Information and resources in support of mental health and stress awareness months
Workplace Wellbeing: How to Create Resilient Teams and Environments
Sign up here for our next free webinar ‘Is Stress Catching?’
Ever been in a workplace where people brag about being “so busy” like it’s a competition? Spoiler: that’s not a good thing. Stress at work is normal. Unmanaged stress? That’s the real problem.
The Science Bit (Don’t Worry, We’ll Translate)
Studies show that high job demands + low control = maximum stress. If people feel overwhelmed but have zero autonomy or support, their stress levels go through the roof. But here’s the flip side: when people feel they have clear goals, control over their workload, and a culture of psychological safety, stress becomes manageable—and even motivating.
So how do we create a workplace that works with stress, not against it?
Ban the ‘Busy’ Badge
Being constantly swamped isn’t a flex. It’s bad business. Shift the culture by changing how we talk about work:
- Instead of “I’m drowning,” try “I’m prioritising.”
- Celebrate smart work, not overwork.
The 50-Minute Meeting Rule
Ever sat in a meeting that could have been an email? Of course you have. Try this:
- Schedule meetings for 50 minutes instead of 60 or 25 instead of 30 minutes.
- Use the extra 10 or 5 minutes for a breather.
- Get the best out of meetings by preparing yourself and others. Ask yourself or others is it an inform (30 mins update), Decision (prep needed so people can come ready to decide (45 mins) or a discussion (do people have the right information to discuss and who is facilitating – 50 mins).
It’s a small change that gives brains time to recover.
The ‘Break’ Challenge
Encourage downtime by making it fun:
- Create a team break space (physical or digital).
- Post what you did for a 15-minute break—most creative wins.
When taking breaks becomes visible and normal, people actually doing it.
The ‘One Thing’ Check-In
At the start of the week, ask your team:
- What’s your one top priority?
- What’s one thing you need to stay focused?
- What one thing is stressing you out? (with the aim being how can we help as a team)
This stops work overwhelm before it starts.
Want to change daily habits? Start here with our guide to small daily habits that make a big difference
Interested in our Mental Health in the Workplace workshop? Quote code MHBLOG10 for 10% off!
