Virtual event
Building Habits to Reduce Work Stress
Exclusively for public servants and policymakers
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
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At this event, you'll learn how to:
- Spot early signs of stress and overload
- Use quick reset techniques to lower pressure during the day
- Build weekly habits that support recovery, focus and boundaries
Speakers
What to do next
- Catch up on the 12-minute highlights above or dive into the full recording
- Join the Life in Government Community
- Check out our upcoming event How to Prioritise When Everything Feels Urgent
Resources
Join the Life in Government Community
The Life in Government Community is a collaborative space designed for Apolitical members to connect with peers in the global public service and ask and answer questions on life in government.
Event Description
Pressure comes with the job. Tight deadlines, public scrutiny, limited resources and a steady stream of ‘urgent’ requests can make even a good day feel overwhelming.
When stress becomes the default setting, it affects focus, decision-making and relationships at work. It also makes it harder to set boundaries, recover between tasks, ask for support early enough or switch off at the end of the day. This session looks at what workplace pressure does to us, why it shows up so often in government and what helps prevent it, both in the moment and over time.
You’ll hear from public sector leaders and wellbeing experts on how they spot early warning signs, protect their capacity and lead teams through high-demand periods without burning out. Expect habits you can try right away, plus honest reflections on what does not work.
Image Credit: Unsplash
Speakers
Morra Aarons-Mele
Founder, The Anxious Achiever
US
Fiona Yensen
Former Head of Wellbeing, UK Home Office
UK
Denley McIntosh
Senior Manager, Ontario Government Respectful Workplace Office, Ontario Government
Canada
Morra Aarons-Mele, who helps leaders build strength by tuning into their inner lives, teaches executive education at Harvard and advises global organizations. Her forthcoming Harvard Business Review Press book, Sparks: How To Lead and Thrive When Your Brain is Wired Differently contains groundbreaking research on how neurodivergent professionals navigate leadership, and will be published in 2027. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top 10 Voice in Mental Health and honored with the Mental Health America Media Award, Morra hosts The Anxious Achiever podcast and is the author of The Anxious Achiever (HBR) and Hiding in the Bathroom (HarperCollins).
Fiona Yensen, a transformative facilitator, mentor, and public speaker with over 30 years of experience across diverse sectors, including two decades with the UK Home Office. She specialises in helping individuals and organisations build practical, sustainable habits that reduce work-related stress, strengthen resilience, and enable healthier, high-performing cultures. Alongside her senior leadership career—most recently as Head of Wellbeing within the Customer Services Group, supporting over 25,000 colleagues—Fiona works as a freelance facilitator. She designs bespoke training programmes that support organisations to build line manager capability and confidence around workplace wellbeing, creating more consistent, supportive day-to-day experiences for their people.
Denley McIntosh, who has made a significant impact on his community and the world at large as an author, podcaster, and keynote speaker. His innovative ideas on workplace culture change and leadership have been widely recognized and adopted. Denley has been honored by the Ontario Government with the prestigious Amethyst Award for his outstanding service as a public servant. He has delivered speeches to professionals and senior leaders from various walks of life, including public servants at all levels of government, and internationally to governments in Mongolia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As the Founder and Executive Director of Connect Ontario Professional Development Group, Denley has created a workplace community for public sector professionals in Canada. This inclusive community fosters professional and personal growth in a safe space characterised by belonging, care, and empathy. Under his leadership, Connect Ontario was awarded the 2020 Championing Equality in the Public Sector globally by Apolitical.
