I looked up at 4pm and realised I hadn't eaten or taken a breath between Teams calls.

If HR is meant to support wellbeing, we need to start by protecting our own.

How do you build breathing space into your day?

I’ve set up reminders for breaks—even for something as simple as drinking water. It’s easy to forget, but staying hydrated actually has a big impact on how you feel.

I love what you said and it is so true! I have strict boundaries when it come to work and logging off. I don't look at work things or respond before 8AM and don't respond after 5PM unless there is some emergency. I also take an hour lunch and while I do check my phone, I won't act on anything until after. These boudnaries are crucial for me to zone in during my work hours and detach outside of them so I can focus on what really matters.

I take a 30 minute lunch. It is a must for me to clear my head and recharge.

You should definitely take a lunch break of at least 30 minutes and some short breaks inbetween, even just 2 mins popping away from the screen to reset your eyes. I find it makes such a difference in your performance at work as constantly looking at a screen can make you feel fatigue and drained by the end of the day.

On my meeting heavy days, I try to set myself up for success in the morning by having coffee, tea, and water at the ready. As well as a snack box for grabbing a few bites between calls. I'm also lucky that my company does a lot of camera off meetings, so I can munch quietly and take a breather that way. Even just a granola bar or a handful of almonds can help keep your energy up!

I add breaks to my calendar and set them as private, 15-minute meetings. I try to have no more than 2 or 3 meetings in a row without a break. At minimum, this gives me time to run to the bathroom, refill my emotional support water bottle, and take a couple of minutes to recoup.
Some days I know will have a lot of meetings (it's always Wednesdays for some reason), so I add "Admin Time - DNS" as a block on my calendar, usually in the middle of the day, so people know that even though I'm not in a meeting, I'm spending time doing other work and I'm not available.

I block out time for lunch and unless it's an emergency, will not adjust that time for anything. I need it for my mental reset. I also take breaks throughout the day and walk on my treadmill to get some movement in.

I feel this so much. As someone with ADHD, I’ve definitely had days where I look up and realize I haven’t eaten, moved, or even taken a deep breath between back-to-back calls. I’ve started setting reminders—literally calendar blocks or phone alerts—to pause, stretch, grab food, or just step outside for a few minutes. It’s not perfect, but it helps me stay grounded.

Totally agree: if we’re in HR and advocating for wellbeing, we have to model it ourselves.