Has anyone ever told you that you have a Type A personality? How did you feel about it? If you felt offended, chances are that you aren’t a Type A – but if it resonated with you, or if you didn’t know what to think, you could fall into this category. So how can you tell?

Do you have a Type A Personality? 

If you do have a Type A personality, you’re probably very driven by nature. You are also likely to be results-focused and solution-oriented – and the idea of wasting time makes your skin crawl!

Sometimes, people might find it hard to spend too much time with someone who has a  Type A personality – but to be fair, if you do have a Type A personality, you probably find those who don’t share your passion for action pretty annoying and frustrating at times. That’s because you’re on a whole different level – and it doesn’t make you better or worse than anyone else, but it might make your life feel like you don’t get a lot of peace in life – and forget about downtime.

I mean, if you’re being honest, downtime is a concept that horrifies you – why would anyone want to just sit around and not get stuff done, right?

But despite the fact that people frustrate you so much and that you might struggle in your relationships, you have a profound ability to get things done and to change the world. And THAT can be a beautiful thing!

What is a Type A personality? 

According to Simply Psychology, “Type A personality is characterized by a constant feeling of working against the clock and a strong sense of competitiveness. Individuals with a Type A personality generally experience a higher stress level, hate failure, and find it difficult to stop working, even when they have achieved their goals.”

The term “Type A Personality” was actually coined by a cardiologist who noticed that people with this personality type tend to be more prone t heart disease in the book Type A Behavior and Your Heart. Check out this article from the Huffington Post for more information on the story of how the term was coined.

So, any of that sound familiar to you? Well, let’s dig in a little more, shall we?

What are the traits of a Type A personality?

Honestly, if you actually do have this kind of personality, you are probably already well aware of it, simply because you’ve been told so for most of your life. But, just in case you’re still not sure, here are 12 traits that you might recognize if you do have a Type A personality.

1. You live and die by your to-do list.

If you’re Type A, you’re all about using time efficiently. If you have an endless to-do list and refer to it frequently, you might have a Type A personality. How stressful would it be to lose your to-do list? Your answer tells the whole story.

2. You feel stressed more than most other people you know.

Those that are Type-A get a lot done, but they’re stressed. The tremendous emphasis put on efficiency and results would stress anyone. You’re more likely to suffer a mental breakdown or to have a heart attack.

3. You’re overly conscientious.

The need to do everything perfectly is a common characteristic of those with Type A personalities. Imperfections bother you like nails on a chalkboard.

4. You have superior focus.

The tasks you have to complete are so critical to you that it’s easy to keep your focus. Anything else is secondary. You could teach a Buddhist monk a thing or two about focus, and you’ll make a million dollars while you’re doing it.

5. You don’t procrastinate – and you’re pretty annoyed by people who do. 

You have a million important things to do that can’t possibly wait! While the rest of the world is watching Seinfeld re-runs, you’re taking care of business.

6. Your career is more important than your relationships.

Relationships are okay, but not if they interfere with your career. You believe you’ll have time for a meaningful relationship after you get that big promotion or make partner in your law firm.

7. You love being the focus of attention.

All that dedication and work shouldn’t go unnoticed. You thrive on recognition and standing out from the crowd.

8. It feels almost impossible for you to relax.

With an ambitious schedule and only 168 hours in a week to squeeze in all in, how can you possibly relax? Who can you petition to make a day 27 hours instead of 24? (Again, you hate wasting time!)

9. You struggle to fall asleep at night, and you secretly wish you didn’t have to sleep at all.

You’ve been known to say things like, “Sleep is for the weak!” And obviously, if it’s difficult for you to relax, it’s difficult to sleep. You’re probably lying in bed beating yourself up for only getting 27 of the 30 items on your to-do list completed. However, you could get up and knock them out. It’s only 2 AM.

10. You do everything quickly and with purpose.

Whether you’re walking down the hall, eating lunch, or shopping, you know where you’re going and you’re not going to waste any time getting there. And if anyone is meandering in front of you? They better get moving, or you might just push right past them.

11. Incompetent people infuriate you.

You’re in a hurry, for goodness sake. Why can’t the guy at the drive-thru just hand you your food instead of asking you to pull forward? Is it really that difficult to throw together a cheeseburger? And why does the cashier count so slowly? It’s all quite maddening, and you often feel like telling people how they need to behave. In fact, on occasion, you wish you could tell everyone how to do everything right, if only they’d listen.

12. You’re highly successful, or at least you’re on your way to it.

If you’re a Type A personality, you’re probably quite successful. Having a purpose, boundless energy, and the ability to get things done is well-rewarded in Western civilization. And you are more than happy to take that reward – after all, you’ve earned it.

Do you recognize any of these signs in yourself? Is your partner lurking in this list? Those with Type A personality might not have a lot of time to give you, but they don’t require much from you either. They’re too busy! Type-A personalities are a force unto themselves. Right?

Are you concerned that you might be dealing with someone a little more toxic than a typical Type A personality? If so, you might want to check out this quiz over at our sister site and find out.