Health & wellbeing

How to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset

Feeling stressed? Don't let it get you down! We've got expert tips and practical advice to help you keep a positive mindset when things get tough.

Let's face it: Life is stressful at the moment for many reasons. Add to this the challenges of running your own business and managing staff, and the worry significantly increases. Unfortunately, having a negative mindset and not coping with stress properly can severely impact your relationships and business.

Let's face it: Life is stressful at the moment for many reasons. Add to this the challenges of running your own business and managing staff, and the worry significantly increases. Unfortunately, having a negative mindset and not coping with stress properly can severely impact your relationships and business.

Rachelle Hawes is the Director at Your Happy Place and creator of the Positive Mindset Challenge (PMC) programme, and she has spent more than a decade researching evidence-based strategies that promote mental wellbeing, self-esteem and emotional resilience. Here, she shares her expert insight and advice for anyone feeling like the pressure is getting too much, plus tips on how to offer the same guidance to your staff as and when it's needed.

How can a negative mindset impact my home and work life?

A negative mindset doesn't just live in your thoughts – it seeps into the way you show up in every part of your life. At home, it can feel like a heaviness that makes even the simplest moments feel hard. Patience wears thin, connections fade and the warmth that relationships need to thrive begins to cool. It becomes harder to laugh, listen or be fully present with the people you love.

That same mindset can dim your confidence and sense of purpose in your work environment. You start second-guessing yourself, avoiding challenges or feeling like nothing you do is quite good enough. Collaboration with colleagues suffers, motivation slips and joy becomes harder to find in your daily tasks.

When left unchecked, a negative mindset can quietly steal the colour from your days, turning what could be meaningful, fulfilling moments into ones marked by self-doubt and disconnection.

However, awareness can be powerful. When you recognise the impact your inner world has on your outer world, you give ourselves the chance to shift it – and that shift can change everything.

What are some easy ways to lift my mood each day?

Boosting your mood doesn't always require big changes. Sometimes it's the small, intentional moments that make the biggest difference. At home, it might be as simple as stepping outside to feel the sun on your face, playing your favourite song while making breakfast or taking a few slow, deep breaths before the day begins. Creating a habit of gratitude by jotting down three small things you're thankful for can gently shift your focus from what's missing to what's meaningful in your day.

At work, small acts of kindness – like offering a genuine compliment or sharing a smile – can spark connection and warmth, even during a busy day. Taking short breaks to stretch, walk or even just look out the window helps reset your nervous system and refocus your mind. Surrounding yourself with uplifting reminders – a photo that makes you smile, a quote that grounds you or a plant on your desk – can be quiet anchors of calm and happiness.

Most importantly, give yourself permission to feel what you feel while still choosing to refocus your thoughts towards the good things in your day. Each small choice is a small step towards a happier state of being, and over time, those steps become a powerful shift.

How can I instill these strategies in my employees?

Encouraging your employees to lift their mood each day starts with creating a culture where wellbeing is welcomed and valued. It begins with the small things: Leading by example, checking in with genuine care and making space for fun and laughter, even on busy days.

• Invite your team to take short breaks without guilt, to step outside for fresh air when working inside jobs, or to pause for a few deep breaths before jumping into the next task.

• Introduce simple daily practices, like starting meetings by highlighting the things you are grateful for on the job, sharing weekly wins or encouraging personal habits that bring calm or joy to your team.

• Celebrate effort – not just outcomes – and create an environment where people feel seen, supported and safe to be human.

• Offering flexible time for self-care, promoting positive messages around the worksite, or even setting up a communal playlist or five-minute back-stretching routine can spark connection and lift energy.

When people know that their mental and emotional wellbeing matters, they're far more likely to invest in it themselves. And often it's those consistent, everyday gestures rooted in kindness and intention that inspire the most profound change.

What are some practical ways to manage work stress?

Managing work stress begins with recognising that stress is a signal, not a weakness. It's your body and mind asking for support, and when you listen with compassion you can respond in ways that protect your wellbeing. One of the most powerful tools is creating small moments to pause throughout the day – short breaks to breathe deeply, stretch or simply step away from the tools. These pauses help reset your nervous system and bring clarity when things feel overwhelming.

Setting clear boundaries is also essential. Protect your time by scheduling breaks, finishing work at a reasonable hour and allowing yourself to fully unplug when the day is done. Planning ahead to make sure you have everything you need can ease the mental load and reduce that constant sense of urgency.

Connection plays an important role too. Talking with a trusted teammate, asking for help when needed or even sharing a laugh with someone can shift your whole outlook.

Keep nourishing your body with water, good food and sleep – they're your foundation.

And most importantly, treat yourself with kindness. You're not a machine, you're a human being doing your best. When you give yourself permission to pause, reset and breathe, you not only manage stress more effectively, you remind yourself that your wellbeing matters, every single day.