Today I’d like to share with you two stories of some of my dearest clients. Their names have been changed to protect their privacy, but read their stories and see whether they resonate with you.Banking Burnout The first story is about Steve, Managing Director of Sales in the Sydney office of a global investment bank. Late 40s, 2 kids, over 15 years married to his college sweetheart, and a quite brilliant banking career covering 3 continents, Steven was struggling with stress so much that he was experiencing anxiety attacks, both at the home and in the office. During the weekend he [...]
When the pressure of stress is too hard to handle, our body and unconscious mind are desperately looking for a way out. Coping mechanisms help us to make it through a long day or a rough period. But when we’re sucked into a spiral of anxiety and stress it can be tough to create healthy behaviours. We’re all human, and sometimes the easiest way looks the most appealing, so don’t judge yourself if you recognise some of your coping mechanisms in the list below. Acknowledge and accept the problem, I have a solution for you! What are the most common but unhealthy ways to cope with[...]
More than half of the world population live in cities and urbanisation shows no sign of slowing. City living can be tremendously exciting and full of stimulus - art exhibitions, restaurants and global cuisines, theatre openings, you name it! And needless to say, career opportunities are greater, shopping is greater and transportation is easier too. I’ve lived in cities for more than 90% of my life, and I’d also highlight that urban life is not all fun and games. In fact, City slickers are 21% more likely to have anxiety disorders and 39% more likely to have mood disorders [...]
Stress is the natural response of the body to danger and has been a critical factor in the survival of our human species. Yet today, stress has become one of the worst plagues of our times. The World Health Organization claims stress has become a “World Wide Epidemic.” In 2017, 75% of Americans experienced at least one symptom of stress (American Psychology Association, 2017). So, if you’ve been feeling extremely tense and preoccupied lately, know that you’re not alone. How does stress work? During a perceived threat our Amygdala - located in the back brain and [...]
21st century survival will largely be a function of an organisations ability to place the well-being of all stakeholders at the heart of its strategic objectives – Andrew Stead Due to the critical importance of our work in many areas of life, not least for governments, the scientific understanding of how it relates to our happiness is extensive. The economic argument for happiness and workplace well-being in organisations is robust. It's my belief that corporations who are unable to suitably promote the engagement and well-being of their employees will be unable to hire or retain [...]
