The personality test that stood out the most to me was the Type A/ Type B test. I have never been sure if I was type A or type B. I am organized, attentive to detail and competitive in my work and school life, but more relaxed and spontaneous in my personal life. The personality test told me that I have a healthy balance between the two poles of A and B. According to the San Diego Mental Health Center, the intensity associated with having a type A personality can lead to stress, which can lead to burnout, workaholism, or health issues.
I am glad that I have a healthy mix of the two personality types, so that I can avoid the negative health effects associated with a high-strung type A personality, but still benefit from its organization and high ambition.
In my career, I minimize stress associated with having some type A personality characteristics by putting the scope of my work into a larger context. When I am stressed at my job as a server, I like to tell myself, “It’s not that serious,” meaning that it’s not the end of the world if a mistake is made. However, my future career as a senior care administrator will have a greater impact on other’s wellbeing, so I plan to lean on my type B personality traits, like my creativity, flexibility and warm social skills to reduce stress.
When I took the “How stressed are you?” test, I was categorized as “somewhat stressed.” I think this is accurate. The life stress questionnaire said I have a normal level of stress. It is nearing the end of my fourth and final year of college. I am facing pressure from final projects, but also, more significantly, from looking to enter the job market. However, I have a strong arsenal of methods to reduce my stress. I like to use mindfulness techniques like deep breathing and guided meditations. I’ve been enjoying spending time in nature, birdwatching or helping out at my friend’s sheep farm. I also manage stress by crocheting and spending time with friends. I plan to utilize all of these techniques to reduce stress in my future career.
Mental Health Center of San Diego. (n.d.). Type A vs. Type B: What your personality style says about you. MHCSanDiego. https://mhcsandiego.com/blog/type-a-vs-type-b-what-your-personality-style-says-about-you/