The Anti-inflammatory Workplace: What it looks like and how to build one

You can feel it the moment you step in.

The air isn’t thick.
The energy isn’t frantic.
People are focused, but they’re not frantic.

They’re breathing. Working. Pausing.
And breathing again.

This is what I call an anti-inflammatory workplace.
It doesn’t run on urgency.
It runs on rhythm.

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor.

But in many workplaces, it’s still treated that way.

You’re expected to move faster, produce more, answer quicker.
Recovery? That’s a weekend thing if you’re lucky.
But just like chronic inflammation in the body wears down your immune system, chronic urgency wears down your team.

Gallup research shows that 76% of employees experience burnout on the job at least sometimes and that burnout is not about workload alone.
It’s about how we work, lead, and recover.

So… what is an anti-inflammatory workplace?

It’s not all yoga rooms and meditation apps (though I love a good breath break).
It’s about the system you build, the space you create, and the cadence you support.

Here’s what it might look like:

✅ Regulated energy.
Leaders don’t model chaos. They model calm.
They pause. They reset. They breathe and their teams do too.

✅ Micro work breaks.
Not “slacker moments” but intentional resets that restore focus.
A minute here. Three minutes there. It matters more than you think.

✅ Recovery built into the workflow.
No badge of shame for stepping away. No guilt for taking a walk.
This isn’t time lost it’s energy regained.

✅ Communication that respects capacity.
Less ping. More clarity. Fewer interruptions.
Yes, this is possible.

✅ Meaningful connection.
Not just teamwork, but human work.
A sense of safety. A moment of laughter. The space to breathe together.

But isn’t this too idealistic?

Not at all.
It’s simply biological wisdom applied to business.

Just like a body can’t heal in constant stress, neither can a team.

When we reduce inflammation, physically or organizationally we create the conditions for performance, creativity, and clarity to flourish.
No hustle required.

You don’t have to overhaul everything.

Start small.

Add a recovery ritual.
Create space for breath.
Interrupt the urgency just long enough to feel what calm could look like.

And if you’re not sure how to begin?
That’s where I come in.

Let’s cool the system.
Let’s bring back rhythm.
Let’s build workplaces that breathe.

Because work isn’t supposed to hurt.
And thriving should never be the exception.

My name is Stacy Fritz and I help teams reset, refocus, and reconnect using science-backed breathwork tools like the vidaBALL and strategies that fit the workday. I'd welcome the opportunity to show you how to get/stay healthy at work.