Mental exhaustion doesn’t always scream at you. Sometimes it whispers, quietly weighing down your simplest tasks until everything feels impossibly heavy.
Let’s talk about why this happens — and how to begin finding your way back to yourself.
Every team faces challenges—tight deadlines, shifting priorities, unexpected setbacks. Some teams crumble under the pressure. Others pull together, adapt, and come out stronger. The difference? Resilience.
Every September, R U OK? Day reminds us of the power of a simple question: “Are you OK?” This year’s theme, “Ask R U OK? Any Day,” is a powerful reminder that these conversations don’t need to be saved for a single calendar date — they should be part of how we connect with one another every day.
One day you’re working alongside your peers, the next you’re expected to set direction, manage performance, and support people through all the ups and downs of work life. That’s a lot. Here’s the thing: nobody expects you to have it all figured out on day one. But there are five leadership skills that will make the transition smoother—and help you feel confident, not just competent.
Resilience has become a workplace buzzword—but for leaders, it’s more than a nice concept. It’s a critical skill to cultivate within teams. In high-pressure environments where change, deadlines, and challenges are part of daily life, resilience is what keeps teams from buckling under the weight.
Stress isn’t always negative. Short bursts can sharpen focus, drive creativity, and fuel performance. But when stress is constant, unmanaged, or ignored, it chips away at wellbeing, morale, and productivity. Resilient teams recognise this reality. They don’t pretend stress doesn’t exist—they acknowledge it, manage it, and adapt.
Work fatigue isn’t just “being tired.” It’s deeper — like a slow, steady erosion of your energy, creativity, and motivation. It’s emotional exhaustion dressed up as "I'm fine" on Slack. If you're nodding along, you're not alone — and you're definitely not broken. Let's talk about why this happens and how to start climbing out of the Monday-forever loop.
We worry we’ll say the wrong thing, overshare, or make someone uncomfortable. But here’s the truth: mental health is already in the room. Whether we’re talking about it or not, it’s affecting how we show up every single day.
So how do we start having these conversations in a way that feels natural, respectful, and not weird?
Let’s walk through it—gently, together.
Work stress isn’t just “part of the job” anymore. It’s become a daily reality for many, and it’s affecting more than just how we feel—it’s reshaping how we work, how we show up, and how we connect with the world around us. As we continue to push through packed calendars, endless emails, and high expectations, we have to pause and ask: What is the cost of constantly running on empty?