Stress Awareness Day: A Reminder We Can’t Afford to Ignore

The year is coming to an end, the weather is getting colder, and you can feel the Christmas spirit slowly rising from its slumber. Christmas is just around the corner, and the expectation would be that all of us are feeling lighter, happier, more relaxed, and hopeful for the future.

But that’s not the reality, is it?

How many of us have been having trouble sleeping at night?

When I was a kid, I didn’t want to fall asleep because it meant playtime was over. It meant I wouldn’t see my friends until tomorrow. As we grow older, it flips. We crave sleep but can’t find it — not because of playtime, but because of the thousand thoughts circling our minds.

We leave work, but it follows us home. It waits for us in bed. “Did I send the right presentation?” “Will they like my forecast?” “What happens if I missed something?” On and on it goes. Too many of us have fallen victim to sleepless nights because of work stress.

Stress is Part of Life — But Work Stress Doesn’t Have to Be

Our lives are stressful, and they always will be — because life itself is unpredictable. You can’t control your child catching a cold or your car breaking down. Those things are simply out of your hands.

But work stress? Unrealistic deadlines? The never-ending expectations?Those can be managed. And if companies want to keep their employees performing at their best, they need to help ease the stress, not add to it.

Studies show that stress severely impacts our health, from heart disease and digestive issues to weakened immune systems and depression. It’s not “just stress.” It’s a health hazard.

And companies should think long-term. Imagine you have a top performer: extremely intelligent, driven, and eager to deliver. If you push them relentlessly, yes, they’ll hit goals in record time. But at what cost? Within months, they’ll burn out. And a burned-out employee isn’t an asset. They’re someone who might leave altogether.

Providing your employees with the rest, support, and recovery they deserve isn’t a luxury, it’s a strategy. Rested employees aren’t just happier; they are sharper, more creative, and far more valuable in the long run.

Last Year We Talked About Buckets…

If you’ve been with us for a while, you might remember the Stress Awareness Bucket we wrote about last year. The idea was simple: each of us carries an invisible bucket. Every stressor, work emails, tight deadlines, difficult clients -it all drips into that bucket. Eventually, it overflows.

What empties the bucket? Rest. Laughter. Movement. Breathing.Small, conscious actions that give us space to release what we’ve been carrying.

The question for decision makers is this: are you giving your team opportunities to empty their buckets, or are you just filling them up?

Practical Ways Leaders Can Help

1. Normalise conversations about stressEncourage leaders to model openness. A simple “I’ve had a tough week too” goes a long way in breaking stigma.

2. Set realistic expectationsPiling on unrealistic deadlines isn’t a sign of ambition, it’s a recipe for exhaustion. Balance urgency with sustainability.

3. Build rest into the cultureFrom wellness activities to flexible working options, give people ways to reset. A 15-minute chair massage or a mid-day yoga stretch can change the entire energy of a team.

4. Look at the long gameShort-term pressure might deliver fast results, but long-term wellbeing delivers loyalty, creativity, and growth.

Stress Awareness Day is Just the Start

November 2nd is a reminder, but it shouldn’t be the only day we talk about stress. Imagine if workplaces became environments where employees didn’t dread bedtime because of work thoughts — but instead went to sleep with peace of mind.

That’s not just good for people. It’s good for business.

At Treat Your Staff, we believe in creating workplaces where wellbeing isn’t a “nice to have,” but a foundation for performance and happiness. Because when people feel supported, they thrive.

If you’re a leader ready to give your team the tools to manage stress and bring out their best, get in touch with us.