Tomorrow, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day, and in 2024, the theme is focused on mental health in the workplace.
For this blog, I had conversations with some of my colleagues at Devōt to get their personal insights into how they manage stress at work.
Let me start by saying this won’t be one of those cliché blogs claiming we’re the "best company" to work for. The truth is, everyone faces their own battles, and what may be a great work environment for one person could be a source of stress for another. Different projects, teams, and even day-to-day challenges can deeply impact employees' mental health and job satisfaction. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, and it’s important to acknowledge that.
This blog won’t dive into mental health conditions—I’ll leave that to the certified professionals—but instead, it will focus on the personal tips and coping mechanisms shared by my colleagues. These are the everyday strategies they use to manage stress, improve their work-life balance, and navigate the ups and downs of the workplace.
Our own mental health is often influenced by the people around us, not just the work we do. In this blog, we’ll see some genuine shoutouts that highlight colleagues who make a positive impact on well-being in the workplace.
1. No need to stress because work has always been there and will always be there
Hrvoje, our software developer, has a calm approach to managing workplace stress. He emphasizes the importance of taking time to solve challenges instead of rushing to get things done immediately. He believes that delivering higher-quality results is more important than meeting unrealistic deadlines.
“It’s never a problem if something isn’t solved right away. Taking more time often leads to better and more effective solutions.”
It's important to maintain a balance between productivity and well-being. Constantly rushing can put your body under unnecessary stress. Hrvoje avoids this extra pressure by recognizing that work is always ongoing and there will always be more tasks to handle. Excessive pressure does little to enhance job performance or overall satisfaction.
He believes that improving mental health at work can be achieved through humor and taking well-deserved breaks throughout the day. In the office, he and his colleagues sometimes play darts, which allows them to step away from work and projects while having fun together. He adds:
“Mental health in the workplace can be simulated with things outside the work, at least office work, by going to conferences or meetings with other people within the field. Sometimes it's even good if the employees go alone or with just a few colleagues. If the whole company is going, then the conversation will be the same as in the workplace.”
A shoutout from Hrvoje goes to...
The proof that a positive work environment is important is that Hrvoje gave his "mental health in the workplace" shoutout to our new colleague, software developer Vladimir.
“He is a great guy who brought fresh energy to our office in Osijek. I think he’s a welcome change because he’s such a fun colleague.”
2. Take a step back to acknowledge and manage your stress
Our product designer, Tisa, focuses on managing stress at work by taking a momentary pause to regain composure and view the situation with a calm, rational mindset. She believes in the importance of not letting temporary challenges derail progress.
“I take a short break, calm my emotions, assess the situation with a clear head, and remind myself of the positive aspects and the goal I’m working toward. Setbacks are normal, and the key is to keep moving forward without letting stress take over.”
If you never take a step back to assess the situation and simply push through the day without clearing your head, you’ll end up accumulating stress. It’s important to acknowledge when something is stressful, consider how important it is, and think about how you can manage that stress before getting back to work.
In addition to her personal coping mechanisms, Tisa also highlights that one of the ways to promote mental health in the workplace is by being empathetic in stressful situations:
“If I see that a colleague isn’t having the best day, I try to pick up the slack, knowing they would do the same for me when I need it.”
Mutual support and understanding can create a healthier, more resilient work environment where stress is shared, and well-being is prioritized.
A shoutout from Tisa goes to...
Tisa gives a shoutout to her team—Head of Product, Tomislav Brkljačić and Product Owner, Sandro Bujan—highlighting how crucial a supportive team is when considering the mental health benefits of a workplace. It's not just about having knowledgeable colleagues but also about working with people who provide the support you need to thrive. A team that stands by you through challenges can make all the difference in maintaining your well-being at work.
Our CEO Martin, Product Designer Tisa, and Product Owner Sandro at last year HLTH23 conference
3. Practice mindfulness to manage stress and stay focused
To manage stress at work, our software developer Juraj embraces a mindful approach, treating stress as a natural, temporary emotion. Emotions are fleeting, and over-worrying only leads to more suffering.
“I handle stress the same way I handle emotions in general—by realizing they are temporary. The more I worry, the more I suffer. If needed, I take a few deep breaths to clear my mind, like a mini meditation or mindfulness practice.”
By focusing on what truly matters and taking small mindful breaks, Juraj ensures that stress doesn’t overwhelm him. This technique allows him to maintain focus and effectively reduce stress levels, promoting mental well-being at work.
As a support to his colleagues at work, he believes in offering reassurance during meetings and reminding the team of their collective strengths.
“I'll try to boost morale by reminding the team of the quality work we've done so far.”
One of the things he mentioned for supporting employee well-being is fostering an environment that encourages both creativity and mental health. While some companies may have teams that form organically without direct supervisors, what truly matters is that all ideas are valued, regardless of hierarchy. Even if not every idea is pursued, if it’s a good one, it should be recognized and supported by the team, ensuring everyone feels their contributions are appreciated.
A shoutout from Juraj goes to...
