The APA's 2025 Work in America™ survey landed with a punch: 54% of U.S. workers say job insecurity is significantly impacting their stress, and 65% say their company has been affected by recent government policy changes. Among workers at companies hit hardest by those changes, roughly 1 in 3 reported emotional exhaustion in the past month.

If you manage projects, that's the team you're trying to keep moving through reorgs, shifting priorities, and a steady hum of "what happens if?" in the background.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so this month's featured Bite goes after the problem head-on: "Introduction to Mindfulness: The Feel Rest Technique" with Fred Pitt, a former PM and CIO turned mindfulness coach. It's 20 minutes of practical instruction in a relaxation technique you can actually use between status meetings and not just a lecture about self-care. The goal is simple: a quieter mind, better sleep, and enough recovery to lead well tomorrow.

The APA frames unmanaged stress as an organizational risk of lower productivity and higher turnover; not a personal weakness. That matters for PMs, because we shape how the work gets done. Building your own resilience is step one. Helping your team build theirs is step two.

Watch it at projectbites.com (members get free access reach out if you don’t know the chapter coupon code), earn part PDU, and take 20 minutes back for yourself. Log it in CCRS!

Read the APA's full findings: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2025/05/job-insecurity-causing-stress

We’re wrapping up April, which is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and at PMI Buffalo, that means celebrating the people who make this chapter run. Whether you're leading a committee, mentoring a new PMP candidate, or showing up at events to welcome members — you're part of what makes this community work. We celebrated this on April 16th!

A recent Fast Company article argues that the defining leadership shift of 2026 is moving from tech-centric innovation to people-powered performance and that trust and talent are the real strategic imperatives. In other words, the teams that win aren't the ones with the best tools. They're the ones where people genuinely trust each other and bring their strengths to the table. Sound familiar? That's exactly what our volunteers do every day.

This month's featured Project Bite takes that idea further. In "Making an Ordinary Team Extraordinary," (https://projectbites.com/bite/making-an-ordinary-team-extraordinary/) author Robin F. Goldsmith explores what separates good teams from great ones, using sports teams as a model for how any group of professionals can elevate their performance. You'll walk away with practical strategies for building trust, clarifying roles, and turning everyday collaboration into something exceptional.

It's a 20-minute watch that earns you part of a PDU, and it pairs perfectly with this month's volunteer appreciation theme. Head to projectbites.com and use your member access to check it out.

For more on what makes teams thrive, read the full article: Why Trust and Talent Will Define Leadership in 2026 (https://www.fastcompany.com/91479664/why-trust-and-talent-will-define-leadership-in-2026)

Watch. Learn. Earn a PDU. And thank a volunteer while you're at it.

Elevate Your Skills in Just 20 Minutes

As a PMI Buffalo Chapter member, you receive complimentary access to Project Bites, a growing library of expert-led, practical learning sessions.

Short. Focused. PDU-ready.

📽 Learn more: https://vimeo.com/1165726982/efd2ffa923

🔗 Enroll here: https://projectbites.com/#signUp

📩 For the coupon code or Help? [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]

What You’ll Find

A growing library of focused sessions across topics such as:

• Project Management
• Leadership
• Agile & Hybrid
• Communication & Soft Skills
• Career Development
• ...and many more practical, real-world topics

Designed for busy professionals who value efficient, meaningful learning.

Why Members Love It

✔ 20-minute, high-impact sessions
✔ 1 Bite ≈ 1 self-reported PDU
✔ Live or on-demand flexibility
✔ Watch live or on demand
✔ New sessions added monthly
✔ Easy-to-search content library

Included with your PMI Buffalo membership.

How to Sign Up

Visit:
https://projectbites.com/signup/pmi-chapter-members/

1. Select PMI Chapter Members plan
2. Create your account (or log in if you already have one)
3. Enter coupon code at checkout (reach out if you don't know it!)
4. Confirm the total shows $0 before completing sign-up

That’s it.

Logging PDUs

Project Bites does not auto-sync with PMI.

Quick guide:
• Log in to PMI and open your Dashboard
• Click Report PDUs
• Select Education (Online/Digital Media)
• Enter provider name, session title, and dates
• Allocate PDUs under the Talent Triangle

Tip: Use a clear session title and short description. Most sessions align well with Ways of Working.

Next Step

Sign up → Apply coupon → Start learning → Log your PDU

Make the most of your membership and continue building your skills.