We wouldn't expect someone grieving a death to carry on as if nothing had happened. So why do we expect people going through heartbreak to answer emails, sit through meetings and pretend everything's fine? Heartbreak doesn't clock out at work, but you can stop it from completely running the show.
You got the degree, landed the dream job, and made your family proud. So why does success still feel heavy? For many first-generation professionals, achievement comes with a hidden burden: the pressure to honour generations of sacrifice while navigating workplaces full of unwritten rules. How do you carry that weight without burning out?
Ever noticed the bloating kicked off after starting that high pressure job? Yeah, it's actually not all in your head. Stress, sitting down all day and irregular eating patterns can make your gut turn on you, and it might be affecting you more than you realise.
A lunchtime pint: harmless fun or taking the piss? After a viral debate in Parliament reignited questions about drinking in the workplace, the Ctrl+Shift team decided to find out for ourselves.
Women in healthcare steady families, witness suffering and hold the room when everything is falling apart. Compassion fatigue is swallowing them whole, and the system built on their care still hasn’t learned how to care for them back.
Adult friendship is hard, not because we’re flaky or cold, but because we’re living in a system that makes connection feel like a bonus. Between burnout, patriarchy and the pressure to ‘have your shit together’, it’s no wonder we’re struggling. It’s time we unpack the mess and discover how to build friendships that actually feel good again.
Your workplace stress response says more about you than you think. From the office therapist to the emotionally checked-out co-worker, psychologists say the way we behave at work is often shaped by burnout, coping mechanisms and our need for connection. So… which chaotic co-worker are you?
Long, crowded commutes can leave you stressed before the day has even fucking started. So how do we make public transport feel a little calmer, a little less chaotic, and a lot less like a group anxiety exercise.
