The Art Of Being Type-A: 12 Things That Prove We’re Not Intense — Just Prepared
A. C. | Canva It's not easy having a Type A personality, and it's not just because of the constant garbage we deal with from others who tell us we need to "slow down" or those who assume our constant drive and ambition cause us to be arrogant. We literally can't help ourselves.
What is a Type A personality? Well, it describes someone competitive, a bit aggressive, and tends to be invested in their work. But we didn't choose to be naturally uptight and meticulous about every little detail; it just kind of happened. We were born this way.
We are who we are, and we won't apologize for it. But there are a few things you might want to know before you think about calling a spade a spade again in the future.
Here are 12 things that prove Type-A people aren't intense — just prepared:
1. Our lists aren't obsessive; they're our backup brain for when life gets chaotic
Type-As need to be highly organized at all costs, and this means mapping out a daily list of things we need to get done, coupled with multiple alarms and reminders to make sure we do. There's no room for error when we have much to accomplish.
Research on Type A personalities found that people with this trait use rigid organization and list-making as essential coping mechanisms to manage multiple responsibilities and maintain control over demanding schedules. Turns out that what looks like obsession is actually just a highly effective system for keeping track of everything without losing their minds.
2. We don't rush; we just refuse to let procrastination become our default setting
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We feel a complete sense of urgency to get things done, and it's because it's literally the only way we know how to do anything. If we're given a task, it lingers in the back of our minds until it's complete. We're almost driven to a fault when it comes to this.
These individuals feel a complete sense of urgency to get things done because incomplete tasks create genuine discomfort until completion, studies have concluded. When something needs doing, waiting just makes it ache in the back of our minds until we cross it off the list.
3. We're not impatient; we're just realistic about how momentum works
Everything from counting down to vacation to waiting in line at Starbucks for a latte is excruciatingly painful. When we want something, we want it now, and waiting is absolute torture. It's not that we can't wait patiently — it's just that we don't enjoy it.
Research shows that these personalities view time as a precious, finite resource and experience genuine distress when delays interfere with their progress toward goals. We know that getting stuck in line or hitting red lights isn't just annoying, it's literally stealing time we could be using to accomplish something meaningful.
4. We're not overly emotional; we're deeply invested in what matters
When you have a high level of determination embedded in your chemical makeup, it's easy to become consumed with emotions when things don't go according to plan. Everything we feel is felt with much more intensity because that's just who we are. We love harder, laugh louder, cry harder, and if pushed to our limits, our anger is that of a fire-breathing dragon.
Type-A people are significantly more likely to cope emotionally in stressful situations because of their deep investment in outcomes and high level of determination, researchers found. When you care that much about the results, everything you feel naturally gets amplified, whether that's joy when things go right or frustration when they don't.
5. Our goals aren't pressure; they're our roadmap when everything else feels uncertain
We enjoy having a list of goals to conquer because that's what keeps us centered. It's the only way we know how to live, because without having goals and a sense of purpose, what are we living for? We have the one life attitude, and we're determined to make it everything it can be.
According to one study, setting specific goals reduces attention lapses and improves performance. Having goals gives us something solid to work toward when life gets chaotic, which is way less stressful than just drifting around aimlessly.
6. We're not stressed; we're just hyper-aware of everything that could go sideways
We tend to carry a lot of responsibilities simultaneously, and even within our extreme expert level of multitasking, it can hit the fan and cause us to boil over. We don't enjoy being stressed, but when you're hustling this hard, it's completely normal to run into roadblocks.
We may not do well with handling the initial blunt force of stress, but eventually, we push through it because we're just as determined to manage stress as we are about everything else in our lives.
7. We're not control freaks about time; we just respect everyone's schedule
Lateness seriously annoys us. If we're running behind or if we're kept waiting by other people, it really gets on our nerves. How hard is it to be on time? And why is that every time we're running late, every traffic light we hit seems to be bright freaking red? Ugh.
Conscientiousness is correlated to professionalism and respect for others' time, according to one study. Being on time isn't about being rigid; it's about showing people that we value them enough not to waste the one resource they can never get back.
8. Our organizational style isn't rigid; it's how we make room for spontaneity without the chaos
The Type A personality is extremely organized to the point of insanity at times. We're rather OCD about our organization, and we need it to keep our heads on straight. If our organization falls apart, so do we.
Research shows that extreme organization serves as a necessary mental structure for managing complex responsibilities and actually creates bandwidth for flexibility rather than restricting it. When everything has its place, and we know where we stand, we can actually be more spontaneous because we're not scrambling to remember what we forgot.
9. We're not defensive; we're just tired of 'chill out' being the only feedback we get
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Sure, maybe we're a little on edge a lot, and maybe we're impatient and come off as control freaks. We don't mean to come across as dominating monsters — we're just trying to keep a solid ground for the life we're walking through. Everyone has their own way of doing things, and we're sick of being ridiculed for how we do ours.
These personalities are often criticized for their intensity despite being associated with higher overall performance and productivity in demanding environments, experts have found. We're not asking for a parade, just maybe some acknowledgment that our way of doing things actually gets results instead of constant suggestions to relax.
10. We're not judging your pace; we just genuinely can't comprehend hitting snooze five times
We might take time-outs from time to time to allow our batteries to recharge, but mostly, we're go go go. When we meet or come across people who are constantly slacking, we're legitimately confused as to why or how anyone could let so many opportunities pass them by.
Research on time orientation found that time-oriented individuals view time as a finite resource requiring careful allocation, making procrastination and delays genuinely confusing to them. It's not judgment, it's honest bewilderment at how anyone can watch opportunities pass by without feeling the urge to grab them.
11. We don't need an intense partner, just someone who gets why ambition isn't a flaw
Lazy partners or people who lack even a slight level of ambition are deal-breakers when it comes to love. We need a partner who has ambitions of their own or is at least willing to participate in the goals we're chasing ourselves.
Of course, a laid-back Type B could help to balance us out, but we do need some level of enthusiasm and appetite for life if it's going to be a fulfilling and long-lasting relationship. Studies on Type A personalities in relationships found that they thrive when paired with partners who understand and respect their drive and goal-oriented nature rather than viewing it as a flaw.
12. We're not one-dimensional workaholics; we're actually the most interesting people at the party
Type A personalities are absolutely the most interesting people you will come across because they have so many layers to them and experiences in life under their belts. They live dynamic lives full of constant growth and achievement, and they are always the ones who will have interesting stories to tell.
While we may come across as uptight and abrasive, we're actually very fun-loving people, and we have extremely soft hearts. After all, coming down from the constant high of the Type A lifestyle gives us an afterglow that radiates in any room we enter.
Andrea Wesley is a freelance writer and poet living in Vancouver, Canada. She is a former contributor to The Bolde and Elite Daily.
