CGPT Trainer: Sophie O'Donoghue

Why High Achievers Struggle to Rest: How Strength Training Helps Regulate Stress High achievers are often very good at pushing through. They meet deadlines, manage pressure, lead teams, make decisions, build businesses, support clients and keep going long after their body has started asking for a break. But people who are used to performing at a high level are not always good at rest. They may understand the importance of recovery in theory, but in practice, stopping can feel uncomfortable. A quiet evening becomes another chance to answer emails. A free morning becomes a guilt-inducing gap in the calendar. Even when they are physically still, their mind is still working. This is one reason stress can become so difficult to manage. For busy professionals, founders, executives, medical specialists, lawyers, consultants and business owners, stress is often treated as part of the job. But over time, a body that is constantly switched on can start to show the cost: poor sleep, muscle tension, low energy, brain fog, irritability, headaches, reduced motivation, recurring aches, and a feeling of being wired but tired. At CGPT in Hawthorn, we work with busy professionals who do not need another extreme challenge or all-or-nothing fitness plan. They need a sustainable way to build strength, regulate stress and feel more capable in their body. Done properly, strength training can become one of the most useful tools for people who struggle to switch off. Success Often Rewards Stress, Not Recovery Many ambitious professionals have spent years being rewarded for their ability to do more. More responsibility, more responsiveness, more pressure, more output. That mindset can be useful in a career, but it can become a problem when the body never gets a chance to come down. Stress itself is not always bad. Short-term stress can sharpen focus, increase alertness and help you respond to a challenge. The issue is when stress becomes constant and recovery is treated as optional. Safe Work Australia has identified psychosocial hazards as a major workplace health and safety issue, noting that exposure to these hazards can cause psychological and physical harm. Its 2024 psychological health and safety report notes that mental health conditions account for an increasing proportion of serious workers’ compensation claims in Australia (Safe Work Australia 2024). This is important because many driven professionals normalise the very things that place them under strain: high job demands, long hours, emotional load, responsibility for others, constant availability, and limited separation between work and home. Why Rest Can Feel So Difficult For people who are used to being productive, rest can feel like a threat rather than a reward. It may bring up guilt, restlessness or the sense that something is being neglected. Some people only feel calm when they are solving, planning or doing. Others have become so used to operating under pressure that stillness feels unfamiliar. This is where the nervous system is critical. Your body is not just a vehicle for your mind. It responds to your workday. Stress can affect heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, sleep, digestion, concentration and mood. If your body spends too much time in a heightened state, rest does not always happen automatically just because you sit down. This is also why scrolling, wine, late-night emails or collapsing on the couch may not be the same as recovery. They may provide distraction, but they do not necessarily help your body build resilience or regulate stress more effectively. Strength Training Is a Productive Stressor It is important to understand that exercise is a form of stress. A hard training session places demand on the body. Muscles work, heart rate rises, breathing changes and the nervous system responds. But unlike chronic work stress, well-designed strength training is controlled, structured and recoverable. This is what makes it so valuable. When strength training is properly programmed, it gives your body a clear challenge and then allows it to adapt. You lift, recover, get stronger and gradually build capacity. Over time, the same task that once felt difficult becomes more manageable. For people who are used to pushing through, this can be a powerful change. Training is not about punishing yourself for being stressed. It is about giving your body a structured way to practise effort, recovery and progression. You learn that not every session needs to be maximal. You learn that consistency beats intensity. You learn that rest is not laziness; it is part of adaptation. What the Research Says The link between exercise and mental wellbeing is well established. The Australian Government’s physical activity guidelines state that being active is essential for good mental and physical health and wellbeing, and recommend adults include muscle-strengthening activities at least two days per week (Australian Government Department of Health 2026). Research also supports the specific role of resistance training in mental health. A meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry found that resistance exercise training was associated with a significant reduction in depressive symptoms among adults (Gordon et al. 2018). Another meta-analysis found that resistance exercise training significantly reduced anxiety symptoms (Gordon et al. 2017). More recent research has also explored exercise and stress physiology. A systematic review in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that acute exercise was associated with reliable reductions in blood pressure and cortisol responses to stress, although effects varied depending on intensity and other factors (Mücke et al. 2024). This does not mean strength training is a cure for stress, anxiety, depression or burnout. It does mean that structured exercise can be one important part of a broader stress-management plan, particularly for people whose bodies are carrying the physical consequences of high-pressure work. Why Driven Professionals Need Structure, Not More Intensity A common mistake ambitious individuals make is turning training into another area where they have to perform. They go too hard, too soon. They chase exhaustion. They measure success by how sore they are. Then work gets busy, sleep drops, stress rises, and training becomes another demand instead of a support. That is not the goal. For a stressed professional, the right strength program should be challenging enough to create adaptation, but not so aggressive that it drains the system further. It should build strength without adding unnecessary pressure. It should improve energy, confidence and physical resilience, not become another source of guilt. This is where personal training comes in. A good trainer does more than count reps. They help you find the right level of challenge for your body, your schedule and your current stress load. They know when to progress, when to hold steady and when to adjust. That kind of guidance is especially useful for people who are used to pushing through regardless of how they feel. The Physical Signs of Chronic Stress Many professionals think of stress as mental, but it often shows up physically first. You may notice tight shoulders, jaw tension, shallow breathing, headaches, poor sleep, reduced recovery, lower back tightness, digestive changes or a general sense that your body is braced all the time. Strength training can help by building a stronger physical foundation. Stronger muscles support better posture. Stronger