Unpredictable or Mundane? How Predictable Are You?

Predictability is a quality that some people wear like a badge of honor, while others see it as the ultimate curse. But have you ever considered just how predictable YOU are? At first glance, this may seem like an impossible question to answer. After all, humans are complex creatures with unpredictable emotions and behaviors.

But what if I told you that there ARE ways to gauge your predictability? What if I said that there were certain traits and habits that could give away whether you’re more likely to stray from the norm or stick solidly within its confines? Well, my friends, it’s time to find out.

The Traits That Make You Tick

We all know those people who simply cannot be swayed from their routines – they wake up at exactly the same time every day, eat the same breakfast without fail (oatmeal with raisins and a sprinkle of cinnamon), and never deviate from how they organize their workspace on any given day. These folks tend to be incredibly reliable because you always know what they’re going to do next (although there is something unsettling about such unwavering behavior).

On the other hand, we also have individuals who thrive on unpredictability; these are people who relish in trying new things and disrupting expectations. They’ll skip breakfast one day only to indulge in donuts for lunch; they’ll move their desk around on whim three times per week just because they can. While these free spirits may seem exciting at first blush(and slightly exhausting over time), we can’t deny that their propensity towards spontaneity can cause chaos when working in teams.

So which type of person are YOU – dependable routine keeper or chaotic flurry-creator? Knowing your tendencies will help shape not only your personal life but also your career trajectory(super important). Let’s examine several key traits associated with each category:

The Routine Keeper

• Dependable (but boring?)
• Highly organized
• Strong attention to detail (can’t miss a beat)
• Follows routines and schedules without question (5pm yoga every day, what do you mean? It’s 5:05 – I’m late!!!)
• Dislikes disruptions or changes in plans (what do you mean we’re having tacos instead of chicken for dinner???)

The Flurry Creator

• Spontaneous
• Thrives on novelty and excitement
  (every path becomes an adventure!)
• Easily bored with routine tasks
  (potential attention span issues behind this?)
  rebellious nature towards restrictions.
  (the man can’t tell me what to do!!)

Of course, there are shades of gray within each category; some people may lean more heavily one way or another but still exhibit traits from both.

How Predictability Affects Your Career

It’s easy to assume that being predictable is always good simply because it comes across as dependable. After all, when someone knows exactly how you’ll handle certain situations, they may be more likely to entrust you with projects that require reliable outcomes. But at the same time, predictability can actually hold us back in many ways(so watch out!). If everyone knows what your next move will be before you even make it yourself(talk about losing edge), how can you differentiate yourself from your peers?

Let’s take a look at several careers where being highly predictable could either help or hinder success:

Creative Professions

If we learned anything above (you were paying attention right?) it’s that creatives are traditionally viewed as “flurry” types who thrive on unpredictability.

Creative Jobs	High Success Rate With Predictability	Low Success Rate With Predictability
Art Director/Designer	1	2
Writer/Blogger/Publisher	3	4

Law Enforcement

Protecting and serving the public requires a certain level of predictability. Officers need to stick firmly with protocol in order to ensure that they handle situations effectively and within legal boundaries.

Military Careers

As with law enforcement, military personnel must adhere stringently (like 5am sharp) to very particular protocols in order for missions(and national security)to be successful (no time for mistakes here).

Can You Regain Your Unpredictable Nature?

So maybe you’ve come to the realization that your predictability is holding you back (or maybe I helped you – this is about me?! No… let’s continue) Or perhaps someone else has pointed it out(being predictable can’t exactly make me popular now can it). Either way, is there anything you can do about it?

The good news is YES! There are ways to regain some level of unpredictability if that’s something that feels important or necessary:

1. Force yourself into uncomfortable situations: If routine typically guides every aspect of your life(nothing over egg-whites)
   , try taking a yoga class at an entirely different studio or stay in as an extreme introvert.

2. Prioritize self-discovery activities: Maybe when people say “take a thrill”, they don’t just mean roller coasters(which we already knew signified being unpredictable). Instead, try engaging regularly in introspective practices like journaling()where honesty takes us down plenty dangerous roads – specifically where denial wears off about how mundane we might feel),meditation(cue calming music)or therapy sessions(FYI technically writing only helps ease our minds momentarily while meditation keeps anger levels lower longer-term).

3. Embrace spontaneity: This one is purely for practice. Instead of immediately following your same old routines, challenge yourself to make a different decision every once in awhile(once ain’t enough honey). Order something different at lunch or try taking a side street on your way home from work.

Remember that being unpredictable isn’t necessarily better, but knowing how to balance it with stability can help you navigate life more fluidly(so keep telling yourself that). By identifying tendencies and working towards regaining a sense of fun unpredictability (while still remaining grounded in logic), we can all bring more excitement into our lives(c’mon don’t be boring).

Final Thoughts

In the end, it’s up to us as individuals (and not who we thought were our friends)to determine whether predictability is friend or foe. Some people thrive on patterns and regulations, while others need constant novelty to stay engaged. There are many industries where predictability is beneficial(nurses/teachers) , just as there are others that require an air of uncertainty(marketing/sales). The important thing to remember is that whatever path we choose(users? robots?) , knowledge about ourselves empowers us.(adaptation powers activate!)