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Some people always seem calm, no matter how busy it gets. Others quickly feel overwhelmed and stressed by deadlines, meetings, or demanding colleagues. Why is that? Part of it, of course, has to do with workload, but how you handle it depends on your personality.
Everyone responds to stress differently, and a lot of that has to do with who you are as a person. One person thrives in a busy open office, while another prefers working in silence. Some people worry easily, while others don’t stress much at all. The Big Five, a model that describes five key personality traits, can help you understand why you respond to work stress the way you do. Let’s take a closer look!
Are You a Talker or a Thinker? (Extraversion)
Extroverted people love socializing and busy environments. They recharge by chatting with colleagues, enjoy having a packed schedule, and perform well in lively workplaces. Meetings, team events, and brainstorming sessions? No problem! Introverted people, on the other hand, need more quiet time and prefer working alone or in small groups. A noisy open office with spontaneous meetings can drain their energy, and they tend to perform better in a calm environment with fewer distractions.
If you’re introverted and find yourself easily overstimulated, try arranging a quieter workspace—maybe work from home occasionally or use noise-canceling headphones. Extroverts, on the other hand, should actively seek out social interaction with colleagues to stay energized.
Do You Worry a Lot? (Emotional Stability)
Some people stay calm even when everything goes wrong. They can brush off criticism easily and don’t stress too much about problems. Others, however, worry a lot and experience stress more quickly. They tend to feel insecure about their performance and may lie awake at night thinking about that one email from their manager. People who worry excessively are at higher risk of burnout.
If this sounds like you, it’s important to focus on stress management. Techniques like breathing exercises, setting clear boundaries, and thinking realistically about problems (“Is this really as bad as I think?”) can help reduce work stress.
Are You a Perfectionist? (Conscientiousness)
Conscientious people work hard, are well-organized, and strive for perfection. While this is a great trait, it can also work against you. Perfectionism and high expectations often lead to extra stress. You’re never fully satisfied with your work and give yourself little room for mistakes.
Sometimes, good enough really is good enough. Practicing letting go can help: ask yourself if a task truly needs one more review or if it’s just your perfectionism slowing things down.
Do You Want Everyone to Like You? (Agreeableness)
Friendly, cooperative people enjoy helping others and often have strong relationships with colleagues. While this is a great quality, it can also mean saying “yes” too often, even when you don’t have time. This increases the risk of overloading yourself and feeling burned out.
Learning to say no without guilt is essential. It doesn’t make you less helpful—it just means you’re setting healthy boundaries. When you take care of yourself, you’ll actually be able to support others better in the long run.
Do You Love Change or Prefer Routine? (Openness to Experience)
Some people get excited when things change at work. New projects? A different workflow? Bring it on! Others, however, find uncertainty stressful and prefer a steady routine.
Understanding where you stand can help you manage unexpected situations better. If change makes you anxious, try approaching it in small steps and focus on what you can control.
What Now?
Your personality plays a big role in how you experience work stress. Want to reduce stress? Take a closer look at what drains your energy and what helps you recharge. Maybe you need more quiet time, should say “no” more often, or practice letting go of perfectionism.
Would you like to dive deeper into this? I’d be happy to help you explore your energy balance so you can manage it better and feel more in control.