Stress Management for High Performing Academics - Lessons from Elite Sport: Key Takeaways from the CCR Wellbeing Seminar Recap
The first Centre for Career Readiness (CCR) Wellbeing Seminar aimed to equip attendees with practical strategies to enhance their wellbeing and performance. Led by Associate Professor Emily Ortega, Head of the Psychology Programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), the seminar was held in person and virtually on 13th November. Drawing on her background as a sports psychologist working with elite athletes, Emily shared valuable insights on managing stress and building resilience - skills highly applicable to academics, researchers, and professionals operating in high-pressure environments.
Emily began by highlighting the intense physical and mental demands faced by top athletes, from gruelling training schedules to the immense pressure of major competitions. She emphasised that the same principles of stress management and performance optimisation are equally relevant in the academic and corporate worlds. Emily seamlessly transitioned to drawing parallels between the stresses of elite performance and the challenges encountered by researchers and professionals navigating demanding roles.
Key takeaways:
- Elite athletes have highly structured routines to balance intense training and recovery, which academics, researchers and professionals can apply to manage heavy workloads and deadlines. This could involve prioritizing sleep, nutrition, and activities that promote relaxation.
- Practicing resilient thinking by focusing on what you can control, reframing negative situations, and celebrating small wins can help overcome perfectionism and fear of failure.
- Simple techniques like 6-breath per minute diaphragmatic breathing and the physiological sigh (2 quick inhale, 1 long exhale) can quickly activate the parasympathetic nervous system to manage stress.
- It's crucial to intentionally plan recovery periods, whether daily, weekly, or during peak busy times, to avoid burnout.
Emily's insights resonated strongly with the diverse audience of academics, researchers, and professionals. By sharing evidence-based strategies from sports psychology, she provided a fresh perspective on building individual and organizational resilience. Attendees left the session with actionable tips to enhance their well-being and performance.
This seminar marked a meaningful step in fostering a culture of resilience and mental well-being within the professional community.
