10 Insights from our recent session with Colwyn Elder
In the fast-evolving field of sustainability, the pressure to deliver urgent change can take a real toll on those leading the charge. At The Now Work—a global platform connecting independent sustainability experts with organisations seeking to create impact—we regularly hear from professionals navigating complex challenges who are also grappling with burnout, overwhelm, and the question of how to stay resilient for the long haul.
To support our community, we hosted a session with sustainability strategist and yoga therapist Colwyn Elder, focused on practical approaches to building adaptation and resilience. Colwyn brought a unique perspective that bridges scientific research, somatic practices, and real-world experience of working in high-pressure sustainability roles. Together with our network of freelancers, advisors, and in-house sustainability champions, we explored what true resilience looks like in a sector where the stakes are high—and the work is never done.
Here are 10 key insights we took away from the session:
1. Resilience Isn’t About Toughing It Out
Resilience isn’t about becoming unshakeable—it’s about your capacity to bounce back.
Colwyn reminded us that true resilience is fluid: it allows for rest, reflection and learning. It’s not the same as grit or grind. If you’re only holding it together by tightening your jaw, that’s endurance—not resilience.
2. Your Brain Can Rewire Through Practice
Thanks to neuroplasticity, resilience can be learned at any age.
Every time you choose to respond to stress with curiosity instead of fear—or presence instead of panic—you’re laying new neural pathways. That’s not self-help fluff; it’s science.
3. We Adapt Constantly—But Not Always Consciously
Ask yourself: Is what I’m adapting to actually healthy?
Colwyn challenged us to rethink the idea that all adaptation is good. Constant multitasking, always-on alerts, and “performative wellness” can leave us depleted, not resilient. Awareness is the first step to opting out.
4. Stress Has a Cycle. So Should You.
According to General Adaptation Syndrome, stress comes in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
To stay resilient, we need to complete the cycle—not get stuck in it. That means building in recovery as a deliberate part of your work rhythm. Without it, even eustress (good stress) leads to burnout.
5. Eustress Builds Capacity—When Balanced With Rest
Not all stress is harmful. In fact, positive stress can boost performance.
Think of that nervous energy before a pitch or workshop—that’s eustress. It’s manageable, motivating and meaningful. The key is what follows: rest, reflection, and reset.
6. Your Nervous System Needs a Regulator: The Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve helps balance your stress and recovery responses.
High vagal tone is linked to emotional resilience, better digestion, heart health and calm. Practices like humming, singing, deep breathing and gentle touch can stimulate it—and they’re free.
7. Quick Tools for Everyday Grounding
Colwyn shared a somatic toolkit to bring your body back online:
- Vagus nerve massage – apply light pressure near your ears or jaw
- Grounding – feel the connection between your feet, sit bones, and the floor
- Mindful contact – rest your hands on your heart, face, or belly while breathing
- Humming or singing – a simple way to stimulate vagal tone and soothe the system
Try one next time you feel uncentred—you don’t need 30 minutes or a yoga mat.
8. Wellness Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
Colwyn urged us to ditch the idea that there’s a universal formula.
What works for one person may not work for someone with chronic fatigue, trauma history, or neurodivergence. Resilience practices should feel supportive, not performative. Start where you are.
9. Generational Resilience Needs a Rethink
Younger professionals may need a different approach.
Gen Z and younger millennials are coming into sustainability roles with higher mental health literacy—and higher burnout risk. Colwyn encouraged us to consider how things like growth mindset, social justice, and digital overwhelm shape their resilience landscape.
10. Micro-Shifts Matter
You don’t need a retreat. You need a reset.
Even small moments—five deep breaths, a gentle check-in with your body, or stepping outside for five minutes—can change your stress trajectory. The goal isn’t perfection, but practice.
Final Takeaway?
To lead change in the world, we need to take care of the systems within us, too.
Resilience is not a luxury—it’s a skillset. One that we can all learn, practice, and share.
You can watch a recording of the full session here.
