Purpose and Routine
Architects (INTJs) are generally prized employees, especially if they work somewhere that honors and appreciates their commendable talents and enthusiasm. They are likely to work hard and competently. If something gets in the way of their efficiency, Architect personalities are generally proactive about discovering and pointing out the problem, in the interest of correcting the impediment to their productivity.
It’s almost ridiculous to coach Architects on productivity, since they are among the most productive personality types. They usually know how to stay on task. But that doesn’t mean that there can’t occasionally be problems.
Architect personalities have a good sense of their skills and the value that they bring. If they feel that the value that they bring isn’t being utilized fully enough, they may find themselves feeling stuck as they try to figure out exactly how to bring fulfillment into their work life. Productivity problems may occur when Architects feel that they are underutilized or that others aren’t taking them seriously.
Sometimes life hands people a length of time where they have to do what they have to do, even if it’s far from stimulating. Architect personalities may lose interest when dealing with extended periods of the routine tasks that almost every job contains at some point.
Typically, Architects will see the big picture and understand that even mundane chores usually have value. They can often suppress their feelings of boredom and be very stoic in such situations. However, if other circumstances around the job aren’t satisfying enough or if the routine makes up too many of their work hours, it may become more difficult for people with this personality type to apply themselves to these necessary tasks.
If you identify with the preceding paragraph, perhaps you would like to explore some of the other things that can slow down productivity with our Job Burnout Test.
Tips for Handling Routine
- If you have a choice, get the boring stuff out of the way first thing at the start of your day. That way you have something more interesting to anticipate after you finish the “chores.” Or plan your day so that you have oases of more pleasurable tasks dotted throughout your schedule. Then you know that it’s only a matter of time before you have relief from any mundane tasks.
- Turn repetitive work into a game. Set a timer and see how many widgets you can box correctly in 10 minutes. Try to break your record each time. Gamifying can add just the right amount of adrenaline to your day. Maybe compete with a coworker who is doing the same thing – but, of course, keep it friendly and mutually motivating.
- While your mind is not likely to be all over the place, due to your influential Judging personality trait, it may still be five or six steps ahead of what is happening in the present. Set a random timer to vibrate periodically and check what you’re thinking about whenever it tickles your wrist or pocket. If you lean into such things, think of your work as a meditation, and continue to observe your thinking to stay as present as possible. Checking where your thoughts are can help you feel more engaged.
- When all else fails, the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes on, five minutes off, rinse, and repeat) is pretty reliable. Who can’t do even the most stultifying task for only 25 minutes? Chunk your day into a series of smaller time slots that continuously progress to the next small time slot, and you may realize that you can beat the sense that time is standing still. This technique creates a sense of forward movement.
What motivates you? Does it typically come from inside or outside of you? Our Motivation Test can help you get a better sense of what propels you forward through life.
Satisfying Your Need for Challenging Work
If things are chronically too routine, then you might want to think carefully about more interesting work. Of course, it may not be possible or prudent to change jobs. You may not want to do it tomorrow, but you may want to consider your long-term employment strategy. Our Job Preferences Test can help.
Remember, you only live once. Life is a finite thing, and work often takes up a great deal of that time. So, consider opportunities elsewhere or discover ways to break up the routine where you’re currently working.
When it comes to working, your heart and head are usually in the right place, but anyone can fall into a situation where they lose energy and motivation. Fortunately for you, you have your natural problem-solving abilities that can help relight your productivity fire.
Go for it.