We’ve all been there. That moment where the noise of expectations becomes louder than your ability to process them. You might have been told you’re 'too sensitive' or that you just need to 'manage your time better'. But let's be honest: time management isn't the problem when your nervous system is screaming at you to run for the hills. The truth is, feeling overwhelmed is rarely about the volume of work alone. It’s about how that work rubs against your natural way of thinking.
At Hey Compono, we know that the feeling of drowning often comes from a mismatch between what you’re doing and who you are. We’ve spent over a decade at Compono researching how people tick, and we’ve found that your brain isn’t broken – it’s just being asked to speak a language it wasn’t designed for. When you understand your own wiring, the fog starts to lift.
Overwhelmed isn’t just a mood; it’s a biological response to an overflow of data. Modern work life is designed to keep us in a state of high alert. We are constantly switching contexts – from a deep-focus task to a sudden Slack message, then into a meeting where the priorities shift again. This constant pivoting drains your mental battery faster than any single project ever could.
For some, the overwhelm comes from the lack of structure. For others, it’s the lack of human connection or the feeling that their creative ideas are being stifled. If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing whilst everyone else seems to be gliding through, remember that they might just be working in a way that suits their brain. You haven't found your rhythm yet, and that’s okay.
Take The Auditor, for example. They find peace in the details and methodical processes. If you throw them into a chaotic, fast-paced 'pivoting' environment without clear guidelines, they’ll feel overwhelmed by the lack of precision. Conversely, The Pioneer thrives on newness but feels suffocated and overwhelmed when trapped in rigid, repetitive cycles. Recognition is the first step to resolution.
Your work personality is the lens through which you see every task. If you’re The Helper, your overwhelm might not come from the workload, but from the emotional weight of a team in conflict. You’re absorbing everyone else’s stress, and eventually, there’s no room left for your own. You feel responsible for the harmony of the group, and when that breaks, you feel like you’re breaking too.
Compare this to The Evaluator. They are logical and results-driven. They get overwhelmed when they can’t see the logic in a decision or when data is missing. Their stress manifests as frustration with 'incompetence' or 'inefficiency'. They don’t need a hug; they need a spreadsheet that makes sense and a clear path to a result.
Understanding these triggers is what we call personality-adaptive growth. Hey Compono uses this framework to help you identify exactly why you’re hitting a wall. Instead of generic advice like 'take a walk', we look at whether your brain needs more structure, more freedom, or more social support to stop the spiral.
When the waves are crashing over your head, you don’t need a five-year plan. You need a life raft. The first step is to stop and acknowledge the physical sensation. Where are you holding it? Your shoulders? Your jaw? Breathe into that space. You aren't 'weak' for feeling this way – you are simply at capacity.
Next, do a 'brain dump'. Write down every single thing that is weighing on you – work, home, that person you forgot to email back three weeks ago. Seeing it on paper takes it out of the infinite loop in your head and makes it finite. Once it’s on paper, you can categorise it. What is actually urgent? What can wait? What can be deleted entirely?
Finally, look at the list through the lens of your strengths. If you are The Doer, you’ll feel better as soon as you tick off one small, practical task. If you are The Campaigner, you might need to talk it through with a mate to find the excitement again. Tailor your recovery to your brain, not someone else’s textbook.
The goal isn’t to never feel overwhelmed again – that’s unrealistic in today's world. The goal is to build a life where you recognise the signs earlier and have the tools to course-correct before the burnout sets in. This involves setting boundaries that protect your specific energy type. If you know you need quiet reflection time to be your best, you have to defend that time like a hawk.
We often feel guilty for saying 'no' or for admitting we’ve reached our limit. We worry about appearing less 'productive'. But a team member who knows their limits and communicates them is infinitely more valuable than one who says 'yes' until they disappear on medical leave. It’s about being honest with yourself and your team about what you need to thrive.
This is where Hey Compono steps in. Our personality-adaptive coaching doesn't try to change who you are; it helps you navigate the world as your most authentic self. It’s about finding the shortcuts that work for your brain so you can stop fighting against your nature and start working with it.
Why do I feel overwhelmed even when I don't have that much work?
Overwhelmed feelings are often linked to decision fatigue or emotional labour rather than just task volume. If your work personality is misaligned with your daily activities, even a small list can feel exhausting.
Is there a difference between stress and being overwhelmed?
Stress is typically a reaction to a specific pressure (like a deadline), whereas being overwhelmed is the feeling that you no longer have the resources to cope with the situation at all. It’s a state of total saturation.
How can I tell my boss I'm overwhelmed without looking incompetent?
Frame it through the lens of performance. Instead of saying 'I can't do this,' try: 'I want to ensure I'm delivering high-quality work on our priorities. Currently, the volume of tasks is impacting my ability to focus on [Project A]. Can we review the priority list together?'
Can my personality type change how I experience stress?
Absolutely. For example, The Coordinator might feel stressed by a lack of plan, while The Advisor might feel stressed by a plan that is too rigid and ignores people's feelings.
How long does it take to recover from feeling overwhelmed?
Short-term overwhelm can often be managed with a few hours of focused recovery and prioritisation. However, chronic overwhelm leads to burnout, which can take weeks or months of intentional rest and lifestyle adjustment to heal.