Stress doesn’t just happen to us, we practise it. And in a world of phones, pings, packed diaries and constant “just one more thing”, that practice quietly rewires the brain until calm starts to feel out of reach. We sit down with Kristy von Minden, founder of Mind Bright and one of New Zealand’s leading workplace wellbeing and sustainable performance voices, to unpack what’s really going on beneath burnout, distraction and that relentless sense of being “on”. Kristy shares her own path from a high-flying corporate career to chronic back pain, insomnia, anxiety and depression, including major spinal fusion surgery, and the surprising shift that helped her recover: mindfulness and meditation grounded in neuroscience. We talk neuroplasticity in plain language, why the fight flight freeze response becomes the default at work, and why your best thinking disappears the moment stress takes over. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t remember what was said in a meeting when you’re stressed, this will click. We also get practical: one-minute breathing resets (including how to breathe with your belly and extend the exhale), phone-free walks, mindful colouring, movement to clear stress hormones, and how to build real “white space” so your brain can process information. Kristy explains ultradian rhythms (the 90-minute focus cycle), how to plan around energy peaks and slumps, and how to make change stick using a simple habit loop and an eight-week approach. We even touch on teaching kids emotional regulation, and Kristy’s relaxed values-based relationship with money. If you want sustainable high performance without sacrificing your health, relationships and life outside work, press play. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find the tools. What’s one small change you’ll try this week? Kristy has shared some helpful resources from our conversation for anyone who would like to explore these ideas further: Four-Dimensional Wellbeing Audit A simple self-assessment from Kristy’s Secrets of Sustainable High Performance workshop. Rate each area from 1 to 10: PHYSICAL I feel vital, have good stamina, feel energised and sleep well. MENTAL I feel calm, creative and resourceful, with clarity and focus. EMOTIONAL I am self-aware, emotionally regulated, resilient and socially connected to others. INTERNAL I feel a sense of purpose, motivation, fulfilment and progression. Once you have your scores, consider: Which dimension could benefit most from your attention right now, and what is one small action you could take this week to improve it? Belly Breathing to Promote the Relaxation Response A guide to using one of the simplest tools available to help regulate the nervous system, shift out of the stress response and activate the body’s natural relaxation response: https://mymindbright.com/blog-2/2017/11/28/just-breathe-our-bodys-own-inbuilt-stress-reliever-ajtfp Meditation Apps Calm: https://app.www.calm.com/meditate Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/ Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World For those interested in using mindfulness to help retrain patterns associated with chronic stress, anxiety or pain: https://franticworld.com/mindfulness-apps/ Mindful Colouring A free mindfulness colouring book that can be printed and used as a simple way to slow down and give your brain a break: https://www.betweensessions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/mindfulness-coloring-book-4_25-16.pdf Wellbeing Workshop Kristy also mentioned Nicola from Wellbeing Workshop during this conversation and recommended her as a helpful resource for wellbeing support. Website: https://www.wellbeingworkshop.co.nz/ Email: Nicola@wellbeingworkshop.co.nz Send us Fan Mail Support the show Buy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are! Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72
