If You're An Enneagram Type 5, You Should Try This Wellness Trend

Inquisitive. Insightful. Independent. If these words ring true to your personality, you might be an Enneagram Type Five. Like the Meyers Briggs Test, the Enneagram is a personality typing system. Unlike other personality quizzes, the Enneagram focuses mostly on what people are motivated by. In the case of a Type Five, you are motivated by a constant goal to be "capable and competent," according to the Enneagram Institute.

As a Type Five, you are likely all about learning why we do what we do. If you're an Enneagram Five, you likely look for a self-help book to read that suits your passion for learning and keeps your ever-active brain occupied. Type Fives tend to be more introverted than other Enneagram Types, but that tendency could easily be re-categorized as independence. All in all, Enneagram Type Fives are self-motivated people who deep-dive into a wide range of topics that intrigue them.

But it isn't just important to work out your brain. Keeping a healthy mind and body is vital for all Enneagram Types. You may not align with the stereotype of the studious Type Five, and that's okay! Whether or not you're a Five who loves to read, watch documentaries, and investigate random things on the Internet, you could likely benefit from working out your body in addition to your brain.

Keeping your body fit doesn't require intense bodybuilding. While the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends two days of strength training per week, 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week is key to keeping your body healthy. That means 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise — like walking at a brisk pace — five days a week. 

If the weather is nice, walk outside to soak up some vitamin D. And, once the temperatures drop, you can always take to a treadmill to get your steps in. Plug in your headphones, and turn on your favorite podcast for 30 minutes of training your body and mind.

If you're an Enneagram Type Five, you likely already have a long list of podcasts lined up. But, if you're looking for recommendations, we have some picks that would be perfect for the inquisitive "Investigator," per the Enneagram Institute.

For those who love all things science, try the light-hearted quiz show "SciShow Tangents" by Complexly. The podcast's hosts — Hank Green, Ceri Riley, and Sam Schultz — "try to one-up and amaze each other with weird and funny scientific research" each Tuesday. This competitive yet friendly quiz show is the perfect mix of "Jeopardy" and "Bill Nye the Science Guy."

Another Complexly podcast that would intrigue the more humanities-oriented Type Five is author John Green's "The Anthropocene Reviewed." (And, for those wondering, yes, John and Hank Green are brothers.) This show dives remarkably deep into a wide range of topics, from the chemical makeup of Dr. Pepper to the history of Staphylococcus Aureus. 

Bonus: The podcast was such a hit that Green adapted it into a nonfiction book with extra essays and investigations into more topics. This is truly the jackpot for a Type Five looking for a podcast to listen to on a walk.