Before my 40s, I knew exercise was good for me – of course I did. I enthusiastically took up (in no particular order) yoga, then Pilates, and also going to a bootcamp every Sunday. Finally couch to 5K. I bought the kit. I downloaded the apps. I just couldn’t... actually stick to the exercise.

I felt (still feel) bad about this. What a cliche. What a wimp. But it turns out, it wasn’t my fault. Science now says so. A recent study published in the journal Frontier shows that people with different traits tend to enjoy specific styles of exercise. So for example, if you’re an extrovert, then you’re more likely to enjoy high-intensity training sessions (the type where people shout at you or say motivational phrases whilst you pedal furiously with a group). Whereas if you’re someone with a high ‘neuroticism’ score… well, then you’re more likely to prefer private workouts punctuated by short breaks.

‘We found some clear links between personality traits and the type of exercise the participants enjoyed most, which I think is important because we could potentially use this knowledge to tailor physical activity recommendations to the individual – and hopefully help them to become and remain more active,’ said Dr Flaminia Ronca, first author of the study.

What to read next

The key to sticking to exercise, and reaping its rewards over the long term, may be as simple as finding the right regime for your personality type, the study concluded. The question is: which am I? I’m definitely an extrovert some days, BUT I’m not always 100% emotionally stable (who is these days?!).

Your ‘neuroticism score’ relates to a personality trait characterised by being more prone to negative emotions such as anxiety, sadness, and anger. A high score suggests you’re a person who is more likely to struggle with these. Spoiler: mine is high (according to a quick check online, at any rate). This starts to make sense of things. I generally prefer running and working out on my own to public classes where I worry incessantly that I’m getting the moves all wrong. I sometimes feel guilty that I didn’t enjoy group activities more.

When I asked a friend, she agreed that she prefers solo running: ‘I just feel more relaxed that way. I never really realised it could be related to my personality. I just thought I was being antisocial.’ Intrigued, I got in touch with personal trainer Sanne van der Ende to see if she could design me a workout based on these findings.

Sanne created an online workout using 5KG dumbells that I trialled at home for a few days, with just one cat watching me out the corner of its eye. I found it easier to concentrate without the worry of what others might think about me messing up. Exercise has also been challenging in the past, because I have a deafening inner critic who shouts abuse while I try to work out – things like: ‘YOU’LL NEVER BE FIT. YOU’RE HORRIBLY UNCOORDINATED!’

I’ve found ways to shut this down – through bringing myself back to the moment, and focusing more on my breath — but pausing Sanne’s workout when I felt overwhelmed also seemed to calm my nervous system down. By the fourth day of doing the dumbbell workout, I was getting the hang of it. I found I was able to switch off and, yes, even enjoy the experience. I also noticed (or was I imagining it?) that my triceps felt ever so slightly firmer.

I did, however, start to miss the camaraderie that comes with doing something like a bootcamp or group class. With only the cat to talk to, I realised that exercise for me is also about socialising with other women and catching up. I asked Sanne if she thought personality traits were a useful tool when thinking about the types of exercise we might enjoy. ‘I do think different personality traits influence the kind of exercise people prefer but I think it’s bigger than that,' she said. 'What my clients prefer in our sessions changes week by week. External influences like sleep, work or whether the kids are behaving can have a big impact on the preference of exercise. And a trainer can make all the difference! Your personality might suggest that you like group exercise but if the trainer isn’t engaging, you could still walk away.’

This seems to be what I experienced trialling the online workout. I don’t want to do just one style of exercise each week. (NHS guidelines say adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week, or a combo of both. They also say that including strength-training exercises at least two days a week is beneficial).

My moods shift. I have days when I’m more confident and those are the days when I fancy doing a team sport or group class. Maybe as well as your personality type, it’s worth considering the mood you’re in next time you’re about to exercise. Most exercise experts say that mood plays a role, too, in what type of exercise you enjoy the most.

If you’ve had a busy super-social week then you might want to exercise on your own. So go for a run with headphones on and your favourite music or podcast. If you’ve been solo tapping on your laptop all week, then it’s likely you’ll be up for a social form of exercise that gives you the opportunity to chat to others. There’s never really a ‘wrong’ kind of exercise, as long as you enjoy it and do it often enough. I do feel reassured though that there’s a clear reason I prefer exercising alone. I’m not just antisocial; I’m a scientifically endorsed phenomenon.

Quick quiz

Are you someone who rates yourself as an extrovert? According to the study, you enjoy ‘high-intensity training sessions with others, such as team sports’, so you’d benefit from maybe joining a local netball team or doing a bootcamp – or perhaps running with a running group.

If you’re someone who scores highly on ’neuroticism’, then you’re likely to enjoy private workouts without people watching you. You may also benefit from taking short breaks.