The Best Workout for You, Based on Your Personality, According to Science

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The Best Workout for You, Based on Your Personality, According to Science originally appeared on Men’s Fitness.

Let’s be honest—starting and sticking to a workout routine isn’t easy, especially if you don’t actually enjoy the exercises you’re doing.

If that sounds familiar, it might be time to take a closer look at your personality. After all, there’s a reason why some people thrive on long-distance running or heavy lifting, while others find their groove with yoga or CrossFit.

A recent study published in Frontiers explored whether personality traits can predict what exercise intensities we enjoy most, the magnitude of stress reduction experienced following a training program, how much people enjoy exercise at different intensities, and how engaged they stay in exercise programs.

Researchers assigned 132 adult participants to either an 8-week home-based cycling and strength training program or a resting control group to test these links.

The results revealed that personality plays a significant role in baseline fitness and exercise preferences.

Conscientious individuals tended to have better overall fitness and logged more weekly physical activity. Extroverts showed higher peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and preferred high-intensity workouts, thriving on group classes and challenging routines.

Conversely, those high in neuroticism had poorer heart rate recovery and enjoyed sustained effort exercises less but gained the most stress relief from aerobic training.

The findings offer valuable insights for customizing workout plans that you’ll actually adhere to.

For example, extroverts might find motivation and enjoyment in high-intensity interval training or group fitness classes that provide social interaction and mental stimulation.

People with high neuroticism could benefit more from shorter, private workouts in calm environments, helping reduce stress more effectively.

Those scoring low in both traits are versatile, likely to succeed with almost any consistent routine, so focusing on convenience and sustainability is key.

Understanding the link between personality and exercise not only helps boost engagement but can improve long-term fitness outcomes by tailoring programs to individual preferences and strengths.

The Best Workout for You, Based on Your Personality, According to Science first appeared on Men’s Fitness on Aug 12, 2025

This story was originally reported by Men’s Fitness on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.