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Workplace: Perfectionism
Perfectionism at work can look like a badge of honour. You double-check everything, catch mistakes others miss, and deliver polished results. People may even praise you for being “so thorough.” But when perfection becomes the standard you must meet to feel safe, it stops being helpful. It turns into pressure, procrastination, overworking, and a constant sense that you’re never quite doing enough. What perfectionism at work really is Healthy excellence says: “I want to do thi
Rene Petterson
Feb 202 min read


Navigating Toxic Workplace Relationships During Economic Downturns
I feel you. You have come to the realisation that your boss has been a pain in the neck, but with the looks of things lately (major retrenchment, rise of automated processes, etc.), standing up to whoever helps put a roof over you and your family isn't the best solution. What then? Toxic workplace relationships can drain energy, reduce productivity, and harm mental health. When an economic downturn hits, these challenges become even harder to manage. Job security feels fragil

Aiko Tanaka
Feb 153 min read


Your Body Doesn’t Distinguish Well Between a Tiger and an Inbox
From an evolutionary standpoint, the human stress response was designed for a very specific purpose: survival. For most of human history, stress meant immediate physical danger — a predator, a hostile rival, or a life-threatening environment. When the brain detected threat, it activated a rapid, automatic response to prepare the body to fight or flee.
Rene Petterson
Jan 262 min read


People-Pleasing at Work: When Being “Helpful” Hurts You
People-pleasing at work often looks like being “easy to work with,” reliable, and always willing to help. You’re the person who jumps in when someone’s stuck, stays late without being asked, and keeps the peace in meetings. On the surface, it can seem like a strength. But when people-pleasing becomes your default, it quietly drains your energy, blurs your boundaries, and can even slow your career growth. What workplace people-pleasing really is Workplace people-pleasing is th
Rene Petterson
Jan 132 min read


The Hidden Stress of Multitasking
Multitasking is often praised as a modern skill — a sign of efficiency, productivity, and competence. We answer emails while listening to meetings, scroll while eating, and switch between tasks dozens of times an hour. Yet many people feel constantly tense, mentally scattered, or exhausted by the end of the day. What’s rarely discussed is that multitasking carries a hidden physiological cost.
Rene Petterson
Dec 19, 20252 min read


How to Gently Reset Your Nervous System
Many people today feel constantly tense, wired, or exhausted — even during moments meant for rest. This isn’t a personal failure, but a sign of an overstimulated nervous system responding to the nonstop demands of modern life. When stress becomes chronic, the body struggles to return to a state of calm, affecting sleep, mood, focus, and overall wellbeing.
Rene Petterson
Nov 11, 20252 min read


Why You Constantly Feel "On Edge"
Many people today feel constantly “on edge” — restless, anxious, or drained — even when there’s no clear danger. This widespread experience is tied to how the nervous system responds to stress and how modern life can push it into an overstimulated state.
Rene Petterson
Nov 3, 20251 min read
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