Logicians (INTPs) are, in general, rational personality types with an approach to life that is marked by a unique, imaginative logic. They can see everyday problems from a variety of angles, understand the big picture, and readily offer a plethora of possible solutions to any issue.
When it comes to Logicians’ mental load, these traits can be a real blessing. At the same time, they can create some real hurdles.
Mental load is the everyday thinking required to keep your life on track. It is the invisible cognitive workout behind everything you do. At home, at school, or on the job – you can’t escape it. As we discussed in this article, a person’s ability to handle their mental load has a lot to do with their personality traits.
Logicians are heavily influenced by their Prospecting trait, which dramatically impacts how they plan their day and how they feel about what they get done. Thanks to this personality trait, Logicians’ minds can easily wander into a world of endless possibilities and intellectual forays down distracting rabbit holes. On one hand, this can potentially cause issues when it comes to productivity. But in reality, it also affords them the creativity to discover novel approaches to taking on the mundane.
In practical terms, they may face challenges with big-ticket responsibilities that need tending to, like enrolling their kid in preschool. When it comes to less significant decisions, such as which wine is the best to accompany dinner, Logicians may surprise you with an unexpectedly perfect selection.
Mundane Chores Are Not on the Radar
Some tasks that typically occupy space in someone’s mental load – vacuuming the rug or dusting the bookshelf, for example – rarely ruffle Logicians’ feathers. These personalities are enviable in their relaxed attitude toward the mundane maintenance of life.
The thing is, most Logicians simply don’t place a high priority on things like having an organized house or workspace. That isn’t to say that they are disorganized or messy, it’s just that these types of chores aren’t a big concern for them. While they may notice that things are out of order or would benefit from some tending to, they likely need to find inspiration in a new organizing strategy before finding the drive to tackle those chores.
Inspiration is key for people with this personality type when it comes to setting goals and prioritizing tasks for each day. There is, after all, a certain magic in accomplishing things, and Logicians know it. They may find motivation to get things done by finding new ways to incorporate automation into their lives – taking advantage of technology to help them simultaneously tackle and free themselves from certain chores that tend to get overlooked. This may include programming a friendly robot to vacuum their floors while they’re at work or installing an automatic toilet cleaning system.
Expectations and Stress
Logicians minimize their mental load by freeing themselves from fretting about routine tasks that regularly cause an incredible amount of stress for other personality types.
But when it comes to truly important matters, they can simultaneously set the bar high (in terms of their expectations), yet easily fall into the trap of inaction. This may weigh heavily on their minds, causing a certain amount of internal tension when they consider their responsibilities. Compared to other Analysts, Logicians are significantly less likely to feel like they are on top of things and are more likely to say they struggle with day-to-day difficulties. Because they relentlessly evaluate everything, these personalities may lean toward perfectionism and being overly critical – especially of themselves.
And it is their own expectations that cause them the most stress. Unlike other Intuitive Introverts, Logicians are unlikely to pay much heed to the expectations of others. People with this personality type are self-motivated in the sense that if they are going to prioritize a task and spend mental energy fretting about it, it’s because it is important to them.
As with most personality types, the Identity trait heavily influences the way that Logicians handle stress. Turbulent Logicians are more likely to suffer stress and become flustered or overwhelmed, compared to their Assertive counterparts. But whether they buckle under their stress or not, a busy day is likely to leave an average Logician feeling overextended and ready for a break.
Their Mental Load Is Their Own
Logicians definitely carry a mental load – but not one weighed down by the needs and expectations of others. The tasks that they take on reflect their own priorities. And if they become stressed or overwhelmed, they are not unwilling to walk away and enjoy some downtime. They may have to revisit a task more than once, but they usually find a way that works for them to get things done.
If you’re a Logician, do you find your mental load influenced by what others think you should be doing? What factors influence how you decide which tasks you’ll attend to on any given day? Comment below.
Further Reading
- Take the “Expectations” survey.
- Productivity Tips for Logicians (INTPs)
- Unlikely Leaders: Logicians (INTPs) Looking Forward
- Explore ways to develop a more balanced sense of self-responsibility in your Premium Profile.