unplanned activities or spontaneous surprises.

Here’s the thing: your structure gives you strength, but imagination keeps you adaptable. Growth for you means giving intuition a small, safe sandbox to play in. Try experimenting on a micro-scale: read something outside your usual interests, take a different route to work, or let someone else choose the restaurant (even if it’s a little chaotic). You don’t have to abandon your methods, just give curiosity permission to sit in the passenger seat once in a while. You’ll still get where you’re going, but the view might surprise you.

You might also enjoy: The ISTJ Dark Side: What It Is and How to Cope

What Are Your Thoughts?

As you can see, we all have certain areas of our life that we can get lazy about. But at the same time, with growth, maturity, and practice, we can learn to be more practiced in these areas. The more we’re aware of our weaknesses, the more we can learn to transcend those weaknesses.

Do you have any thoughts or insights you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube!