Jay Downes - The Human Operating Manual

Climate Resilience & Environmental Stewardship

Climate Resilience & Environmental Stewardship The Earth’s nervous system is breaking — and so is ours. Focus: Biodiversity preservation, reforestation, ocean health Climate adaptation vs. mitigation (water access, migration response) Eco-grief and planetary anxiety as public health issues Interlinking land rights, food systems, and sovereignty Regenerative agriculture and post-extractive development models Optional Cheatsheet: “Climate Change …

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The Mental Health of the Planet

The Mental Health of the Planet Trauma is global — and collective healing must be too. Focus: Mental health infrastructure in post-conflict or climate-stressed regions Trauma-informed global aid (refugee camps, disaster zones, war zones) Cross-cultural frameworks for resilience, grief, and belonging Suicide prevention, addiction, and digital distress at scale Empowering indigenous, ancestral, and locally-rooted healing …

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Technology, Regulation & Human Autonomy

Technology, Regulation & Human Autonomy Global tech shouldn’t sacrifice biological truth. Focus: Ethical AI and algorithmic health interventions Regulating biotracking, genomics, and behavioral manipulation Tech equity: ensuring access without surveillance Decentralized networks for health data, records, and coordination Protecting cultural sovereignty in digital health expansion Optional Cheatsheet: “Tech for Health: Autonomy, Regulation, and Global Equity”

Policy, Advocacy & Anti-Corruption

Policy, Advocacy & Anti-Corruption Without integrity, even good policy becomes toxic. Focus: Policy levers for nutrition, pollution, mental health, and reproductive rights Anti-corruption initiatives in international health aid and pharma Funding transparency for WHO, NGOs, and humanitarian orgs Role of whistleblowers and independent watchdogs Building frameworks that reward long-term stewardship, not short-term optics Optional Cheatsheet: …

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Global Health Systems & Regulations

Global Health Systems & Regulations Health doesn’t stop at borders. Neither should responsibility. Focus: Global Health Diplomacy: negotiating health protections across borders International health law and pandemic response frameworks Global nutrition guidelines and clean water equity Decentralized health networks vs. centralized control Supporting sovereignty without sacrificing coordination Optional Cheatsheet: “Sustainable Development Goals & Health Regulations …

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Relational Coherence & Team Resilience

Relational Coherence & Team Resilience Healthy teams regulate together — not perform against each other. Focus: Psychological safety as a nervous system condition, not a slogan Building mutual trust through co-regulation and embodied leadership Communication protocols that reduce tension and ambiguity Rituals of check-in, shared rhythm, and healthy confrontation Healing fractured teams through collective narrative …

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Leadership as Nervous System Regulation

Leadership as Nervous System Regulation Your leaders set the tone — and the internal cortisol. Focus: Training leaders in co-regulation, trauma awareness, and energy leadership The physiological effects of bad leadership (heart rate variability, burnout) Conflict resolution, nonviolent communication, and psychological safety Executive routines that model coherence (not just hustle) Humble, values-aligned decision-making as systemic …

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Employee Support, Autonomy & Assistance

Employee Support, Autonomy & Assistance The best perk is a nervous system that feels safe at work. Focus: Reframing EAPs from crisis intervention to proactive support Building emotionally literate feedback systems Access to mental health, coaching, financial literacy, stress management Peer support structures, community rituals, and vulnerability-safe spaces Empowering employees to co-create their roles Optional …

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Policies That Prioritize Human Systems

Policies That Prioritize Human Systems Health isn’t a benefit. It’s a prerequisite for performance. Focus: Designing policy through a physiological lens Sick leave, parental leave, flex work, menstruation support Meeting length and structure: cognitive load and decision fatigue Anti-burnout scheduling and focused/unfocused task balancing Aligning company values with biological sustainability Optional Cheatsheet: “Organizational Health Policy …

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Workplace Wellness

Workplace Wellness If your system makes people sick, perks won’t fix it. Focus: Moving beyond wellness as a “tick box” or marketing tool Real-time stress reduction: breath breaks, posture stations, lighting and air quality Integration of movement, breaks, and circadian-aligned scheduling Food environments, hydration, and workstation ergonomics Metrics: absenteeism, burnout, energy, not just output Optional …

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Author Archives: Jay Downes