They mingle, grab a drink and find themselves in the same circle.
Within minutes of introducing themselves and sharing what they do for work, they're all talking about the same thing: burnout.
The social worker – finishing client appointments, then back to the office to write case notes and reports. Wrists aching from typing, back sore from driving all morning. No time to decompress between the emotional weight of the work and the admin that never ends.
The physio – spending his days advising clients on posture, movement, and self-care. Then going home, hunching over his laptop and ignoring his own advice.
The real estate agent – trying to focus on updating the new marketing material onto the website, but replaying difficult client conversations in their head.
The executive manager – back-to-back meetings starting at 8am - from budgets to people management to leader forums. No time to eat, stretch, or think. Racing heart before presentations. She's exhausted but wired.
Different roles. Different industries. Different levels of experience - but all burning out in the same way.
This was my party. And these were my friends.
When I joined the conversation, I had some suggestions.
Take a week off! And come straight back into the fire when I return?
Can't you delegate that? And feel guilty that someone else in the team has to pick it up?
You should push back on your manager, that's unreasonable! And feel incompetent for not being able to handle it?
Can you contact your EAP? (Only 5% of people do, and it's usually reactive – when you're already struggling.)
We do wellness workshops at our office... Great, but I work from home, and who has an hour to spare?
Have you tried that meditation app? Sure, but that doesn't help my sciatica or my RSI pain.
There wasn't a good answer. Nothing fit the reality of how we actually work.
CalmToolkit consists of 12 micro-tools that are quick to use (2–5 minutes) and work wherever you are – in your car, at your desk, between meetings, between clients, at home. Evidence-based techniques for physical tension, emotional stress, cognitive transitions, and focus. Not just mental health - it supports the full reality of modern, hybrid working.
There's no logins. No tracking. No lengthy programs or downloads. Just open the toolkit when you need it, much like your calculator app on your phone or your screenshot tool on your desktop - starting fresh every time.
And here's what matters: when wellness tools address productivity and physical health alongside mental health, they stop being 'wellness initiatives', and instead, become normal everyday work tools.
These techniques aren't new – they're evidence-based practices that psychologists, physiotherapists, and productivity experts have been using for years. Box breathing to calm your nervous system. Progressive muscle relaxation for physical tension. The Pomodoro technique for focus. Guided stretches to prevent RSI. We've just stripped away the jargon and made them quick and simple for anyone to use - anytime, anywhere.
And if you're curious about the research behind any tool, there's a link that gives a brief explanation about the science, with references added.
If you're in HR or leadership, you're probably thinking: "This sounds nice, but we already have an Employee Assistance Program. What's the ROI on this?"
The bottom line: prevention tools your team will actually use are worth more than the crisis intervention they avoid.
Drop me an email at carm@calmtoolkit.com. I'd love to hear from you.
Carmel Markus
Founder, CalmToolkit
If you're curious about how CalmToolkit could support your team's wellbeing, reach out or request a free trial.