Head of Marketing
4 Minutes Read
This blog is based on a recent episode of Kara Connect with host Tobba Vigfusdottir, featuring career and executive coach Fay Wallis, founder of Bright Sky Career Coaching and host of the highly ranked HR Coffee Time podcast. Faye’s work focuses on helping HR professionals manage growing demands, build confidence, and safeguard their wellbeing, something many in this field urgently need.
Drawing from her own journey through stress and burnout, Faye shared straight-talking advice for HR leaders and anyone supporting people at work. Her evidence-backed approach combines career coaching, practical planning tools, and a commitment to real, sustainable wellbeing.
Here are five takeaways from Faye Wallis’s insights on the podcast.
Address the Sense of Overwhelm with Smart Planning
“It actually led to the point where I ended up being signed off from work with anxiety…Instead of being able to plan my work and my time really effectively, I was just working as hard as possible to try and get through everything.”
Fay’s Essential HR Planner was born out of necessity, after experiencing overwhelm firsthand. Rather than pushing through, she now helps HR leaders focus on working smarter, not harder, by breaking down workload, blocking time for priorities, and making space for wellbeing every week. Structured planning isn’t just about productivity, it’s a foundation for mental health.
Learn to Say No – and Protect Your Boundaries
“The learning to say no is a huge part of it. I think it’s something that so many of us have to learn to do.”
The explosion of HR responsibilities – spanning wellbeing, DEI, learning, employee relations, and even CSR – means HR teams are expected to be “everything.” Fay emphasises the importance of acknowledging limits, setting realistic expectations, and having the courage to say no, even when the pressure is high. Protecting boundaries is a critical skill for sustainable success.
Recognise Early Signs of Burnout and Stress
“For me, the signs will be I start working really long hours…Or I start getting really grouchy or snappy with my poor family at home…It’s all just little things that start to flash up.”
Fay speaks openly about her own experience with anxiety, before she knew the signs, and now encourages clients to learn their early warning signals. She describes physical cues like holding your breath at your desk, or emotional changes like irritability and difficulty switching off. Spotting these early can be the crucial first step in preventing burnout.
Prioritise Physical and Social Wellbeing, Not Just Output
“I really know the impact that your physical wellbeing has on your mental wellbeing…If I make time to see my friends…that makes a big difference. It can be easy…thinking, I haven’t got time for anything else.”
Routine breaks, regular exercise, and social connection are non-negotiable for Faye. She credits even simple habits, like walking her dogs, as vital for clearing her mind and marking the end of the workday. After years of “work, work, work,” she sees these basic practices as the guardrails of wellbeing.
Acknowledge and Support Confidence Struggles – They’re Universal
“The one thing that just comes up all the time for people is a lack of confidence…This isn’t one or two people, this is almost everybody, and at all levels of seniority.”
Whether it’s imposter syndrome or doubting your own ideas, confidence challenges are nearly universal in Faye’s experience – affecting new HR managers and seasoned directors alike. She uses both coaching and her podcast to normalise these feelings, emphasizing that the problem isn’t the individual, but silent, unspoken expectations. Recognising and discussing confidence struggles makes it easier to grow through them.
Conclusion
Faye Wallis’s approach offers much-needed realism and reassurance for HR professionals facing relentless workloads, shifting expectations, and emotional demands. Her blend of story, structure, and support proves that true workplace wellbeing isn’t about quick fixes – it’s about learning new habits, supporting each other, and honouring our own needs.
Listen to the full episode of Kara Connect with Fay Wallis for more insights and practical strategies on supporting HR wellbeing.
If you’re in HR, or supporting those who are, this conversation is well worth your time.
