Hectic Harmony

A shared journey through stress, calm, and peak performance

Stress – can’t live with it, can’t live without it. At its core, stress is healthy. Stress has provided humanity with an evolutionary advantage since its inception, and we continue to benefit from it today. Stress makes us more alert, helps us perform better, and encourages us to seek closer connections with others. However, in today’s society, where everything needs to happen quickly and expectations are higher than ever, many people experience too much stress. Negative stimuli, prolonged periods of persistent stress, or intense stress peaks can eventually lead to burnout. Conversely, under-stimulation can eventually lead to bore-out.

Hectic Harmony is a very accessible way to discuss stressors and coping mechanisms without touching on themes that might be too heavy for some.

Talking about stress is important but remains challenging. People often lack the right words or phrases, or have no idea what stresses or calms them. The ongoing stigma surrounding stress-related conditions certainly doesn’t help either. Stress training often stops at theory and doesn’t provide participants with the practical tools needed to better manage their stress.

Hectic Harmony is a game simulation created by CrisisCare.eu and PM, specifically designed to introduce players to the fundamentals of stress management. As fictional characters, players experience a stressful day and gradually learn to identify stressors and respond appropriately in order to avoid burnout or boreout. The game highlights that we perform best when we are optimally stimulated and emphasizes the importance of a social safety net. It also teaches players how to discuss stress.

For those seeking an additional challenge, there is the ‘Crisis Expansion Pack’ for Hectic Harmony. It is specifically designed to teach crisis team members how to handle the impact of both chronic and acute stress on the crisis team during high-pressure situations. The expansion includes numerous acute stressors typical of crisis situations, such as team members being unreachable, political tensions within the organisation, or indecisiveness within the team.

The target audience for Hectic Harmony is broad. Anyone experiencing stress in their personal life or career can benefit from the message the game conveys. The expansion pack is specifically aimed at crisis team members. The game is available for individual purchase or as part of a license.