Extraverted Personality Types: Adulting Superpowers and Projects

Extraverts are usually up for a good adventure or trying something new and interesting. Adulting can fit the bill for many people entering adulthood. While sometimes the tasks of adulting may be mundane, there is still a sense of newness for many who are facing the skills for the first time. Extraverted personalities are likely to see this opportunity to open a new chapter of their lives as something exciting.

This being the case, it’s not up to me or anyone else to tell you what that means for you. However, it’s fairly safe to say that there are general guidelines that might help an Extravert enter that place of responsibility. We look at a few of these below. But before we start, if you don’t know whether you are an Extravert or not, follow this link to our free personality test to find out.

The Adulting Superpowers of Extraverted Personality Types

These will make things easier for adulting Extraverts.

You’re Usually a Team Player

Use this. Being a team player can mean several things, depending on the particular Extravert’s personality type. In a work situation, it might involve being the person in the know because you know everyone. You’re likely to bring energy and spirit to a job or a work team that you’re serious about. This can be immensely valuable in moving up the ladder in the workplace.

Also, build a team in your personal life. You usually feel comfortable asking other people’s opinions or getting guidance from those in the know. Know nothing about finances and budgeting? Barter your dog-sitting skills for a few hours of the accountant next door’s time and knowledge. Pick their brain. Make this neighbor an unofficial team member. Never cooked for yourself before? You know somebody who would be excited to show you the mysterious secrets of the kitchen.

While teams might not sound like the independence suggested by the term adulting, creating them can be a good stepping-stone toward doing things on your own.

You’re a Bit of a Thrill Seeker

Since your energy comes from your external world, you probably like to engage with people and the environment as much as possible. Your world feels right to you when you do. But being a thrill seeker doesn’t necessarily mean bungee jumping. Simply put, you respond to stimulating circumstances. A good party can be the right thrill at the right time. While other personality traits will influence how much this is true, you’re likely to look for the stimulation created by new things in your environment.

As an Extraverted personality type, you’re not as likely to be stuck in some claustrophobic view of how things must be done when you’re adulting. A boring, rigid view of things can be a roadblock to some who are bridging the gap between youth and adulthood. Your engaging style is likely to motivate you to search for unorthodox methods in your pursuit of responsibility and add an air of excitement to what others might find mundane.

While eating healthy and regularly is a very adult thing to do, who says you have to cook alone every night? Combine a good time with some teamwork. Invite friends over on Sunday afternoon and have a party prepping everybody’s healthy meals for the week. Some snacks, drinks, and music can help you and your friends become cooking machines.

Potential Adulting Projects for Extraverted Personality Types

Nobody is perfect. Everybody needs to pay attention to the obstacles in their lives and maybe even turn some into projects for improvement.

Killer Boredom

As much as you might like it to be, not everything in life is stimulating and filled with interesting interactions. Some things are just boring. Maybe you can make cleaning the bathroom fun, but a lot of things that adults do are uninspiring.

Try as you might, avoiding the mundane in your work or home life can be nearly impossible. Ignoring dull but important tasks can also have serious consequences. Think taxes. Eventually, on some late and lonely night, your budget and your real-life spending will probably need to be reconciled on some sort of spreadsheet or app. Yawn (for many). It might help to learn to tolerate the unexciting and the routine. A meditation course, maybe?

Toning It Down

Far be it from me to ever suggest that you squelch your Extraverted ways. There are too many impressive things about being an Extraverted personality type, and so many advantages come with that trait. However, sometimes we all have to use our indoor voices, metaphorically.

Your enthusiasm: Yes!
At 8:00 a.m. on Monday in the office or at Aunt Ida’s funeral: Maybe not full tilt.

Your outgoing enthusiasm is priceless. Really. Should you not use it carefully, however, it can be overwhelming. Not everybody can or wants to keep up. Too much of a good thing can exhaust the people around you and serve as a distraction. Being an adult often means accommodating the individuals in your life and offering compromises in how you present yourself and your points of view. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be yourself. However, if all the eyes in a room are on your high energy, the adult thing to do might be to step back and let someone else have a turn in the spotlight.

Final Thoughts

Welcome to adulting. You’ve got a lot going for you. One last bit of advice: be curious about how your Extraversion and other personality traits play into this important stage of life. Adulting involves knowing who you are so you can be independent and responsible in the most effective ways.

Are you an Extravert eager to share your own tips on adulting? Join the discussion in the comments below!