EQness

24/06/2026

There is a kind of person every workplace quietly admires: the one with the long hours, the full calendar, the one who never seems to stop and always delivers.

The assumption is often that sustained effort is what drives sustained performance. But research seems to tell a different story.

Beyond a certain point, more effort does not necessarily translate into better performance. Chronic overwork and insufficient recovery have been associated with more errors, poorer decision-making, and a greater risk of burnout over time.

One consequence is presenteeism: being physically present at work but functioning below full capacity. People keep coming in, attending meetings, answering emails, while fatigue and insufficient recovery quietly affect their focus and performance.

Unlike absenteeism, presenteeism is difficult to see and difficult to measure. That is precisely why it can be so costly.

What begins as an individual experience can gradually become the norm across a team, shaping how people think, collaborate, decide, and treat one another.

👇 If overcommitment ultimately undermines performance, perhaps it is time to reconsider why so many workplaces continue to reward it.

22/06/2026

Scrolling. Watching television. Answering one more message from the sofa.

These activities may feel like rest, yet they do not always leave us restored.

Why is that?

Research suggests that recovery is not primarily determined by specific activities, but by the psychological experiences those activities create. Four appear particularly important:

🧠 Detachment — does it help me switch off from work?

🌊 Relaxation — does it reduce tension and create calm?

🎛️ Control — do I have autonomy over how I spend my time?

🌱 Mastery — does it let me learn, grow, or feel a sense of accomplishment?

Because different activities create these experiences to different degrees, what restores one person may not restore another.

👇 How easy do you find it to switch off from work? And when you do, do the activities you choose leave you feeling genuinely restored?

18/06/2026

🧠 Is stress good or bad?

Well, it depends.

Every time we learn something new, start a new job, have a difficult conversation, or step outside our comfort zone, the body triggers a stress response.

That is not necessarily a problem. It is part of how we learn, adapt and build resilience.

When periods of demand are not followed by opportunities to recover, the negative effects accumulate over time.

💪 Consider physical training. Progress does not happen during the workout itself. It happens during the recovery that follows.

Something similar appears to happen psychologically. Recovery is often when we regain energy, process experiences, and restore our capacity to deal with future demands.

⚖️ Stress and recovery are both part of a healthy system. Problems tend to arise when one is present without the other.

05/06/2026

This year's World Environment Day highlights the urgency of climate action.

But climate change is not only an environmental issue.

It is also a wellbeing issue.

Research increasingly shows that prolonged exposure to heatwaves, pollution, extreme weather events, and environmental uncertainty can influence stress levels, sleep, emotional wellbeing, and mental health.

The reason is simple.

Our nervous system does not exist separately from the environment.

It constantly responds to it.

When we talk about protecting the environment, we are also talking about protecting the conditions that support human wellbeing.

Climate action matters for many reasons.

Human health is one of them.

03/06/2026

In organisational psychology, motivation is influenced not only by workload or performance demands, but also by the quality of our relationship with work.

This is sometimes described as the psychological contract — the unspoken expectations we have around trust, recognition, fairness, meaning, growth, and support.

When these expectations feel disrupted over time, motivation, engagement, and wellbeing can begin to decline.

01/06/2026

As winter begins in Australia, it is a good reminder that our environment affects wellbeing more than we realise.

Research suggests that winter may influence wellbeing through factors such as reduced sunlight exposure, prolonged melatonin secretion, and seasonal changes in the body's immune response. These changes may affect energy levels, sleep, stress regulation, and overall mood.

Because our nervous system constantly responds to the conditions around us, the way we respond to seasonal changes through our routines and behaviours can also influence wellbeing.

Small habits that support regulation and recovery can be particularly helpful:
- Getting outside during daylight
- Staying physically active
- Maintaining social connection
- Creating moments of calm

Although we cannot control the seasons, we can decide how we respond to them in ways that support our mental and physical wellbeing.

31/05/2026

There can be a belief that if we stop pushing ourselves so harshly, we will become complacent, unsuccessful, or fall behind.

But when self-worth becomes too dependent on achievement, approval, or getting everything “right,” it can become difficult to feel genuinely content, even when things are going well.

This is where self-acceptance becomes important.

Self-acceptance does not mean avoiding responsibility or prFor many people, being hard on themselves has become normal and even desirable.

Self-criticism, perfectionism, and constant comparison are often mistaken for motivation or personal growth.

etending everything about ourselves is positive. It involves recognising both our strengths and our limitations without constantly judging ourselves.

The way we relate to ourselves influences how we experience challenges, relationships and even success itself.

Developing a balanced and unconditional relationship with ourselves is an important part of psychological wellbeing.

14/05/2026

Exercise supports mental health.
But a healthy mind requires more than a healthy body. 💪

08/05/2026