Before dragging your feet again to the garage, bus or subway station for another boring commute to the office, here are some thoughts from a previous office worker:
People hardly change.
If you're bored at school, you'll probably find office jobs even worse. A few months into my first year in college, I heard one of my classmates saying: "It's no longer exciting. Nothing new happens anymore." Another colleague said he had to take a leave and go back to school after a semester just to regain perspective. I felt the same kind of boredom (or worse) about 3 months later and was never able to regain interest. My mind would drift off within 5 minutes of a normal (boring) lecture. Why?
Were born with "hunters' traits".
In the ancient times, people survived either by hunting and gathering or farming. Hunters developed their quick decision-making skills in the hunting grounds. Hunters scan the environment looking for food (so they look inattentive and distracted at school). On the other hand, farmers are more comfortable with routines (like doing homework everyday). Hunters often risk their lives to survive (e.g. hop down the stairs on one foot). Hunters passed on their skills and genes down to this generation. Those who have strong hunters' genes don't stay happy too long in non-risky situations (e.g. falling in line). Hunting is usually risky but rewarding. Farmers tend to be better at routines (clerical jobs) than hunters.
It's usually hard to get to work on time, making you feel even more stressed.
It's in your BIOS (hardwed in your brain).
What if your brain was pre-programmed with hunting skills? You'd feel "trapped" performing routines, doing the same things everyday. Within two weeks into a new job, you might procrastinate even putting on your shoes for something that seems more urgent or exciting (like the local news airing at the moment). You only get fired up when there's already a risk of being late! I once told another colleague at work: "You must be an adrenaline junkie because you're not happy whenever you get to work early." After driving/riding like crazy, there's just enough adrenaline to ease the "lazy" feeling and start moving fingers for money. Yes, if there's no time pressure/stress or excitement, nothing would get done!
This trait is a gift though.
You perform well during emergency situations. If you're a performer, you're usually more comfortable in front of an audience. In a nutshell, yesterday's hunters are likely to become businessmen, inventors, investors, soldiers, policemen, athletes, actors/actresses, photographers, journalists, musicians, innovators, motivational speakers, DEBTORS, etc.
Why debtors?
Well, hunters of today have a tendency to sink deeper and deeper into debt. One can choose to go on a shopping spree when feeling bored and depressed. Another may decide to help the needy and feel equally good. Knowing these negative tendencies and the reason behind them may make decision-making much easier. It's a matter of choice, practice and consistency.
Risk-taking behaviors either do us good or bad.
One can choose to pursue being a professional race-car driver or simply keep violating traffic rules for fun. One can choose to fly for real (i.e. pursue being a pilot), ride a motorcycle at 90Mph, do extreme sports or use drugs to simulate the excitement of flying. Road rage is not uncommon among today's hunters because of our active fight-or-flight response. Some utilize chemicals like nicotine from smokes or caffeine from coffee or tea to trigger the same response made by catching big game or just seeing new hunting grounds. That's another reason why online shopping, gambling, and social media can be addictive! These activities trigger our dopamine (the feel-good neurotransmitter) reward systems. They're similar to solving real problems or finishing big projects (which we don't do everyday). Doing paperwork without making major decisions for the company is excruciating for "hunters".
No-wonder, project-based jobs seem to be more interesting!
We're bound to be distracted and some get addicted.
Hunters are like dopamine-seeking missiles. Distractions that look fun/interesting are usually welcome when doing something ordinary, but we hyper-focus on very few things that seem important.
Who wouldn't shoot a passer-by deer while hunting for rabbits (with enough firepower and without prohibition)?
Fortunately or unfortunately, we now have the technology to simulate hunting (e.g. mobile games, YouTube videos, etc.). No wonder, some people have tendencies to be addicted to them quickly, playing online games for hours! Did you know that hunters of today virtually dominate the audience of reality TV, sci-fi, horror and action films? Watching these simulate risks at the comfort of our homes, making us spend more money, waste more time, and sink deeper into debt. It just depends on what you get addicted on. Moderation is key. Are you with me?
