Stress Busting - the 1, 2, 3 Approach
As we wind down - or more likely race around - in preparation of the festive season, what better time to host a Midlothian Science Zone Business Forum that focussed on how to approach and overcome stress!
On Tuesday 3rd December, Midlothian Science Zone Business Forum gathered with our partners, local businesses and collaborators in the relaxed surroundings of Bush House, on Pioneer - Edinburgh Technopole, for a stress busting session with Kate Flory, Certified Confidence and Mental Fitness Coach.
Redwood Room - Bush House
We were delighted to welcome Kate Flory from Kapow Coaching, to learn more about stress and anxiety, identify the triggers and gain some tools and techniques as to how we can better manage stress in our work and personal life.
Kate has 22 years of coaching and training experience and began the session asking us how we felt about Christmas, both the highs and the lows which invited some insightful responses!
Kate then outlined the differences between stress and anxiety, with stress being more a short-term reaction to a situation whilst anxiety is a more persistent worry.
We also discussed the different “symptoms” of stress and anxiety, which and at times can be interchangeable, so we could identify the difference between the two and understand what we, or those close to us, have experienced.
UK statistics highlight the amount of stress we suffer as a nation with 1 in 9 people suffering daily, 1 in 4 feeling stressed more days than not and that women experience stress more than men. Kate also revealed that the number one cause of stress is lack of sleep, followed by money, family and relationships, and workload worries.
How we deal with, and recognise stress, is important and can be derived from ‘saboteurs’, or inner voices, some of which are experienced from childhood and are part of our “survival brain” - described as ‘success without happiness’. Whereas the inner coach powers can create a “success brain” and more sustained happiness.
Importantly, we learnt about noticing stress, interrupting this stress and choosing to eradicate or calm our stress with a variety of simple techniques which Kate guided us through to soft focus our minds and remove any immediate stress that we were feeling - and they worked!
If you would like to identify your saboteur or saboteurs - as there are ten - then take the free Saboteur Assessment and learn more about these traits in yourself and others.
Kate Flory, Kapow Coaching
For anyone interested in learning more about this coaching session, or wanting to introduce small radical changes for a more positive mindset, you can follow Kate Flory on LinkedIn or sign up for a weekly newsletter to help improve your mental fitness at Kapow Coaching.
The purpose of MSZ Business Forum is to create an opportunity for discussion, collaboration and awareness of other businesses 'in the zone'.
This event wrapped up our Business Forums for the year, and they will resume in February 2025. If you would like to be notified of future MSZ Business Forum Events or to present at one of our events, please contact Emma McCallum, Project Coordinator.
Midlothian Science Zone team would like to thank everyone who has taken part in our 2024 Business Forum series and wish you a stress free Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!