Training not producing the expected results? Match the exercises to your... personality.

Matching exercises to personality increases their effectiveness and significantly reduces stress levels, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

Finding the motivation to exercise can be the biggest challenge in training. This may be why fewer than a quarter of people reach the activity goals recommended by the World Health Organization . Researchers from University College London (UK) have shown that a greater focus on adapting the type of exercise to your personality type may be the answer.

Their experiment proved that extroverted people feel best in intense, dynamic forms of exercise, neurotic people prefer short, unsupervised workouts, while people with a high level of conscientiousness have a high level of overall physical activity and good fitness results, although the pleasure of training itself is less important to them - they are motivated rather by the awareness of the health benefits of exercise.

The study involved 132 participants of varying ages and fitness levels. They were divided into two groups: one group completed an eight-week exercise program that included cycling and bodyweight strength training, while the other group maintained their current lifestyle (the control group).

Before and after the intervention, all volunteers underwent fitness tests, a stress assessment, and a personality test assessing five key traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. The researchers also assessed the level of enjoyment they experienced during each training session.

At the end of the experiment, it was found that all participants—regardless of personality type— improved their muscular strength and overall fitness . They were able to perform more push-ups, hold a plank position longer, jump higher, and had improved endurance.

The study's authors also noted the relationship between exercise and stress reduction. At the beginning of the experiment, stress levels were similar in both groups, but ultimately, only the participants who exercised experienced a decrease. The greatest improvement was observed in people with high levels of neuroticism. As noted by one of the study's authors , Professor Paul Burgess, this is valuable information, as it indicates the particular effectiveness of physical exercise as a tool for supporting individuals who are more susceptible to stress.

"Many of us struggle to maintain physical activity long-term, despite our best efforts. The results of this study suggest that tailoring training to personality traits can help develop more effective and personalized recommendations, increasing the chances that a person will not only start physical activity but also stick with it," concluded Dr. Flaminia Ronca, who led the study.