Hunters have tendencies to job-hop and move from place to place.
These helped them survive in the ancient times. Hunting grounds naturally run dry and hunters need to move to sustain themselves. Hunters may regard office jobs as "menial" - (Anyone else can do them.) Without genuine interest, they eventually stop and try something else. On the other hand, farmers of the ancient times survived by settling in a place where they're safe and they can keep accounts of their crops and livestock.
If you're more of an impulsive "decision maker", (who want's to grab every fleeting circumstance as much as possible) than a "follower", office jobs may be too boring for you. The upside is: You want excellence. You want change. You go against the flow to do more, achieve more. But again, not all hunters enjoy the liberty of finding (and lingering in) new "hunting grounds" whenever they want to.
This person is so lucky though:
It's Impossible to "take off" (e.g. own the business) working like you do!
Many people work only for obvious/superficial reasons like covering the necessities or for pleasure. Many modern-day hunters naturally want "more" but settle for less because doing "more" (risk-taking) is not only risky and unnecessary, but it can seem outrageous in the midst of farmers. Why go out hunting while we have a steady supply of food from the farm? If it's impossible to own the business (farm) you're working for, you're like a plane running forever on the runway without taking off. You're made to fly but you can't! The workload of a farmer (paperwork, accounting, logistics) is too boring for a hunter so it feels so "heavy" and stressful.
Having no "Escape Plan"
Without enough reasons or mechanisms to "escape", we stay in our "fake comfort zones" where we're really uncomfortable. We think we're off the ground and "safe" but are we? For obvious reasons, many simulate "hunting" after work (i.e. drive fast, browse the newsfeed, watch TV, drink alcohol, etc.) Remember, hunters are comfortable in risky situations. Nowadays, risky situations can be simulated on TV and in computer games. We can make risky decisions and reap simulated (fake) rewards that don't last. We make up for the lost "hunting" opportunities by simulating the pleasures of hunting. Remember how your heart races in the face of those breath-taking scenes?
- Hence, we come down to the effects of having no idea about these concepts. We come up with many ways to satisfy our brains with feel-good hits of dopamine, but only a few ever use their bodies like real hunters do. Many therefore, end up with poor health and more:
Underlying Medical Problems
Many medical conditions are known to make people feel weak or cranky. Among these are obstructive sleep apnea (which I have) and diabetes. With basic knowledge about these conditions and how they affect the human brain, it's easier to understand why some people seem depressed and too bored to continue working the wrong job. Some hunters are better at coping and manage to keep a "farmer's" job without turning to vices and destructive habits. Many get hooked though.
http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/04/7-reasons-why-youre-feeling-sleepy-during-the-day-5857036/
Whether ADHD is a real medical condition or not, having these traits will surely undermine your ability to perform in certain kinds of environment so please check this out:
Good news: You're not a robot!
We're given "free WHEELS". We can spin them in the direction we want. With the "right workload", we can cover more ground, possibly reach "escape velocity", and finally defy gravity!
So, the next time I have free time, as a hunter, I can consider many choices. I can plan for my next "hunt". I can exercise in new ways (-Forget the boring jog or bike ride in the same park!). I can scout new hunting grounds (by writing a new song in an unfamiliar genre or outlining my next article for Steemit). I can go after "big game" (pursue new business opportunities). I can learn new skills or simply go shopping or play mobile games to get entertained. I can have another cup of coffee and browse the newsfeed at the same time. I can kiss my wife and hug my kid for a few minutes, and so on.
Conclusion
I'm sure that whether you're a hunter or a farmer in nature, you will find it easier to understand other people, considering that each one of us is different. You may also consider that the two types of people discussed here belong to a continuum. Some people can perform well in both areas but not equally. Humans are adaptable. At the end of the day, it's a matter of choice, practice and consistency. We can choose to live like a farmer even if we're more inclined to being hunters, but we'll surely miss home.