Order, predictability, planning, closure, clarity, checking things off a list, goals, rules, laws, ethics. These are words and phrases often valued by people who possess the Judging personality trait. What could be closer to adulting than this? Adulting is mostly about getting one’s act together and keeping oneself organized. Does this mean that people with the Judging trait are shoo-ins when it comes to adulting? We might want to consider that, sometimes, there can be too much of a good thing.
Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Judging personality trait as it relates to adulting. But before we start, if you don’t know whether you have the Judging trait or not, follow this link to our free test to find out.
The Adulting Superpowers of Judging Personality Types
These will make things easier for adulting Judging personality types.
Natural Believers in Adulting
While not all Judging types are perfectly organized, all of them value the power of order. They likely do not need to be sold on the idea of adulting. “Of course adulthood requires keeping up with the tasks that keep our lives together,” they might say. Where some may resist the conformity of adulting, many Judging types may see such conformity as upholding a standard that keeps people and societies intact.
This is not to say that all Judging people immediately fall in line when it comes to adulting. Other traits and factors come into play. It’s more like there is an assurance deep inside them that says adulting is a valuable thing. And not fighting an overarching concept is a large part of what it takes to get someone where they’re willing to act.
Likely Halfway There Already
Since Judging personality types value the qualities that adulting requires, many of them are likely doing some version of it when they approach adulthood. This may mean being organized about their academic work or keeping their room clean at their dorm or parents’ house. Again, we don’t want to include all Judging individuals in this. Judging types all value these qualities, but that isn’t the same as practicing them. Nonetheless, there is usually a desire to hold such standards, regardless of real-life practices.
But keeping a well-organized assignment notebook in college, as many Judging individuals might do, is not that far from keeping a well-ordered calendar in adulthood. Making a dorm bed as soon as it is vacated is not that far from keeping a house neat and clean. So embracing adulting may not be such a leap for many Judging personality types, whether as a practice or an aspiration.
Potential Adulting Projects for Judging 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.
Rigidity: The Curse of Judging Types
Valuing organization in a chaotic and unpredictable world can be a challenge. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, something goes wrong. On that day that you set aside for cleaning out the hall closet, your friend calls, stranded at the side of the highway some 150 miles away and in need of some help. You could stick to your plan or do the right thing by aiding your friend in need. How flexible can you be?
Judging personality types sometimes have a little difficulty being flexible. They might see a disruption of any kind as ruining the order of the day or a project. They might act flexibly while holding resentment for anybody involved with upsetting their carefully laid plan. Or they may even refuse to act flexibly on principle, if they think they can get away with it.
Acting like an adult often includes being graciously flexible when needed. Your ability to change course when necessary – without a lot of distress – may be another aspect of adulting to explore and develop.
Judging Themselves Harshly
With rigidity often comes judgment (small j). Judging personality types might judge others for their disorganization. But worse than that, they may judge themselves when they can’t meet their own high standards. If a plan involves a perfect picture with no leeway for disruptions, this may be setting up a Judging individual for failure when that picture can’t be painted flawlessly. Depending on the person, it could take just one disruption or misguided event to bring the house of cards tumbling down. Too many “failures” might result in people giving up their attempts at adulting.
Reinforce the idea that nothing is perfect. You are not perfect. Try not only to show tolerance for mistakes and disruptions but also to expect them and welcome them. They are part of the process. The only thing that is really predictable about adulting is that something unpredictable will happen and throw things off course. Look for things to go wrong, and don’t think of them as failures but as opportunities to practice flexibility. Only by practicing flexibility will you learn to think on your feet when you need to. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.
Final Thoughts
Judging personality types might seem to have a leg up when it comes to adulting. But nobody comes to these tasks fully formed. Part of becoming an adult means looking at the world from a slightly different angle. Even Judging types, with their reluctance to change, need to make adjustments when it comes to doing things as an adult. And that means learning new things.
Further Reading
- See more on personality traits and the transition to adulthood with our articles on adulting for Introverted, Extraverted, Intuitive, Observant, Thinking, and Feeling types.
- There’s a fine line between persistence and stubbornness, especially for Judging personalities. We’ve got tips on how to tell the difference and how to let go when stubbornness takes over.
- Is perfection possible? We explore this question in “The Perfect Type: The Problem of Perfection.”
- To learn more about your personality type, including guidance on personal and professional growth, romantic relationships, and more, check out our Premium Profiles.
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