Men Who Constantly Wear Flip Flops Instead Of Regular Shoes Almost Always Have These 11 Distinct Personality Traits
Monkey Business Images | Shutterstock If you're an avid flip flop-wearer, chances are you've found yourself here in a defensive mood, but we're not here to tell you that you're wrong. Of course, social norms about "acceptable" clothing and podiatrists may have their own opinions, but men who constantly wear flip flops instead of regular shoes almost have distinct certain personality traits that are actually quite beneficial.
From making space for comfort in their chaotic routines to being authentic in the face of social pressures to instead be performative, these men don't care about what other people think. They're worried about how they can make their own lives more comfortable and secure.
Men who constantly wear flip flops instead of regular shoes almost always have these 11 distinct personality traits
1. They're not performative
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Whether it's self-consciousness urging people to perform for likability or a sense of perfectionism that urges people to fit into a "perfect," unrealistic mold in society, people who form their self-worth and identity around performance are much unhappier than their authentic counterparts.
Men who constantly wear flip flops instead of regular shoes are embracing that authenticity in a unique, hyper-personal way. Even if it's entirely subconscious, they're not trying to look "cool" by following social norms or trying to seek some kind of status or attention for their appearance. Rather, they simply do what feels good and comfortable.
2. They're not self-conscious
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While feeling insecure and self-conscious in some situations is a perfectly normal, natural part of our human experience, living in this state constantly can often bring up anxious spirals and feelings. Your nervous system is operating from a place of "fight or flight," making even the simplest decisions and tasks impossible.
However, men who make small decisions to dress in comfortable ways and put their own personal needs above "performing" to the world around them are operating from self-assuredness, rather than self-consciousness. They may care about how they show themselves to the world, but they're not making decisions with only validation or acceptance from others in mind.
3. They prioritize comfort
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While prioritizing constant comfort can sometimes be harmful to personal growth and development, making space for rest and mindful comfort amid your daily life can be important for well-being. Whether it's taking a break from work or wearing clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident, people who are intentional with prioritizing comfort live happier lives.
Men who constantly wear flip flops instead of regular shoes almost always have these distinct personality traits. They care about their personal comfort when it comes to self-expression, so they have the energy to embrace discomfort when it truly matters in their lives.
4. They're relaxed
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While mindfulness and a relaxed demeanor are often difficult to prioritize amid the chaos of everyday life, people who lean on healthy coping strategies and internal emotional work tend to thrive. For example, men who make the deliberate choice to accept themselves as they are and lean into authenticity are less likely to take on the stress of performance or likability when navigating the world.
Even if that means choosing specific shoes and clothing, seemingly harmless decisions, to serve personal needs and comfort over social status and image, these are powerful ways to lower stress and tension.
5. They're minimalists
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A study from the Journal of Positive Psychology argues that people who live minimalist lives or operate with minimalist-oriented values often live happier lives. They're more comfortable and secure with less, and are less stressed and anxious about the pursuit of material things.
Men who wear flip flops may be minimalists in this way. They're not interested in performing a certain kind of self-expression in society by feeding into consumerist culture. They may have a favorite pair of shoes, and if they're comfortable and practical, they're going to be a pillar of their closet.
6. They're spontaneous
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Spontaneous lives and routines are often one pillar of happiness. That's why research, like one study from Personality and Individual Differences, argues that "openness" is a more influential personality trait for boosting success than intelligence. People who are open-minded about change and novelty are more likely to live meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Even if it feels like a stretch, men who constantly wear flip flops instead of regular shoes almost always have these distinct personality traits. They don't have time to change their clothing or shoes before moving to the next thing. Maybe they're too excited and interested in the experiences of life, rather than the outward image or appearance they're portraying to the world.
7. They're frugal
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People who live intentionally frugal lives are often happier, not only because they have less stress around money, but also because they're more mindful of how they spend their energy and conserve their resources in every aspect of their routines. Men who choose to only spend money on a few pairs of shoes for different reasons in life may have this distinct trait.
They simply have a few pairs of shoes on rotation. When they're casually running errands or checking in with friends, they're not worried about pulling out their "work shoes" or "fancy sneakers." They're mindful about what they wear on their bodies, but they're not putting their wallet or well-being at stake to have a million options.
8. They're practical
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Men who constantly wear flip flops instead of regular shoes almost always have distinct personality traits like practicality. They prefer to be functional and comfortable in their self-expression, rather than trying to appeal to social norms and expectations of "fashion" and "style."
While others, operating from a place of rigidity and trying desperately to find deeper meaning in everything, can often cultivate more stress, these men, who focus on practicality in their lives, may operate from a more mindful place.
9. They're quietly confident
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Sometimes, our choice of footwear and clothing is purely functional and practical. However, experts like stress management expert Debbie Mandel argue that the choice of footwear, especially flip flops, is more nuanced than that. "Flip flops liberate from formality," she explains. "When we wear them, we feel that we don't have to tiptoe around others."
Men who are quietly confident may believe that their choice of footwear is relatively harmless and insignificant, but it may actually be a sign of their self-assuredness. They want to have the emotional space to be themselves without worry of judgment and to liberate themselves from the social constructs that have forced them into rigid expectations and boxes.
10. They're not anxious about judgment
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Men who wear flip flops all the time are secure in their identity. Their clothing may play a part in their authenticity, but it's also possible that they're simply practical and comfortable. They're more interested in experiences or truly connecting with others than playing a "role" with their self-expression. Of course, this lack of anxiety about social judgments doesn't just impact a man's clothing choices — it also improves his relationships and general well-being.
As a study from PLOS One explains, people who are more worried about how they're perceived and judged by others are more likely to have trust issues that negatively affect their interactions and connections with others. However, these men, who are already self-assured and uninterested in seeking likability in their social interactions, have more emotional space to truly connect with people on an authentic, vulnerable level.
11. They're lighthearted and fun
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Of course, our clothing is often tied to our social perception, as a study from Personality and Social Psychology Review suggests, but it also tends to showcase our mood and personality. For a person who's naturally easygoing, lighthearted, and fun, their clothing tends to reveal those traits, even if it's not socially "acceptable" in the framework of style, misguided professionalism, or gendered expectations.
Men who constantly wear flip flops instead of regular shoes almost always have these distinct personality traits. They're not worried about who's going to judge them for their clothing choices or their status in society, so they choose options that are practical for their lifestyle and comfortable for their bodies.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
