Today is National Workplace Wellbeing Day – and I’ve been doing some reflecting

– by Malin Kelly, CEO of Modig Corporate Services Ltd

Ireland’s biggest celebration of workplace health and wellbeing takes place today, the 30th of April—marking not only a national focus on employee wellness, but also the close of Stress Awareness Month. As a health and safety professional, I’m often the one reminding others to check in, to slow down, and to prioritise wellbeing. But sometimes, we forget that the people giving the reminders need them too. As Stress Awareness Month draws to a close, I’ve found myself doing some much-needed reflection.

Being in this role comes with a unique weight – the constant vigilance, responsibility, and emotional labour of always trying to make things safer, better, and more supported for others. It doesn’t stop when the workday ends either. As a parent to three young adults, the worry simply changes shape. And when you’re someone who feels things deeply – a caring personality, as many of us are – it can be easy to carry more than your share of the emotional load, often without even realising it.

Stress can be subtle. It doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it’s the clenched jaw at night. The irritability you can’t explain. The brain fog. The forgetfulness. The sense of always being “on” and never quite arriving.

We get so caught up in the running – for our families, for our teams, for our responsibilities – that we forget to mind ourselves. But just as easily, we forget to really look at the people around us. That colleague who’s gone quieter. The friend who keeps cancelling. The parent who seems more tired than usual.

This month, I’ve found solace and wisdom in the words of John O’Donohue, particularly in Anam Cara – which means “soul friend” in Irish. The book is a powerful reminder of the beauty of deep connection, of compassion, and of seeing the sacred in the everyday. One line that stayed with me:

A friend is a loved one who awakens your life in order to free the wild possibilities within you.

What if we could be that kind of soul friend – not just to others, but to ourselves?

As April ends, I’m carrying that thought with me. A commitment to keep checking in, to rest, reconnect and reflect. To keep listening – deeply. And to honour the wild possibilities within.

Stress might be part of our lives – but it doesn’t have to define them. To anyone else feeling the weight right now – you’re not alone. And maybe that’s the most important reminder of all.

#StressAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMatters #Wellbeing #Leadership #Parenting #HealthAndSafety #AnamCara #JohnODonohue #CompassionInTheWorkplace