Conscientiousness Test
I hold myself to rigorous expectations and work diligently to achieve them.
Minor duties and obligations frequently get neglected in my daily routine.
If something goes wrong because of my actions, I own up to it completely.
Areas where I spend most of my time tend to get cluttered and untidy.
Others would likely say I'm someone who takes initiative without being prompted.
I'm really good at noticing the small things that others might miss.
I prefer staying flexible instead of being tied down to a strict timetable.
It's not unusual for me to arrive a little late to appointments or gatherings.
Following through on promises I've made is something I struggle with sometimes.
I have a habit of quitting tasks before finishing, particularly when they're challenging or dull.
While pursuing an objective, I can avoid distractions that might throw me off course.
I think it's important to adhere to established guidelines in most situations.
I never miss due dates for assignments or projects.
My living space is consistently neat and well-maintained.
I devote considerable energy to mapping out what lies ahead.
I adhere strictly to the financial plan I've created for myself.
I regularly make significant choices impulsively, without much deliberation.
As soon as an issue pops up, I jump into action to resolve it.
People close to me trust that I'll be there to help when they're in a bind.
I make an effort to address tough jobs immediately rather than delaying them.
20 questions remaining
What You Should Know
- Conscientiousness, akin to other personality traits, is believed to be influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Research on twins indicates that conscientiousness has an approximate heritability of 50 percent.
- Conscientiousness, or the lack of it, is not the only thing that affects someone's success and happiness. That being said, higher conscientiousness is strongly linked to both objective markers of success, such as income, and subjective ones, such as life satisfaction.
- People who are very conscientious aren't always smarter or better at things than people who are less conscientious. But they are usually much more hardworking and willing to keep going when things get tough, which often means they have a better chance of success.
- People generally think that being conscientious is a good thing, but it can also have some bad effects. When taken to the extreme, high conscientiousness can lead to strict perfectionism, workaholism, and a higher chance of burnout.
- People who are not very conscientious may seem more spontaneous and fun to others than those who are very conscientious. They may also be able to adapt more quickly to situations that are unclear or change quickly.
- Someone may become more conscientious as they get older, and this is very likely. Some studies have shown that it's possible to become more conscientious even if you don't try to change your personality on purpose.
Do Something Different Now
Follow the two-minute rule: If you can finish a task in two minutes or less, doing it right away can help you stop putting things off.
Think about big choices for a given amount of time. Taking the time to think about your choices can help you stop acting on impulse.
Get help from a therapist. A professional can help you figure out what your most important long-term goals are, stop acting on impulse, and stop doing things that hurt you, like putting things off.