To promote well-being at work, it’s important for leaders to regularly check that their team members aren’t overworked or that one person isn’t carrying too many tasks, as this can lead to burnout in the long run. Juraj shares that his Tech Lead, Rino, always ensures he isn’t overburdened, helping to maintain a healthy balance.
4. Physical and mental health go hand in hand: Work on your breathing and movement
Our quality assurance engineer Leo's approach to handling stress at work centers around two primary coping mechanisms: conscious breathing and physical movement. By recognizing when he’s in a stressful situation, Leo adjusts his response based on his environment.
“If I’m in a meeting or dealing with a stressful release or challenge, I take three deep breaths and move forward. If I have the opportunity to step away, I take a short break, look up at the sky, and breathe.”
In situations where he can be more physically active, Leo takes additional steps to manage stress. Whether it’s walking around the block, doing push-ups with his colleague Tomislav, or walking up seven flights of stairs from the garage, he finds these activities helpful in reducing stress. His key to stress management lies in the ability to recognize stress early and take action immediately to alleviate it.
When it comes to supporting colleagues, Leo says that active listening is the key to positive relationships.
“It’s usually easy to notice when someone is stressed. I help by listening, and if I’ve been through something similar, I offer advice. Otherwise, I just listen.”
Leo’s vision of an ideal workplace is one where mental health is supported through constructive communication. He believes that employees should receive constructive criticism instead of harsh remarks and moderate, genuine praise instead of exaggerated compliments. This would foster a healthier, more balanced work environment.
A shoutout from Leo goes to...
Mentally healthy workplaces are characterized by their workplace culture, and Leo believes that senior team members play a role in setting the tone. He wanted to give a shoutout to two of his office colleagues, Product Owner Tomislav and his Tech Lead, Ante.
“Tomislav's calmness, professionalism, and perfectly timed sense of humor make work easier for anyone collaborating with him in the office or on a team.”
“Ante Crnogorac, with his playful nature and sense of fun, shows that professionalism can go hand in hand with lightheartedness.”
He says that senior members often unknowingly dictate the mood in the office, and the overall office culture tends to align with how those seniors conduct themselves. If the atmosphere is too serious or rigid, it can create tension, but when seniors bring a balanced approach—combining professionalism with a sense of humor and approachability—it fosters a more positive, supportive work environment where everyone feels more at ease.
5. Practice hobbies as a way to disconnect and recharge
Our software developer, Luka, finds that having hobbies outside of work helps him manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Engaging in activities like basketball or board games with friends allows him to clear his mind after work hours.
“For me, hobbies are a great way to take my mind off work after a long day.”
Luka also emphasizes the importance of being mindful of colleagues' potential stress, even if it's not always visible.
“It’s sometimes hard to tell who really needs support, so I believe in always being fair and not putting pressure on anyone. You never know what someone might be going through, either personally or professionally.”
In terms of workplace culture, Luka acknowledges that it's important to work in an environment where people use common sense, show empathy toward each other, and receive full support from managers and HR during difficult times.
A shoutout from Luka goes to...
Luka’s shoutout goes to his web development team at Devōt. They have a positive impact on each other and promote well-being by celebrating successes, offering support, and pushing forward together.
He also wants to acknowledge Leo, who is always great to talk to and provides valuable advice, even though they aren’t currently working on the same project.
But let’s be honest—the real hero here is his dog, Freddie (yes, named after Freddie Mercury). It’s a well-known fact that dogs help reduce stress (source: everyone ever), and to Luka, Freddie is his walking, instant stress relief.
Freddie, the star of the show and our instant stress relief at work
6. Ask yourself what you can do about the situation, what is in your power
As Head of HR, Ana takes a thoughtful and proactive approach to managing both her own stress and supporting the team’s mental health. When facing stress, she focuses on identifying the root cause—whether it’s an overwhelming workload or a challenging collaboration.
“I first become aware of what’s troubling me and how I feel about it, then take a step back to look at the situation objectively, as if from a bird’s-eye view,”
she explains. From there, she assesses what is within her control—whether that means reducing the workload, seeking help, or having open conversations with colleagues.
She also highlights the importance of self-care routines, including therapy, meditation, proper rest, healthy meals, and support from family and friends, which all contribute to maintaining good mental health. After all, we can’t completely separate our personal lives from our professional ones, so taking care of ourselves holistically benefits both.
In her leadership role, she prioritizes regular one-on-one meetings with team members to provide a safe space for open conversations.
“We always start by talking openly about how the person is doing in general, and people often feel comfortable enough to steer the conversation where they need to.”
These one-on-one meetings allow employees to voice concerns, ask for help, or simply share their thoughts without feeling judged.
She also monitors their team's well-being by observing changes in mood or behavior and making adjustments when needed, such as redistributing tasks or encouraging breaks. Regular check-ins and processes to track employee satisfaction are crucial to fostering a mentally healthy workplace culture.
“When someone needs to vent or share frustrations, I help guide them in figuring out what they can do, what they expect from me as a leader, and what I can realistically do from my role.”
She thinks that all companies, regardless of industry, should work on supporting mental health by providing resources like education on mental health in the workplace and burnout, therapy or coaching sessions for employees, and management training on emotional intelligence.
