What are jobs that are BOTH physically & intellectually demanding?

Question

I can’t sit still & I have very high endurance so getting stuck at a desk will not only be painful but quite a waste of Human Resources. However, I want to be challenged intellectually & if possible be physically active whilst putting my analytic & rhetoric skills to good use…

Al Pacino did make law look very physically demanding on screen but I don’t think that’s how it works irl 😂

Maybe that’s just what everyone wants and I’m just part of the club and it’s a rare find…I figure I probably would’ve thought of it by now if it existed but I don't know I’m not necessarily creative in career matters. 🤷🏻‍♀️

any ideas?

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

Framing houses is like that. Sometimes it requires a lot of strength, but most of the time it leans more toward cardio. It tends to be fast paced with more strength and resistance than pure cardio.

The intellectual part is a combination of always being alert and paying attention to what you're doing, plus some math, and visualizing structure and stresses. You really need to pay attention and not let your mind wander.

Every framer I've ever met who made it past the first season loved the work. It's a very high satisfaction job compared to other jobs. You feel great at the end of the day.

A lot of field scientists do physically demanding work also. Sometimes half the work is just getting there.

Veterinarian. Not taking care of dogs and cats. I mean the kind that have to show 1000+ pound animals who is boss.

Speaking of horses. What about an old style blacksmith? It's physical. It's intellectual. Plus it's cool.

genericname85 · Accepted Answer

being a farmer. it's probably the most underrated profession in my opinion. you basically need at least a bachelors degree level of knowledge in biology, engineering, economics, geology and meteorology. plus you always gotta think fast cause unexpected shit happens all the freaking time. like machinery breaks in the middle of a harvest. weather suddenly changes unexpectedly, prices for certain services you need or the goods you sell suddenly fluctuate like crazy.

plus all the equipment is really heavy stuff. yeah it's all machines that anyone can run "if" they work corrrectly.. but setting them up, adjusting and fixing is hard. you can't be a weak person to do the job.

Haha456 · Accepted Answer

Surgery Stand 5 to 9 hours doing an operation on a patient where if you ever make an error, the patients family will end up suing you

Bethany22 · Accepted Answer

Archivist. You have to decide on how to classify and organize materials, as well as lift heavy boxes

zeitgeist057 · Answer

Firefighting is very physically demanding, and on top of that, a lot of time is spent as a firefighter doing physical training, so you would definitely have at least the opportunity to be in shape. I have known a few out of shape firefighters, and I have no idea how they got by, it seemed really difficult for them.
The mental aspect is most about keeping calm, thinking clearly, and acting decisively in critical high stress situations. Though there are also plenty of opportunities to apply analytical and communication skills (not necessarily rhetoric, as you are collaborating) in firefighting, training, and medical situations. Many firefighters also double as paramedics and it is fast becoming a standard.

I am a nursing student, and this is more on the intellectual side of the spectrum. There are physical demands, but they are not nearly as great as those of firefighting, and I highly doubt there are many positions where you will get paid to work out like you do in fire. The physical demands mostly consist of moving patients about and being on your feet all day, so it's not terribly ergonomic. There are many more out of shape nurses, so it seems to be quite easy to neglect that aspect.

Martial arts is mostly physical, but there is definitely an intellectual element that can be focused on as well. If you are teaching self-defense courses especially, students can learn even more about social dynamics of altercations, how to navigate or avoid dangerous situations is possibly of greater importance than how to hurt or disable an aggressor. Another aspect of martial arts instruction is almost all instructors are also small business owners, so you would be managing as much of those details (accounting, advertising, budgeting, legal, &c.) as you cared to save money on by not outsourcing. <- This can be applied to many other "coaching" type jobs, and if you want physical work, consider sports or fitness oriented coaching. Surfing, Zumba, rock climbing, backpacking, river rafting, &c.

Along these lines, I'm not sure what you are aiming for, but consider what your stereotypical person looks like in each profession. Are they fat, ripped, stylish, &c? What fits your values?

normalice · Answer

There aren't many. Half the point of the "work smarter not harder" matra is to figure out how to get machines to do work for you.

But, if I had to pick a guess I would say a loader at FedEx (or equivalent). There's not a lot of intellect involved but it is a bit like playing 3d Tetris.

