Subtle Personality Habits That Say a Lot About Who You Are

Written By Lisa Marley

It’s the little things that reveal the most about us. Something as small as biting your lip, wearing a bright shirt, or taking a selfie can trigger entirely new personality traits. People often notice things about us that we think are inconsequential, so here are 19 subtle habits that actually say a lot about you.

Your Dress Sense

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Clothes are one of the best ways to express your personality. You can nonverbally tell people what interests you, your favorite colors, and what you like most about your body. Pressed, smart clothes make you seem professional and in control, whereas a more relaxed dress makes you seem welcoming.

How You Spend Money

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Money is often a polarizing topic that creates stereotypes about people with lots of it and those without much. How you spend it says even more. Psychology Today observes that savers are usually more conscientious and stable, whereas spenders are more sociable and open to new experiences. Overspending makes you seem careless.

How You Eat

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Your eating habits are another strong indicator of your personality. Do you rush your food, or do you take your time? Are you a messy eater, or are you more cautious? How picky are you about what you eat? All of these things are subtle hints about your patience, mindfulness, and self-awareness.

How Your Organize Your Home

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Our homes are another way for us to express our interests and personal tastes, but how we organize says a lot about who we are. A cluttered home is a cluttered mind and indicates you become overwhelmed easily. A tidy home could imply you’re organized or that you need to be in control.

How You Walk

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Judging somebody by how they walk sounds superficial, but we all subconsciously do it. Walking is all about posture; good posture makes you stand taller and gives you a sense of purpose. Letting your feet fall flat and your arms swing out of control gives the impression that you’re plodding, not striding.

Your Handshake

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Handshakes may be wordless, but they say a lot about who you are. According to Forbes, a limp handshake can make you seem weak, but gripping too tightly gives an intimidating impression. For the perfect handshake, grip moderately, make eye contact, and smile. This will tell people you’re confident and self-assured.

Your Eye Contact

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How you make eye contact can make or break your overall body language. When you avoid someone’s gaze, it makes them feel uneasy, and they suspect you’re hiding something. Making eye contact when someone is talking shows you’re listening and taking an interest. However, too much eye contact can seem overeager and intense.

How You Answer the Phone

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Believe it or not, there’s a right and wrong way to answer the phone. It’s courteous not to let the phone ring for too long and to ask the other person how they are. You’ll come across as very blunt if you rush straight into talking. A little courtesy goes a long way.

How You Drive

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Driving is something most people do daily, and it shows exactly what they’re like. Angry, aggressive drivers have short tempers and little regard for others. In contrast, more careful drivers are cautious people who don’t want to cause problems. Driving also indicates how you feel about following rules.

How You Talk About Yourself

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We care about what other people think, but sometimes, our feelings about ourselves influence their opinions. Someone who is constantly self-deprecating and lacks belief in themselves won’t inspire confidence in others. If you tell people you’re useless or talentless, they’ll believe you. But if you’re kind to yourself, others will be too.

Your Body Language

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When you can’t speak, body language is everything. Verywell Mind estimates that body language accounts for between 60% and 65% of all communication. Standing up straight with your shoulders back makes you seem taller and more confident, whereas slouching and crossing your arms closes you off. Your posture and subtle tics tell all.

Your Hygiene

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Personal hygiene says everything about a person. Someone who cleans and grooms themselves, smells nice, and wears fresh clothes subtly tells the world they’re disciplined, organized, and self-aware. Someone who does the opposite risks being viewed as lazy and unsanitary.

How You Work With Others

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If you want to get along with other people, you need to be able to work collaboratively. Someone who is open to ideas, actively listens, and relies on others shows they’re trustworthy and supportive. If you struggle to work with others or rarely do it, people will think you’re closed off and uncooperative.

Your Timekeeping

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Good timekeeping is about more than just showing up on time; it’s all about respect. Being able to make a commitment and keep it shows you have good self-awareness and respect other people’s time. Consistently being late is disrespectful and shows poor self-discipline. Your punctuality shows how well-organized your life is.

Your Taste in Music

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The music we like says a lot about who we are and how we feel. Creative and unconventional people often listen to innovative music genres, whereas those who prefer classical music want a high social status. Our tastes in music are part of what makes us unique.

How You Text

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Text messages say so much more than what you see on the screen. People who reply immediately may fear abandonment, those who leave messages unread are more forgetful, and people who send short messages usually have short attention spans. Using lots of emojis suggests you’re pretty open with your emotions.

Your Hobbies

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Our hobbies are direct expressions of our interests and personalities. Sporty hobbies imply you’re competitive and zestful, whereas hobbies like painting or photography suggest you’re creative. Whether your hobbies require you to be extroverted and loud or introverted and mindful, you should enjoy them.

How Much You Drink

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Alcohol can bring out the best or worst in us. It lowers our inhibitions, so people typically act more like their true selves when drunk. A happy drunk is extroverted, sociable, and ready to have fun. An aggressive drunk is argumentative and has poor impulse control. A sad drunk is lonely and stressed.

Your Tone of Voice

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Our voices are gateways to our personalities. Reader’s Digest reports that your tone of voice influences your authoritativeness, relationships, trustworthiness, and career success. If you speak with confidence, that’s how you’ll come across. Like our faces, our voices are uniquely recognizable and say a lot about who we are.

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