A shoutout from Ana goes to...
“My shoutout goes to my manager, Anđela. She truly cares about her people, understands them, shows empathy, and approaches everything with genuine humanity.”
7. Break down your goals to manage stress and achieve clarity
Our operations manager, Bojan, uses stress management methods that are rooted in structure and clarity, particularly when faced with overwhelming tasks. When he feels anxious about the sheer volume of work, Bojan employs the Goal Pyramid Framework, a strategy that breaks down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
“I set the desired goals and break them into layers, which eventually become smaller tasks. This way, as I complete the smaller tasks, I can see progress and have a clearer picture of the steps toward the main goal. It gives me clarity, control, and ultimately calmness in completing the work.”
For day-to-day stress relief, Bojan finds short resets like taking a walk or listening to music helpful. These activities help him refocus and clear his mind. Additionally, sharing concerns with colleagues often provides new perspectives and valuable advice that assists him in stressful situations.
When it comes to his team, Bojan strives to be attuned to their emotional well-being.
“If I notice someone is stressed, I try to offer support, whether through conversation, advice, or taking on some of their tasks if possible.”
He also utilizes retrospectives as a safe space for the team to openly discuss both the positive and negative aspects of their work environment. He gathers feedback from these meetings and works to ensure that good practices are maintained while eliminating those that negatively impact team satisfaction.
Bojan believes that to support mental health, companies need to actively invest in their employees’ well-being. This includes offering access to counseling professionals, stress management workshops, or mindfulness programs.
Bojan emphasizes that a workplace culture of open communication, without fear of judgment, is essential. Flexibility in work hours and hybrid work options are also important to him, as they allow employees to better balance their personal and professional lives. Furthermore, he stresses that leadership needs to be educated on the topic and aware of the significance of mental health.
A shoutout from Bojan goes to...
Bojan’s shoutout goes to two colleagues who have been a great support to him. He shares his appreciation for Anđela, who has always shown care and concern for his overall satisfaction at work.
“Anđela has been a huge support to me from the very beginning. She always checks in on my general well-being and has helped me manage stress on several occasions. She listens to my concerns and does whatever she can to assist. She also frequently lets me know she’s pleased with my work, which is really nice to hear and boosts motivation. I think that’s incredibly important—employee recognition.”
Bojan also gives a special shoutout to Tina—yes, me, the author of this blog! He said:
“Talking with Tina is always pleasant. I know I can speak openly with her about anything, and we’ve always been a great support to each other, both professionally and personally. I think we have a solid understanding of each other and have helped one another when it was needed.”
I promise I didn’t ask him to say that, but it was nice to include!
8. Take your walks
Two years ago, our software developer Karlo wrote a blog about burnout at work. I recently caught up with him to see where he stands today on mindfulness in the workplace. His solution remains simple but effective—taking meaningful regular breaks. Or in other words, taking a walk.
“Five to ten minutes of walking does wonders for mental clarity. I do it to stay for physical health, for my well-being, and to avoid burnout.”
Karlo’s advice is straightforward:
If you have perplexing thoughts about difficult problems you need to solve—take a walk.
If you're struggling to get things to work—take a walk.
If you can't find new ways to improve your solution—take a walk.
If you feel like you just need to get up—take a walk.
A shoutout from Karlo goes to...
Karlo’s shoutout goes to his Tech Lead, Ante. Co-workers play a crucial role in workplace mental health, but having a supportive lead is just as important for fostering a positive workplace environment. Karlo mentions that Ante always knows how to handle challenging situations!
Workplace mental health: You can’t be 100% all the time—and that’s okay
In this blog, I’ve tried to capture different perspectives on workplace mental health and stress—from both tech and non-tech roles, from team members to team leads. If you look closely, a common thread runs through all these insights: while work is important, it’s equally essential to listen to our bodies and manage our stress effectively. In today’s world, we are often overstimulated, and the drive for productivity can sometimes become toxic. It's important to remember that none of us can give 100% effort 100% of the time.
Sometimes, it’s important to embrace boredom—not just as a break for your mental health but also because it creates space for new ideas to emerge. When you’re constantly overloaded with tasks and chasing the idea of constant productivity, you’re so immersed in the daily grind that you never step back to reflect or innovate. Often, the best ideas come when you allow yourself to slow down and give your mind the freedom to wander.
When it comes to stress, it's essential to remind ourselves that while we each have responsibilities—especially when working across teams—it’s okay to take a breather. We’re not performing brain surgery, and it’s perfectly fine to pause and listen to our bodies when we feel overwhelmed. Taking a step back isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a way to manage stress and ensure we can continue working effectively in the long run.
It’s often said that people don’t leave their jobs because of work, they leave because of people—whether that’s managers or colleagues. That’s why it was great to hear the shoutouts from other people, especially when employee recognition plays such a crucial role in well-being.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer my questions and share their insights! If you, dear readers, want more tips from our team, check out the Team Collaboration Tips blog, where I’ve gathered the best advice from my colleagues—ranging from the importance of leaving your ego at the door to how to effectively approach communication.
