There’s a reason why the “traditional” 9-5, Monday-Friday work week doesn’t work for everyone… it’s because this one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t account for who we truly are, how we specifically function and what our unique gifts are. This model also doesn’t account for elements like neurodiversity, the female hormonal cycle, chronic illness, and many other factors. One of the things that was most revealing to me when I first started studying human design was when I discovered that the reason that this model is so popular (yet doesn’t work for everyone) is because it was created to suit the majority of the population – the Generators (and Manifesting Generators, which are a subtype of the Generator).
Generators (36% of the world population) and Manifesting Generators (32% of the world population) encompass well over half the human population and are society’s great builders, so it makes sense that their powerful, defined sacrals and their boundless energy would be seen as “the norm.”
But what about the rest of us?
Discovering My Human Design
Before I knew anything about human design, I worked a demanding corporate marketing job that drove me completely into a clinical burnout. One thing I remember most was feeling trapped at a desk when I’d already done a day’s worth of work in about 2 hours. Knowing now that I’m a Projector… this all makes alot of sense.
This post is dedicated to embracing your human design to “work smarter”* not harder so you can cultivate a career that is fulfilling for you. *Oh, and just so we’re all on the same page, we’re talking about energetic optimization here, rather than time management. Let’s dive in.
What’s Human Design?
Human design is a tool that helps you reconnect with who you are at a soul level and discover your unique energetic flow. Mixing together elements of astrology, the chakra system and other ancient spiritual traditions as well as elements of modern sciences like genetics and quantum physics, your human design is like a map of your soul, your soul’s gifts and how you specifically energetically function.
If human design is totally new to you, start here
There are 4 Human Design Types (and 1 subtype), each with a unique role to play in the collective…
- Manifestors = the visionaries of society, designed to have the big ideas and initiate them, then pass the baton to others to actually build it out
- Generators = the great builders here to actually bring to life and build out the great visions and plans of society
- Manifesting Generators = subtype of generators that are the multi-passionates designed to bounce between the many things they’re interested in by responding to their sacral, helping build and bring to life.
- Projectors = the guides and seers here to offer the perspective for how to do things with more alignment, ease and efficiency
- Reflectors = the mirrors here to reflect back to society what is and is not working
Not sure what your type is? Look up your type here or check out this free guide to learn more about your type
A Note on the Sacral Centre in Human Design
The sacral centre is our energy centre in our bodies that is responsible for producing our life force energy. Generators and Manifesting Generators are the only ones who have this defined. Projectors, Manifestors and Reflectors all have undefined sacrals, making them ‘non sacral’ folks. This means that for use non-sacral people, we have varying, inconsistent levels of lifeforce energy each day, and are not designed to try to ‘keep up’ with those with defined sacrals. On the other hand, to have your sacral defined (which you do if you’re a Generator or MG), means you’ll basically wake up each day with a full battery, ready to be used up.
There is no better or worse in human design – we all just have different gifts and different ways we are designed to energetically function! Learning about the sacral centre and discovering if you have it defined or undefined is one of the most healing elements about discovering your human design – especially if you’re a non-sacral being. Because this centre is responsible for our life force energy, it’s pertinent to touch on when we discuss how to work effectively!
Embracing Your Energy Type in Your Workflow
Manifestors:
If you are a manifestor, you have a very unique create/ rest energy cycle, where you will receive an idea or ‘urge’ that you immediately desire to act upon, entering the ‘create’ phase of your work cycle. This cycle stage could go for hours and hours, and it is unpredictable how long it will last, after which you’re designed to rest until you have the next great idea. Again, the duration of the rest stage of the cycle is also unpredictable. For this reason, Manifestors thrive in a non-traditional work schedule, especially because you likely prefer having the freedom to control your own time. This could mean you are the leader or visionary, like a CEO, with a team to help do the building. Or this could mean you work for yourself, so you have complete control over your time and schedule.
Manifestors have an undefined sacral, meaning you are not meant to try to “keep up” energetically with the majority (Generators and MGs) – you don’t have to. Delegating to others will support you as a Manifestor in being able to conserve your creative energy for your next big ideas – and since a Manifestor like you isn’t designed to necessarily finish everything that you start, having someone to help you actually build and do the things will feel very supportive and nourishing.
Manifestor Workflow Tips:
- Be sure to inform those around you who will be impacted by your actions before you enter your work cycle’s create phase. This isn’t about asking permission but will allow you to clear the way by eliminating potential disruptions or miscommunications. For example, if you and your partner work from home, you could let them know you’re going into a creative cycle so they don’t disturb you or feel like you’re ignoring them.
- Leave whitespace in your calendar to allow flexibility and to make room for the unpredictability of how long your ‘create’ and ‘rest’ phases will last.
- Embrace your leadership energy by aiming for roles that allow you to lead and pass the baton to someone else once you’ve gotten the ball rolling.
- Embrace your unconventional ideas – you’re genuinely here to blaze a new trail and challenge the norm with your ideas!
- Ensure you have alone time every day to be in your own energy.
Generators
If you’re a Generator and you are doing the work you genuinely love, then you will be absolutely unstoppable. You could work all day without tiring, feeling so satisfied with how you’re spending your time. But when you’re doing what you think you should do or other things that aren’t lighting you up inside, you’ll likely find yourself getting drained and fast.
