The Struggle to Stay Motivated
Some weeks, getting yourself to exercise can feel like trying to push a shopping cart with a wonky wheel. It’s slow, frustrating, and makes you want to give up halfway through.
Even the most motivated gymgoers hit a bit of a workout rut from time to time. Whether you’re bored with your current routine or feel less enthusiastic about exercising in general, it could help to shake up your routine.
Why Exercise and Personality Are Connected
One approach that might work? Looking for an exercise routine that works well with your personality.
What Is The Relationship Between Exercise And Personality?
Just like some people love spreadsheets and others love sketchbooks, our exercise preferences are shaped by who we are.
Your personality can indicate which types of exercise are most likely to be enjoyable for you. It will also provide you with information on how to approach your health and fitness overall to increase your odds of success.
Research suggests that personality traits can influence not only the workouts we gravitate toward but also how well we stick to them. People were more likely to enjoy and maintain exercise habits when their workout style aligned with their personality traits.
The Big Five Major Personality Traits
- Conscientiousness – impulsive, disorganized vs. disciplined, careful
- Agreeableness – suspicious, uncooperative vs. trusting, helpful
- Neuroticism – calm, confident vs. anxious, pessimistic
- Openness to Experience – prefers routine, practical vs. imaginative, spontaneous
- Extraversion – reserved, thoughtful vs. sociable, fun-loving
According to the study, extroverts tended to enjoy group-based, high-energy workouts—think dance classes, team sports, or CrossFit. On the other hand, neurotic individuals—who may be prone to anxiety—preferred private classes with short breaks.
Benefits Of Matching Workouts To Your Personality
If your workout matches your personality, you’re more likely to enjoy it. And if you want to stick with your workouts, you’re more likely to do them regularly.
Why Personality-Based Fitness Works
This might sound obvious, but many people try to engage in exercise formats that don’t match their preferences and personality. This causes your motivation to drop quickly, making you less likely to commit to it.
Your workout shouldn’t fight your personality; it should reflect it. When your workout taps into your intrinsic temperament, you’re far more likely to stick with it.
Matching Your Workout to Your Personality Can
• Boost your mood
• Increase motivation
• Reduce resistance to movement
• Improve your personal enjoyment of the class
When you enjoy exercise, it’s particularly effective at relieving stress. This is especially the case for people who score high in neuroticism, that is, people who are more prone to anxiety.
How To Tailor Your Workouts To Your Personality
Not sure what your fitness personality is? Start with some self-reflection.
If You’re An Extrovert, Try
Zumba, Bootcamps, HIIT classes, Group Cycling, Team Sports.
If you’re extroverted, consider exploring various social activities, such as group exercise classes or team sports.
If You’re An Introvert, Try
Solo running, Yoga, Pilates, Home Workouts, or Swimming.
Solo workouts can be a great way to have some alone time, which may make exercise more enjoyable for you. Quiet, focused environments might feel more relaxing and restorative.
If You’re Highly Conscientious, Try
Weight training programs, structured classes, apps that track progress, anything that involves fitness wearables.
Map out and write down the exact weights you’ll use in each session, as well as any other details that would allow you to follow a rigid plan all the way through.
Fitness wearables can also help you stay focused and motivated, particularly if you enjoy tracking your progress and receiving feedback.
If You’re Creative or Open-Minded, Try
Dance, Rock Climbing, or Martial Arts.
These types of individuals enjoy novelty and experimentation. People who score high in openness and agreeableness benefit from variety. It’s a way to keep things interesting and engaging, which can help you stick to exercise.
If You Score Low in Openness and Agreeableness, Try
Consistent, structured workout plans.
If you score low in openness and agreeableness, then changing up exercises all the time might not be the best call for you. You won’t like every exercise out there, and switching things up all the time increases the odds that you’ll do something that doesn’t feel right and stop.
For this reason, you will find it better to stick to what you know and make small, gradual changes to your routine when necessary.
If You’re Highly Sensitive or Prone to Anxiety, Try
Nature walks, Restorative yoga, Tai Chi, and Stretching.
Gentle, non-competitive movement can soothe your nervous system. People who score high in neuroticism—which might be your case if you’re prone to anxiety—prefer private exercise in short bursts of time.
Other Things to Consider
While your personality can offer helpful clues, it’s not the only thing you should consider when trying a new exercise. The most important thing is to figure out what you can actually stick to. Personality isn’t the only factor that affects how well you can stick to an exercise plan.
When a workout plan is easy to implement practically, it’ll be easier to stick to. Exercise is hard. Create a system that makes it easy for future-you to say yes to working out, no matter what state your body and mind are in.
Should You Push Yourself Outside Your Comfort Zone?
Think of personality as a compass, not a rulebook. It could help you figure out which types of exercise you’ll enjoy, but it shouldn’t cage you in. Don’t think, “Well, I’m an anxious and self-conscious person, so I shouldn’t try that dancing class even though I really want to.”
Other factors—like your personal interests, level of curiosity, and even your social circle—might affect whether you’re interested in a specific type of exercise or not. You might find it helpful to stretch yourself—literally and metaphorically. Some people find meaning in pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.
Bottom Line
Just do something you enjoy, and no matter what you do, keep moving.
