As an HR leader or business manager, it is common to feel the pressure of others' needs. It's 4:47 PM. You are finally home after a long day, but before you can sit down, the phone rings. An employee needs to talk, "just a couple of minutes." You listen and give advice, but while doing so, you feel a creeping irritation and stress. This is a familiar situation for many leaders.
Prioritizing others' needs over your own can lead to exhaustion and negative consequences for both you and the work environment. The result? A body that feels heavy, a mind full of thoughts, and a nagging sense of inadequacy that affects the entire team.
The Caregiver Role and Stress Response in Organizations
As a leader, it can be easy to fall into a spiral where others' needs always come first. This can trigger a stress response based on a stored expectation that you must be available to others to be valuable or to avoid disappointing them. This mindset can lead to overlooking your own boundaries, which in turn can result in high absenteeism.
How StoppStress Can Help Your Business
StoppStress is an 8-week digital stress management program for employees, based on memory reconsolidation. Here are some ways the program can be implemented in your company:
Trigger Mapping
By using the Harmoni app, employees can map out situations that trigger stress. This provides insight into when, where, and how stress arises, helping to break negative patterns.
The StoppStress Exercise
When irritation arises, employees can use the StoppStress exercise. They learn to identify the feeling in their body, focus on it, and breathe deeply. This micro-training can change their emotional response over time, reducing stress levels in the workplace.
Changing Beliefs
The program helps employees explore their stored expectations. Is it really true that they are letting the team down by prioritizing themselves? By using Harmoni's AI guidance, they can challenge these beliefs and develop a more supportive mindset.
Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Setting boundaries is not selfish; it is necessary to maintain a healthy work environment.
Take a Small Step Towards a Better Work Environment
Encourage your employees to choose one small boundary they can set today. Maybe it's saying no to an extra task, or taking five minutes for themselves before answering the next phone call. Notice how this affects team dynamics and the overall work environment.
For companies with high absenteeism or stress-related issues, the StoppStress program may be the solution. Visit stoppstress.no for more information on how we can help your organization.
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The StoppStress program uses memory reconsolidation to provide employees with lasting tools against stress. Read more at stoppstress.no →