If someone uses these 9 phrases, they probably have a Type-A personality

Personality types are some of psychology’s most fascinating concepts. No wonder there’s so much content about it on the internet. 

After all, who doesn’t want to understand themselves and the people around them better?

If you’ve ever taken personality tests, you might have discovered that you have a Type A personality. 

But are you really a Type A? Is it a bad thing?

If you need clarification about this concept, here are some tips for you to check. 

If someone uses these 9 phrases, they probably have a Type-A personality. 

Let’s see if that’s something you would say!

1) “I’ll push boundaries if I have to”

Type A personalities have strong—and I mean really strong—personalities. They are headstrong in getting what they want, whether that’s achieving a goal, accomplishing a task, or finding something out.

And sometimes, this means they won’t mind pushing other people a bit. They’ll try to get away with as much as they can in order to get what they want.

Of course, they can definitely go overboard, but a mature Type A will not cross people’s boundaries even if they might push them.

2) “No pain, no gain”

Type As will go through hell and high water to accomplish what they want, and this manifests in their incredibly strong work ethic. 

They have a high desire for success and don’t mind giving all their effort for it.

They don’t fear the challenge—they relish it.

So, for example, if you…

• Are incredibly consistent in the gym;
• Log in long work hours to build your business;
• Have an incredibly detailed calendar;
• Are super focused on getting better at your skills;

…then you just might be a Type A!

3) “Don’t waste my time” or “I’m busy”

Of course, everyone hates wasting their time, but Type As will absolutely abhor it.

As I said above, they are incredibly hard-working and detail-oriented. They have their schedules planned out completely to optimize their time in pursuit of their goal.

In short, they’re very busy. And in fact, they want to be busy pretty much all the time.

So, for them, time wasted is time that could’ve gone into working towards their goals instead.

For example, I have a Type A friend who gets quite upset whenever I’m even just a few minutes late! 

She also hates waiting in line and gets easily annoyed when her phone is even just a tiny bit slow to load.

If you relate to this, then, yeah, you’re probably a Type A.

4) “I’ll do it my way”

Type As are as independent and individualistic as they are hard-working. They want to have absolute control over their lives.

After all, they typically have fast-paced schedules—and most people just can’t keep up with them. They want things to be as optimized and as efficient as possible and are keen to perfect even the smallest of details.

They’re stubborn like that and really want things done according to their preference. This is why Type As tend to be business owners or freelancers. They just hate it when they’re told what to do.

While this might make it a challenge to collaborate with them in a group setting, it makes them pretty good leaders.

5) “I’ll achieve it”

Type As won’t give it their all if they don’t believe they could achieve it in the first place.

They have big, big dreams—dreams that many people will say are just too big or unrealistic. Type As, however, will drown out those voices and remain hellbent on reaching their goals.

To put it simply, they’ll ignore the haters and the doubters, just focus on their own journey, and let the results speak for themselves.

After all, all they need is their own hyper-independent selves. They don’t need to rely on anything or anyone else.

Their ambition is only matched by their superior focus.

6) “Never say never”

Similarly, they’ll also always say, “Never say never” or “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Type As can be incredibly stubborn and, quite frankly, have zero tolerance for stupidity or low drives. If they want something, they’ll get it—or die trying.

So don’t be surprised if they also say, “If they can do it, I can do it too.”

While most Type As don’t think they’re particularly talented, what sets them apart is their undying will.

7) “I can’t relax”

With how much they’re working, it’s typical for Type As to be in a constant state of stress. They’re anal about pretty much everything and worry if things are going according to plan.

This is why it’s typically hard for them to take breaks, even if they know they should. After all, recharging every once in a while ensures that you’re always performing up to par.

However, they just can’t relax! 

Their mind is constantly buzzing:

• What if things go wrong?

• What can I do to improve?

• What’s my next goal?

• How can I be more efficient?

Thoughts like these constantly plague a Type A’s mind. 

Thus, some more extreme Type As have accepted that they’ll never really be able to take full breaks and just tone down the workload from time to time.

8) “I feel strongly about that”

With how hardworking, ambitious, and independent they are, people also think that they’re the extremely logical type. 

You know, the kind of people who typically repress their emotions and try to see things as objectively as possible.

Type As, however, can be very emotional. They wear their heart on their sleeve, and that is shown just by how steadfast they are. 

They feel things very strongly, and that is what drives them to act all the time.

9) “I’m cutting you off”

Now, this isn’t something Type As specifically tend to say, but they definitely have a tendency to interrupt you.

Yes, it can definitely be rude. But most of the time, they don’t intend to be rude.

They just have very strong opinions and no tolerance for nonsense. 

So if they hear something they disagree with—or, worse, something they think is nonsense—they will definitely butt in and share their thoughts.

What if I have a Type A personality?

Do the points above resonate with you? Have you determined that you have a Type A personality?

Maybe you feel delighted or proud about your characteristics. Or maybe you’re frightened (as some people are of you!)

Either way, you need to know how to handle your personality well—to both maximize its strengths and account for its weaknesses.

Particularly, Type As are incredibly prone to being overstressed. Here are a few tips to deal with it better:

• Pinpoint what stresses you out

The thing is, not all stress is bad. It’s natural, and a healthy amount of it is good. The stress and exhaustion you feel after a long day of fulfilling work is good. The anxiety you feel when worrying about things typically isn’t. Identify which things stress you out excessively in a negative way.

• Take a break

While it can be hard to give yourself a break if you’re constantly stressed, think about it this way: if you work while too stressed, then you may not perform well enough to fix the thing you’re stressed about anyway. You might make it even worse. Take a breather and deal with the problem once you’re more rested—even if that’s just 15 minutes.

• Don’t neglect self-care

Similarly, remember to reward yourself every once in a while. Whether that’s taking the night off (instead of working on your side hustle) or joining a weekend getaway, these moments are crucial to reenergizing you when you get back to the grind.

• Stay fit

Type As are prone to overworking. So much so that many end up neglecting their health and fitness; they forget to eat healthily, exercise regularly, and sleep adequately. So, remember that you can’t do your best if you’re not at your best.

• Try relaxation techniques 

As I said above, Type As tend to have a hard time relaxing. It’s therefore even more important for you to try out different methods. Try meditating, yoga, or various forms of breathwork. Not only will they help you with stress, but they’ll also boost your health, such as reducing blood pressure.

• Consult a professional

Of course, if things get hard, don’t hesitate to consult a professional. A trained therapist or expert can give you more comprehensive ways to help you manage your stress.

To conclude

Do you like that you’re a Type A? I personally know a lot of Type As who say that they don’t want to be Type As because they always feel compelled to work, leading to chronic stress.

So, in my opinion, if you find yourself wanting to reduce your Type A-ness, you’re probably just looking for ways to deal with stress in a better way.

Remember that no personality type is better than the others, all with their strengths and weaknesses—and Type As have such incredible strengths!

You have all the reasons to be proud of yourself as a Type A. You just need to manage it in a healthy, sustainable way.