This is all because of your defined sacral centre – which is genuinely one of the most excellent tools at your disposal. Your sacral (gut) is very reliable and will give you cues about what to pursue based on what lights it up inside. Your defined sacral centre also means you have consistent and reliable life force energy- aka, you basically wake up each day with a full battery, ready to be used. In fact, you must use and drain that energy up before you fall into bed, delightfully exhausted and ready to rest so your sacral can ‘recharge’ in your sleep.
Generators like you are typically quite methodical and able to truly master skills. If you’re lit up and interested in something, follow that – that’s your compass.
Generator Workflow Tips
- Your sacral (gut) doesn’t lie. If you’re feeling in your gut that something isn’t right for you or isn’t exciting you, practice saying no to save room for more of what you really like to do.
- Audit your life and work for what is draining you – and consider if there’s anything you can release or offload from your plate to make more room for what is enjoyable for you.
- Embrace your naturally methodical nature by using checklists and clear procedures to keep you on track with your goals.
- Integrate movement and exercise into your day – it will help you focus when you can release some of your excess energy.
- If you’re feeling stuck on a project or task that was previously exciting to you, you may have hit a plateau. Try re-engaging your sacral energy by giving it something new to respond to – going out for a walk or taking a break may give you something to respond to + get you back in flow.
Manifesting Generators
As MGs are a subtype of the Generator, read the above section first as it all applies to you as well. However, where you will differ from a Generator is that you’re likely multi-passionate with multiple things that you feel delighted and excited by. You are designed to bounce between them whenever you are feeling bored by one, moving over to another. You are even designed to skip steps and do things differently, not as methodical as the Generator
MG Workflow tips
- Batch similar tasks together to help you focus on all the many things you’re passionate about
- If you’re feeling stuck, allow yourself the freedom to bounce over to another task or thing that delights you
- Don’t force yourself to follow strict linear A-Z pathways if they don’t make sense for you and the way you’re doing things
Projectors
As a Projector, your magic is not found in trying to “keep up” with others. You’re meant to work in focused periods, then spend the rest of your time cultivating deep self-recognition in your gifts. Ideally, you’ll work 4-5 hours daily, with plenty of time to rest, reflect and study.
Projectors taste the energy of others, meaning we’re really sensitive to others’ energies. It also makes us naturally, deeply perceptive guides, able to see others with extreme clarity. Projectors are meant to wait for the invitation to share our deep insights and perceptions with others to be truly seen and heard.
Projectors have an undefined sacral, meaning you are not meant to try to “keep up” energetically with the majority (Generators and MGs) – you don’t have to. Your gifts and strengths don’t come from this.
Projector Workflow Tips
- Embrace your natural efficiency by working through shorter periods with plenty of breaks. A Projector can get done in a couple hours what takes others a full day, so we’re really not designed to work full 8-hour days
- Spend time alone each day to get back in your own energy.
- Embrace your natural curiosity and interest in others by studying something that interests you.
- Allow yourself space to study and take in information that interests you.
- Practice waiting for the invitation to share your deep insights with others to protect your energy
- Look out for feelings of bitterness – this is a sign you’re likely accepting invitations that are not aligned for you or you’re not honouring your authority.
Reflectors
Making up just 1% of the population, if you’re a Reflector you’re truly a beautiful unicorn! Reflectors are quite different from one another, more so than the other types, since you have all energy centres in the body undefined. Reflectors’ role in society is to act like ‘mirrors’, reflecting back to us what is and is not working. Because of this, Reflectors are extremely wise and can read people extremely well.
Reflectors are very insightful and sensitive to the needs of others, able to really put themselves in someone else’s shoes. You’re really not meant to cling to any one identity – you may feel different each day and embracing that variety is part of your magic
The correctness of your environment is essential for you as a Reflector – the environment and people that feel good for you to be around.
Reflectors have an undefined sacral, meaning you are not meant to try to “keep up” energetically with the majority (Generators and MGs) – you don’t have to.
Reflector Workflow Tips
- Ensure you’re in the correct environment for you – your environment is immensely important so finding the right work spot for you to create from is important
- Daily rest and alone time to restore and get back into your own energy is very important for you
- Allow yourself about a month (a full lunar cycle) to make big decisions (like where you will live, work or who you will embrace partnership with), regularly checking in with yourself over that month to see how you feel about the decision until your reach an overall sense of clarity
- Getting to know your daily transit chart will provide you with a sense of how you’ll feel on a given day, which can be helpful for planning purposes in your work
Bonus Tips For Aligning Your Workflow With Your Human Design
- Embrace your strategy for interacting with others to experience more ease and flow in your daily life and relationships:
- Manifestors = inform others (who will be affected) before taking action
- Generators + MGS = respond to others and anything in the external world, using your sacral (gut) to distinguish what is a yes and a no
- Projectors = wait for the invitation before sharing your deep insights and perceptions with others
- Reflectors = wait a lunar cycle before engaging in a new partnership or making a large decision
- Follow your authority for making aligned decisions – this is truly your compass!
- Reflect or journal on: where have I been (unconsciously) working against my natural energy flow and design? What am I ready to tweak?
Embrace Your Unique Way of Doing Things
Didn’t you hear? Grinding away and trying to do things like everyone else is out. It’s instead about discovering who you really are at a soul level, and optimizing your life and work around that so you can live truly in flow. Explore your human design in a 1-1 reading with me. Prefer to dip a toe in first? Check out this free guide
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