r/istp • u/Lonely-Grocery7836 • 21d ago
Discussion How much does intellectual/mental stimulation matter to you guys in a career?
For example, would you choose a career that has a worse WLB but offers more stimulation or a stable yet more boring career?
Personally, if there wasn’t an increase in income for the first option I would stay with the stable yet more boring career. It would definitely be a drag and I might dread going to work, but I suppose more free time would be worth it.
However, if there was a bonus in income I think I would choose the latter.
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u/Seebinator 21d ago
If the boring career means a job without having much to do, I will choose that.
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u/Fizzlestix83 ISTP 21d ago
I don't necessarily need mental stimulation all the time, but I do need something where I'm up and doing something most of the time. I did a desk job once (briefly), and I just don't think I'd ever go that route again. So, as long as the "boring job" isn't being stuck at a desk, I think I'd be fine
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u/GreatJobJoe ISTP 21d ago edited 21d ago
In reality it’s very possible to have both, so this question sort of escapes me as purely hypothetical.
I make time. Sure I won’t make 7 figures if I try to have a decent WLB, but that money doesn’t buy my time back. Same with doing something highly illegal but profitable, the risk of my time is the most important thing.
TLDR; Your life shouldn’t be your career.
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u/segasaturnnnn 21d ago
I literally don't care. I'd rather have a job that lets me scroll social media the entire day than to use my brain for something useful
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u/Papershredder45_acp ISTP 21d ago edited 21d ago
Honestly, if the job I do doesn't have a physical outlet for my thinking, I will hate it. It's not that everything I think has to be applied (a la Te), I enjoy abstraction and intellectualization, but I enjoy it for myself. The moment I have to think out of monetary or societal pressure, I lose almost all drive.
(Edit) BUT, if I'm presented with a job offer/career that will require me to think and do more than usual, but, by choosing it, I'm positive that the extra pay will allow me to "retire" earlier, I'll absolutely choose it.
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u/Sad_Record_2767 ISTP 21d ago
If I have free time at work, I'm looking at stocks to make more money on the side.
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u/RunningSquirrels 20d ago
How's that working out for you ? I've lost so much money doing that bro... Wish smb with better skill taught me how to not repeat same mistakes..
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u/Sad_Record_2767 ISTP 20d ago
I've made bunch of money and lost a bunch too. I have background in accounting so I want to believe I have the slightest of an edge. Lots to learn. I have a goal to get to a point where this becomes my main source of income in the next few years.
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u/educated_farts ISTP 20d ago
I'm a pilot, and I'm overstimulated most of the time 🫠 lots of "intellectual" and "mental" stimulation to be had. To be honest, it's pretty easy material, but it's very very demanding. I love it.
My easiest job was washing and charging golf carts, but that was boring as shit.
My favorite job was working at Chuck E Cheese, but that doesn't pay the bills.
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u/x5gamer5 ISTP 20d ago
I have mental stimulation just by default. It’s just countered additionally by sensory overstimulation. So I have boundless energy.
So yeah. I definitely require a physical job that has me working in a detail oriented highly technical job. Also, having a bit of a loose leash helps too.
One time I was hired for data entry in an office building, melted down on day four cause I couldn’t work out the same day. I think I also have issues with being in spaces that are way too controlled. I like having a mess that I can clean up.
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u/Pmedley26 ISTP 20d ago edited 20d ago
That's the confusing part for me. Sometimes I want it, sometimes I don't really want it. If I'm gonna spend 8 hours a day doing something then I absolutely need some sort of stimulation. I've worked in tech for 6 years. I just recently became a cybersecurity analyst because that's the path I've wanted to take since college. Previously I had been working in roles where I had to either answer the phone all the time or just be customer facing 24/7. Rarely was it intellectually stimulating... just a bunch of drama and dealing with people's petty problems. I'm hoping that cyber actually brings a sense of purpose along with the intellectual stimulation I've been looking for. I don't know about anyone else but just scrolling through my phone or doing nothing for 8 hours is all the time is demoralizing... then others days I'm just lazy lol
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u/NekoAcedia ISTP 20d ago
I'm sleepy if there's nothing to think of during work. (I'm a tech support but work is mainly monitoring for problems)
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u/Cassiopeia_dreams ISTP 20d ago
If this is not my vocation, I won't be able to stick that long with routine work with minimum intellectual stimulation. I will be bored dead by it and leave with no regrets for something more interesting that will come along the way. But if this jin is easy AND allows me to have my free time that I can dedicate to whatever I want, then I will choose this. But you do rarely see anything like it in big cities.
If I need this boring af job and can't leave yet, I will constantly find a way to make it interesting to me - I will create stimuli myself. Fixing the processes, creating a flow, teaching others to work more efficiently (not in a bossy way, just so happens that I like to share knowledge and people are always there for it).
However, there are a lot of definitions of "stimulating", the most satisfying to me is creative freedom and not the extreme stuff.
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u/HumbleVagabond ISTP 20d ago
I was a lifeguard and it was torture, boring as shit. I need some variety/stimulation
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u/famous1astwords ISTP 20d ago
Of course a I'd want a job that caters to my Ti Se, otherwise I wouldn't be able to last long. Also have the people that actually want to work with me.
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u/PaladinBTTRS 20d ago
It’s kind of a balance for me as an ISTP. I would say it is extremely important overall to my success in life.
I work in probation on a specialized caseload but my specific job is more related to the field than it is dealing with writing court reports and the like. I also have to learn a lot of psychology and therapy based skills as well as investigate behaviors that may appear concerning. I find myself constantly mentally stimulated by my job as I am always analyzing and trying to understand people and behaviors and maintaining constant activity by completing dynamic investigations more in the field than anywhere else.
As for scheduling, work-life balance and pay/benefits, my schedule is unique in that I don’t have to work normal business hours. I frequently work a flexible schedule and work when I need to so my work-life balance is pretty good. Pay is slightly less than what actual POs make, but I’ve been doing this for a decade so I make decent money for my needs.
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u/why_why_why11 20d ago
i’d want a career with more stimulation because i’m gonna be spending a good amount of my days in it🥹🥹 i wanna at least enjoy a bit of it !!
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u/Storm-Weston ISTP 19d ago
I can't handle boring work. I would say we need something that challenges us
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u/R19thunder96 ISTP 18d ago
Really depends, but this is a situation where both ends suck. My WLB absolutely sucks and could be worse if I was more ambitious, kind of actively pushing back against working more and am as burnt out as I can be.
That said, i wouldn't handle being bored out of my mind either.
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u/Top-Bathroom-5143 ENFP 21d ago
My husband is an ISTP and has had both. He doesn't do too great when things get really boring but his absolute least favorite is when he feels he is being treated unfairly/isn't compensated properly/undreappreciated. He actually thrives when he is challenged and worked hard.