Apart from that my second best guess is a yoga instructor. Third best is archeologist.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

On the job training for either education or medical, my sister has one girl who has handicaps sometimes my sister has work but other times she doesn't but this job she helps this girl to get her education, and my sister more or less did some type of on the job training to learn what she needs to do for this girl and my sister makes pretty good money she keeps a household for her and my niece.

lightbulb27 · Answer

astronaught

possibly social worker, depends what kinda derelects deal with

nurse... you know the hours they pull and crap they have to deal with on a daily basis?

Marine

yoga or martial arts instructor?

programmer

matchrestore · Answer

I'm a lighting designer/technician. My job is about 40/60 design/implementation. I feel the same way as you about wanting a job to be intellectually and physically demanding.

Redstang88 · Answer

A lot of the skilled trades are like that once you get a bit of experience. Still hands on but doing the planning and design side of things as well. Industrial plumbing, electrical, pipefitter, millwright are some options for sure

AviatorTom · Answer

A job as a first responder (fireman, police EMT, etc.) is both physically and intellectually challenging. So are most ranks in the military.

Grond21 · Answer

Some kind of surveying or investigation job. What do you have to go out and inspect the job site, the accident site, or whatever site needs your expertise.

NathanDavis · Answer

maybe building, and restoring... with a carpenter, perhaps

yes... designers that restore or do remodeling of interior/exteriors

they need peoples skills, they definitely need to analyze space, functionality, how all things combined, to optimize... and it is also hard work, if they need to rebuild or redesign something

and chances are that every job will be different as well, not always the same thing, lol

exitseven · Answer

I was teaching at a local college and it really is a lot of physical work standing in front of the class trying to keep the student's attention and get the lesson across to them. I taught one course during the summer that had an insane amount of material that had to be covered in 8 weeks. The class ran for 4 hours and I never took a break.

Jerre · Answer

I think Police a nd Firemen fit this definition.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Nursing on an inpatient unit can be both physically and intellectually challenging. And be a farmer - a GOOD farmer - can also be both physically and intellectually challenging.

MysticDevice · Answer

Hmm Anything in the medical field. Firefighters Police Constriction and contracting Heavy equipment operating. The Army

bolverk · Answer

Heavy and Marine Engineering, you need to have the physicality to deal with heavy parts and tooling , along with the intelligence and analytical skills to diagnose what the problem is and the parts you'll need to effect a long lasting repair,

byrdman89 · Answer

A lot of jobs in the medical field are both physically in mentally challenging - teaching - a real estate agent - fireman or law enforcement that's all I can think of real quick off the top of my head but I hope it helps :)

dustybiker · Answer

Emergency/rescue. ER doctor.

AddylynnNightingale · Answer

Surgeons. Reattaching veins for hours on end so the patient can use his hand again like normal.

abc3643 · Answer

If you're a Republican, then wiping your ass.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

Maybe something like project manager or an on site event planner? Nursing / medical jobs in hospital tend to be quite physical and you do require a level of thinking.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I think TV travel show host. You have to know about the places you're visiting and you sometimes have to hike to remote areas or partake in physical activities

Anonymous · Answer

Healthcare, Engineering, and Consulting jobs. But any job can be demanding, it depends on the work environment and workloads as well.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Most skilled trades are both physically and mentally challenging.

RealMarek · Answer

Underwater welding. You have to be physically fit, mentally sharp, and communicate accurately. You could make well over $200k/year.

AmeerX · Answer

Engineering jobs, construction jobs, agriculture, orchard, horticulture, Tubewells and stuff, petrol pump Management etc all are intellectually demanding jobs as well as physically demanding

BJP21 · Answer

Being an Automotive technician, not only do you have to have intellect to fix a car but to also have the physical strength when the part weighs 100lbs or more.

Philyouup · Answer

i am in IT. i have done everything from building cabinets to writing code.

Snedger____ · Answer

Police officer

Andres77 · Answer

Nurse

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

Obviously a career on Onlyfans.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

definitely an astronaut

humanearth · Answer

Building machinery from blueprints

pizzalovershouse · Answer

Computer work

Jennz6 · Answer

All of my work is physical 💃

Anonymous · Answer

Construction.

Legion696969 · Answer

What about the Military? You might like that?

EaterPeter · Answer

Marriage

Debbie14217 · Answer

wow I don't know

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

Helping your mom pay her rent, ZINGO!!

jshm2 · Answer

Prostitution?

misfittoy · Answer

Healthcare

TroyDT2 · Answer

Brain surgeon

OddBeMe · Answer

Astronaut

Jamie05rhs · Answer

An actor. Duh. 🤪

ManHater · Answer

Be a steamfitter

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