How My Wellbeing Non-Negotiables Allowed Me To Navigate Redundancy And Difficult Times

“What are your wellbeing non-negotiables?”

For the past six years, that was a question I asked often and was asked in return. As the first-ever Head of Wellbeing for a multinational company, it became part of my professional identity… and, whether I realised it or not at the time, my personal one too.

Because for me, this role was never just a job. It was the privilege of contributing to healthier workplace cultures. Of creating more inclusive environments that recognise differences and the value they can bring. Of building safer spaces where people could thrive. Of turning curiosity into advocacy in the space of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

And it gave me all the space and permission to walk the talk, and this made all the change when it came down to being impacted in the company’s restructure. 

When theory met reality

Losing a job is consistently ranked as one of life’s major stressors. Yes, I’m nerding a bit here referencing the Social Readjustment Rating Scale by Holmes & Rahe from the 1960s, still holds up surprisingly well.

So when I transitioned out of the company, I decided to test a question I’ve spent years answering professionally:

Do the wellbeing strategies we build as part of our program actually work, you know, when life gets hard?

I structured this chapter of my life around the same five pillars we used in our strategy

Here’s what that looked like in practice:

🏋️ Physical health

I didn’t grow up in a sporty household, we were more “academics” than “athletics”. My entry point was yoga, many years ago, initially as a way to manage my mental health (it helped me so much I eventually became a teacher)

Then one day, during a wellbeing webinar one of the company's leaders spoke about working with a personal trainer. I got curious and that’s how I discovered weightlifting.

Fast forward: I became so obsessed I’m now (same as with yoga) working towards my own Personal Trainer certification.

Turns out strength training builds more than muscles, it has given me the resilience to know that I can quite literally carry heavy loads, make progress and feel strong in both body and mind. 

🏃 Emotional health

Let’s talk about running. You may think this one should go with physical health, but not for me. I hate it.

If you’re not on the running train, honestly, good for you. (Mostly kidding, or not, the jury is still out on this one)

But here’s the thing: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches this technique to “timebox” difficult emotions, think worry, anxiety, sadness, just give them a defined container. Running became that container for me. So I started this with no competition, no pace tracking (I still don’t know my pace). Just movement and discomfort. And eventually I learned how to find comfort in discomfort. 

In 2025 I  set a goal of one medal per quarter to stay engaged: January 5k, hated it. March 10k, tolerable. Then an accident the day after the race: first and second-degree burns, that led to a month being unable to even walk, let alone run.

After I recovered, every step felt like a privilege. When I went back to running, every time it would become hard I reminded myself of what my body was capable of doing. 

What happened next? I went on to run my first half marathon in August.Then two trail duo-marathons, despite having no idea how to mountain bike (I have a very cute video of me practising in the parking lot before the first race).

Running taught me something fundamental: I can do hard things, even when I don’t feel ready.

Now, Mindfulness. If you think I find running hard, try Mindfulness. I struggled for many years with sitting with my mind, my feelings, my breath. 

But collaborations with providers on this space gave me tools I continue to rely on, especially when uncertainty creeps in. These tools allowed me to understand that it was ok to find this difficult, that I didn’t need to sit in 10-20 minute practices, even short 1 minute, fully present practices, were enough. 

Mindfulness stopped being a concept and became a daily practice. I learned that consistency over quantity makes all the difference. 

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social health

The greatest gift my latests company gave me wasn’t a title, it was my people.

Colleagues who became friends (too many to mention). Partners who became genuine connections. People who showed up with messages, calls, and meetups during this transition.

Research shows that awe improves wellbeing by shifting our neurophysiology, reducing self-focus, increasing social connection, and deepening meaning. Through living the company’s mission of ‘experiencing the world’ I found that, for me, awe comes from travel.

Before working there, I’d visited six countries in my entire life. Traveling seemed like a privileged and far lands like dreams. But my time with the company, my exposure to people from many different nationalities and my understanding of how to make traveling accessible, make me change this mindset. 

So after signing my termination agreement, I travelled with my people. I climbed mountains. I swam in oceans, I went back to Mexico and indulged in the familiar food and culture, while experiencing new places and activities (I can now say I have snorkelled with sharks). And if you are wondering, yes margaritas and tacos can cure any heartache. Not validated academic research, you will just have to trust me on this one.

In each place I connected with people, old and new, I was embraced, recognized and felt an immense sense of acceptance and belonging. 

With these experiences I was reminded how vast the world is, and how small one job loss can feel within it.

🧠 Mental health

Journaling and therapy have been my go to for many years now. 

I’ve written daily morning pages since being introduced to The Artist’s Way years ago. Last year, I added an end of month self-reflection ritual: reviewing entries, spotting patterns, and taking insights into therapy.

At the end of 2025, I used those reflections to review my year and set my 2026 goals.

Game. Changer.

Therapy remains my safe space. And because we helped normalise mental health support at work, for the last 2 years I made it a formal goal in Workday: attend all my therapy and coaching sessions.

It worked. I made real progress.

💰 Financial health

Like many in my generation, I’m still learning here.

But building a Financial Health module in 2024, for the launch of our latest pillar in the strategy, forced me to deeply understand the topic and apply it to my own life. That knowledge made navigating a period without fixed income far less terrifying, and far more intentional.

So…does it work?

Working in tech, I often heard: “We’re not saving lives.”

When it comes to employee wellbeing, I disagree.

I’ve seen firsthand how a conversation, a webinar, or a benefit helped someone seek support, book a check-up, ask for help, or step out of a dark place. 

I heard it from direct employee feedback but I also experienced it first hand. I live with a mental health condition. Statistically, big life stressors aren’t supposed to go well for me.

And yet, this period has been one of growth, resilience, and clarity.

Because the work works.

This chapter has reminded me why I do this work and why I’m excited about what comes next, a new industry, organization and challenge.

If you’re building wellbeing strategies: they matter. If you’re questioning their impact: I’m living proof. And if you’re navigating redundancy yourself: I know it’s hard, you’re adapting. I invite you to think about your wellbeing during this time. 

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