Get stress fit in 2025

Paul Taylor’s secret to navigating stress isn’t to avoid it but to master it. Or as he calls it, being ‘stress fit. With a background in exercise physiology, phycology and neuroscience, Paul Taylor joins EI at Work to discuss how we can use stress to build resilience and navigate life’s challenges.  

Paul explains stress fitness as the ability to engage and recover from stressors in ways that make us stronger physically and psychologically. Unlike traditional resilience, stress fitness is about proactively building a tolerance to enhance performance and adaptability.  

Stress can be a pivotal tool for growth and the key to building resilience. Paul shares how everyday practices, such as daily physical exercise, exposure therapy and discomfort seeking activities, can make a substantial impact on mental and emotional wellbeing. Each of these practices have a compounding effect that rewires our brains and bodies, triggering a robust stress response that is critical for psychological wellbeing, productivity and workplace success.  

With insights rooted in both science and real-world application, Paul shares how stress fitness can not only improve individual resilience but also transform workplace cultures, creating environments where employees thrive under pressure.  

In this episode, learn:  

[00:03] Paul Taylor’s, unique expertise in stress fitness and corporate wellness, backed by his qualifications in neuroscience, exercise physiology, nutrition, and psychology. 

[04:25] The groundbreaking concept of ‘stress fitness’, redefining stress management with a focus on physiological and psychological resilience. 

[08:38] Why exercise is key to improving health and managing stress effectively. 

[14:24] The benefits of wearables in monitoring fitness levels and key health metrics. He advises focusing on VO2 max and daily calorie burn as crucial indicators of fitness. 

[19:06] The importance of heart rate variability as a measure of stress coping and its importance in fitness. 

[23:08] The concept of intentionally seeking discomfort to build resilience and prepare for life’s challenges. 

[25:48] How different stress responses affect the body and the importance of viewing stress as a challenge. 

[29:13] The idea of intentionally engaging in socially uncomfortable situations to foster personal growth. 

[33:12] The importance of social connections and community for mental health and emotional wellbeing. 

[36:51] Experiencing emotional discomfort as part of personal growth and resilience. 

[39:17] How organisations can play a role in fostering resilience and supporting stress fitness among employees. 

[43:37] The impact of mindset on stress and challenges, including insights from cognitive linguistics. 

[45:16] Using mental characters to combat negative self-talk and build self-awareness. 

[47:25] The power of leaning into discomfort and visualising your best self to drive personal growth.