The Habits for Longevity That Most Resonate With You, According to Your Myers-Briggs

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Although there are many ways to improve one’s longevity, we know a lot of the key building blocks center around eating well, exercising, keeping stress at bay, connecting with loved ones, and getting regular sleep. However, certain personalities may lean into different habits for longevity that promote overall well-being for the long haul.

Where does your long-term health focus lie? Depending on your Myers-Briggs type, it might be community-building or routine, spirituality or variety of movement. (Still haven’t learned your Myers-Briggs yet? You can find out more here. Want to take a deeper dive in your downtime this week? Check out our guide to cognitive functions.) Take a peek below to see which habits for longevity most resonate with you, according to your Myers-Briggs personality type.

Check out which habits for longevity speak to you most strongly, according to your Myers-Briggs type.

Graphics: W+G Creative

ISFJ: Curating healthy routines

Ever a creature of habit, ISFJs most focus on the building blocks of health. You know your routines and seek to follow them to a T—whether that involves a cup of green tea in the morning, a midday walk, or a set bedtime at night (even on the weekends). For you, health is not a fad, it’s a lifestyle to maintain through small, everyday decisions.

ESFJ: Developing strong circles

Research has shown how important community is for longevity, and this rings especially true for ESFJ. You are a social creature. You don’t feel balanced, supported, or reinvigorated unless you have the right circles of community. Part of your wellness regimen is simply surrounding yourself with people who help you grow, whether it’s mentors and colleagues at work, co-volunteers at the PTA, or your oldest friends.

ISTJ: Knowing what works for you

ISTJs typically have a deep sense of self, and awareness of what grounds them and what habits help them feel more in tune with their bodies. So, ignoring fads is how you promote longevity. You don’t diet; you seek to eat well-balanced meals. You don’t try new workout classes if you know you love to walk or run. You don’t need the “next best thing” in a friend or partner if you’re already happy with your crew. Keeping that sense of what works for you is the best way for you to stay healthy for the long-term.

ESTJ: Cutting the excess

ESTJs like to streamline their lives, so cutting the excess is the easiest way for them to promote longevity. Sometimes, this means cutting back on sugar. Other times, it’s alcohol. Sometimes, it’s simply toxic friendships or a hobby that’s sucking up too much family time. You always want to be balanced and not focus on too much of just one avenue in your life. (Too much of a good thing can eat away at your peace of mind and wellness habits, after all.)

ESFP: Keeping movement interesting

While you love moving, you need to steer clear of exercise ruts, or you’ll simply push it off your busy plate. To evade this problem, make sure to mix up your movement—a hike today, yoga tomorrow, an online Zumba class the next day. If you’re bored, don’t sit still; try something new.

ISFP: Tapping into creative energy

When it comes to habits for longevity, ISFPs need to expend energy, similar to their ISTP counterparts. But while ISTPs need to let off physical steam, you need to let off emotional steam. You do this through creative pursuits, which help you work through your feelings. Maybe that means making and painting a table for your hallway, picking up photography, or drawing. Whatever it is helps you process your emotions to feel more balanced every day.

ESTP: Maintaining a youthful spirit

You know how they say attitude is everything? ESTPs focus on fun like it’s their job. Whether it’s taking your partner on a spontaneous date, playing video games (or board games!), or telling ridiculous jokes, the way you interact with the world keeps you sprite.

ISTP: Soaking in nature

ISTPs need two things for mental and physical health: movement and nature. You feel more at home outdoors than you do with most other people, and you need a workout to feel like you’ve expended all that pent-up energy. You like pushing yourself, which is why adventure-driven exercise is your favorite way to move—whether that's a scenic climb on foot, a trail ride on bike, or paddle-boarding on the lake. The closer you can be to nature, the better—and it keeps you feeling your best.

ENFP: Traveling the world

ENFPs tend to develop bad habits if they are not actively working on expanding themselves. If you are in a rut or feel like you’re not growing, the best medicine is to get out of your environment and travel to a new location. Yes, Paris is great. Brazil is perfect. But a new hiking trail a half-hour from home is also enough to get your body and mind moving in new directions. Breaking out of your environment helps you to maintain your sense of momentum and keeps you motivated and healthy.

INFP: Focusing on joy

Negativity is toxic, especially for INFPs, who tend to dwell on what they should have done or what others may think. Shifting the focus toward joy—spending time with friends, long walks after dinner, travel (or vacation energy)—is how you maintain your pep. Whenever you’re in a funk, replacing joy and gratitude with whatever is occupying your mind with worry is an immediate way to feel well at every age.

ENFJ: Cooking for yourself

ENFJs really like the process of creating. You bake and cook a lot for others because you love to give your loved ones foods that will make them smile. The ultimate act of health and self-care, though, is cooking for yourself. You love the sense of control that comes with putting together just the right flavors and fresh foods. It’s a treat for your body, and heart, and it’s an essential part of your wellness rituals.

INFJ: Spirituality

INFJs are incredibly in tune with their inner worlds and usually have deep, well-formed belief systems. For you to maintain your mental health and inner balance, you need to stay in touch with your spiritual side. Praying, meditating, and connecting to nature are all ways that may you connect to something bigger than yourself, which can provide you a sense of purpose and a reason to stay healthy.

INTJ: Small, everyday habits

INTJs really aren’t interested in wellness for the sake of wellness; they make small changes in their lives because they know it will have longer-ranging effects. (If anyone can plan for the future, it’s you!) You think about longevity in the small decisions you make daily—stopping at one glass of wine, saying no to dessert if you're already full, taking a walk at the same time every day, lifting weights because you know muscular endurance is important as you age. It really is, for you, the little things.

ENTJ: Making time for self-care

For ENTJs, habits for longevity boil down to self care. Sometimes, that means spending time with your partner. Other times, it’s making sure you are meal-prepping instead of grabbing an unhealthy lunch every day just because it’s the quickest. For you, self-care is framed like a goal to accomplish instead of something that can be ignored if there’s no time.

INTP: Laughing (when you’re not thinking)

INTPs are serious types. You are a reader, philosopher, and hard worker. But you stay young the simplest way of all: remembering to laugh a lot, and seeking out fun. You’re great at taking time for funny movies or memes in the middle of your workday. It’s actually more than just break. It is literally how you stay young.

ENTP: Spontaneity

Making time for spontaneity may sound counterproductive to striking habits for longevity, but it’s actually not. Leaving a day or a weekend open to use however you need to—for fun, for self care, for exercise, for organization—is the best way to make sure your most critical needs are met. It’s also freeing to leave time for yourself, totally untouched by obligation.

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