How do you form your good and bad habits? Are you a people-pleaser, willing to take on a task for others, but less willing to take care of yourself? Or maybe you’re a rebel, and you are less likely than others to do as you are told when it comes to taking medication or adopting a healthful lifestyle.
To learn more about the personality traits that help us form good and bad habits, take this quiz, created by Gretchen Rubin, author of the new book “Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives.” Once you learn your habit style, join our Well Book Club conversation with Ms. Rubin to discuss steps you can take to get better at forming good habits.
1Have you kept a New Year’s resolution where you weren’t accountable to anyone — a resolution like drinking more water or keeping a journal?
Sure. I’m good keeping New Year’s resolutions, even ones that no one knows about but me.
Yes, but I never make New Year’s resolutions, because Jan. 1 is an arbitrary date.
I have had trouble with that kind of resolution, so I’m not inclined to make one, whether at the start of the year or any time. When I’m only helping myself, I often struggle.
No. I hate to bind myself in any way.
2Recall a time when you signed up to do something optional. Did you actually show up regularly?
Yes, if I signed up.
Only if I thought it was a good use of my time.
I was more likely to go if someone was disappointed or annoyed if I didn’t show up.
Only if I felt like it.
3Your workplace is required to hold a large training meeting every six months. Employees are supposed to go, but no one takes attendance. You have been several times, and the information doesn’t apply to you. Do you…
Skip the meeting, unless my department will look bad if no one shows up.
Skip the meeting, because it’s pointless and a waste of time.
Skip the meeting, because I don’t want to go.
Attend the meeting, even if no one will know whether I go or not.
4About commitments to yourself, do you feel that…
Once I have committed to something, it makes me very uneasy not to carry through, even if no one else cares.
Before I make a commitment for myself, I require extensive evidence of its validity.
If commitments are just for me, I might not follow through — though if someone else depends on them, I will follow through.
I make as few commitments as possible.
5At times, we feel frustrated by ourselves. Are you most likely to feel frustrated because…
I get “analysis paralysis” and want more information before making a decision.
As soon as someone expects me to do something, I don’t want to do it.
I can take time for other people, but I can’t take time for myself.
I can’t take a break from my usual habits, or violate the rules, even when I want to.
6If you are working on a project for fun, one that matters only to you, is it easy for you to get it done?
It might be hard to finish, because I willl work on the project only when I feel like it.
Yes.
No, because my priorities often get shoved aside for other people’s priorities.
Yes, if I have a good reason for finishing it.
7When you’ve formed a healthy habit in the past, what helped you stick to it?
My decision to do it — even if no one else cared.
The knowledge that research showed that the habit would benefit me.
The involvement of other people who helped me stick to the habit.
I usually don’t choose to make habits.
8You have started to work in an office that has a rule that people should wear collared shirts on Fridays. However, the office doesn’t enforce the rule. How do you respond?
Wear collared shirts on Fridays.
Email your boss to ask why the office would impose such an arbitrary rule.
Ignore the rule.
If most people don’t wear collared shirts on Fridays, don’t worry about it.
9If people complain about your behavior, you would be least surprised to hear them say…
You ask too many questions.
You never take any time for yourself.
You never do what you’re supposed to do.
You’re too rigid.
10If you patted yourself on the back, would you be most likely to pat yourself on the back for being...
Disciplined and accomplished.
Trustworthy and self-sacrificing.
Contrarian and authentic.
Fair and well-informed.
11Select the answer that best describes your opinion of this statement: "People get frustrated with me, because if they ask me to do something, I’m less likely to do it (even if they’re a boss or client)."
Tend to Disagree
Neutral
Tend to Agree
12Select the answer that best describes your opinion of this statement: "I want reasons to justify the things I do; I am surprised by how often people do things for which there is little justification."
Tend to Disagree
Neutral
Tend to Agree
13Select the answer that best describes your opinion of this statement: "Commitments to others should never be broken, but commitments to myself can be broken."
Tend to Disagree
Neutral
Tend to Agree
14Select the answer that best describes your opinion of this statement: "Sometimes I won't do something I want to do, because someone wants me to do it."
Tend to Disagree
Neutral
Tend to Agree
15Select the answer that best describes your opinion of this statement: "I’ve sometimes described myself as a people-pleaser."
Tend to Disagree
Neutral
Tend to Agree
16Select the answer that best describes your opinion of this statement: "I don’t mind breaking rules or violating convention — I often enjoy it."
Tend to Disagree
Neutral
Tend to Agree
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Your score: 4
Upholder
Upholders respond readily to both outer and inner expectations: they meet deadlines and keep New Year’s resolutions without much struggle or supervision. Upholders take great satisfaction from moving smoothly through their daily schedule and their to-do lists. They meet others’ expectations—and their expectations for themselves. However, Upholders may feel uneasy when expectations aren’t clear, when they’re worried that they’re breaking the rules, or when they feel overwhelmed by expectations they seek to meet. They enjoy habits, and form habits fairly easily. If you want to learn more about the "upholder" tendency, please go to Gretchen Rubin’s website for a full report and to add your email to her mailing list.
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