hips and legs reduce the sense that daily movement is effortful. Better trunk strength can improve confidence with lifting and carrying. A well-designed program can also create a clear separation between work mode and recovery mode. For many people, the benefit is not just physical. There is also a mental shift that comes from feeling capable in your body. When your body feels stronger, work stress does not necessarily disappear, but it may feel less like everything is being carried by a tired, tense system. Why CGPT Works for Busy Professionals Under Pressure CGPT is a private personal training studio in Hawthorn built around one-on-one, progressive strength training. It is not a loud commercial gym, a group class or a program designed to push everyone through the same session. For those under pressure, that is crucial. You may not have the time, energy or headspace to figure out what to do on your own. You may not want to train in a crowded environment. You may need someone to build a plan, manage the progression and help you stay consistent without making training feel like another high-pressure obligation. At CGPT, your program is built around your starting point, your goals, your work demands and your lifestyle. The focus is not on smashing you. It is on helping you build strength in a way that supports the rest of your life. That might mean training to reduce recurring tension, improve posture, support energy, rebuild confidence, or simply create a reliable routine that gives your body something consistent and positive to respond to. A Better Way to Manage Pressure People operating under constant pressure do not need to be told to work harder. Most already know how to do that. What many need is a better way to recover, regulate and build physical resilience so their body can keep up with the life they are asking it to live. Strength training will not remove every source of stress. It will not replace proper sleep, medical care, psychological support or workplace change where those things are needed. But it can give your body a structured, evidence-informed way to adapt to pressure rather than simply absorb it. If you recognise yourself in this, a complimentary intro session at CGPT is a good place to start. We can talk through your work routine, stress load, training history and what you want to feel more capable of, then help you understand what a sustainable strength plan could look like. To find out more or book an intro session, email Andrea at andrea@chrisgympt.com Disclaimer This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption and physical symptoms can have many causes. If you are experiencing significant distress, persistent low mood, panic symptoms, thoughts of self-harm, severe fatigue, chest pain, unexplained symptoms or symptoms that are worsening or not improving, please consult your GP, psychologist or qualified healthcare provider. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent mental health support in Australia, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. References Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2026, Recommendations for adults (18 to 64 years): 24-hour movement guidelines for all Australians, Australian Government, Canberra. Gordon, B.R. et al. 2017, ‘The effects of resistance exercise training on anxiety: A meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials’, Sports Medicine, vol. 47, pp. 2521–2532. Gordon, B.R. et al. 2018, ‘Association of efficacy of resistance exercise training with depressive symptoms: Meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of randomized clinical trials’, JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 75, no. 6, pp. 566–576. Mücke, M. et al. 2024, ‘The effects of acute exercise on stress reactivity assessed via a systematic review and meta-analysis’, International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 31, pp. 780–792. Safe Work Australia 2024, Psychological health and safety in the workplace, Safe Work Australia, Canberra. World Health Organization 2020, WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour, World Health Organization, Geneva.

The Desk Worker’s Strength Audit: 7 Signs Your Body Isn’t Coping With Your Job If you work at a desk all day, your body is probably sending you signals long before anything becomes a “real” injury. A tight lower back at the end of the day. Shoulders that creep towards your ears. Hips that feel stiff when you stand up. Energy that disappears by 3pm. A vague sense that your body feels older, heavier or less capable than it should. These signs are common, but they are not random. For many desk-based professionals, they are the predictable result of long hours sitting, high mental load, limited movement and less-than-perfect work-from-home setups. A laptop on the dining table, calls from the couch, a chair that was never designed for a full workday, or hours of back-to-back meetings can gradually change how your body feels and functions. At CGPT in Hawthorn, we see this pattern all the time. Busy professionals do not usually need a punishing fitness overhaul. They need a clear, personalised strength plan that helps their body cope better with the demands of work, life and training. This desk worker’s strength audit is a simple way to notice whether your body is starting to struggle. 1. Your Lower Back Feels Tight After Sitting Lower back tightness is one of the most obvious signs that your body is not tolerating desk work well. It may feel fine in the morning, then gradually tighten through the day, especially after long periods of sitting, driving or working from home. Back problems are a major health issue in Australia. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that back problems were the third leading cause of disease burden in Australia in 2023, accounting for 4.3% of total disease burden, with $3.4 billion spent on treatment and management in 2020–21 (AIHW 2023). For desk workers, the issue is often not that the lower back is “weak” in isolation. It may be that the hips, glutes, core and upper back are not sharing load properly. Stretching might help temporarily, but if the same tightness keeps returning, your body may need more capacity, not just more flexibility. 2. Your Neck and Shoulders Always Feel Loaded Desk work often pulls the head and shoulders forward: laptop screens, phone use, long emails, spreadsheets and video calls all encourage the same rounded position. Over time, your neck and shoulders can start to feel constantly switched on. SafeWork NSW notes that office and administrative workers are at greater risk of excessive sedentary behaviour, which is linked with musculoskeletal disorders, tiredness, reduced productivity and poorer overall health (SafeWork NSW 2024). Research in office workers also supports the role of strengthening exercise for neck and shoulder symptoms. A systematic review in Physical Therapy found workplace-based strengthening exercises were effective in reducing neck pain in symptomatic office workers (Chen et al. 2018). This is why “fixing posture” is not just about sitting up straighter. Your upper back, shoulders and trunk need enough strength and endurance to support you through the day. 3. You Feel Stiff Every Time You Stand Up If you feel like you need a few steps to “unfold” after sitting, your hips and spine may be telling you they have spent too long in one position. Sitting keeps the hips flexed and the body relatively still. If you rarely move through full ranges of motion, standing up can feel stiff, awkward or uncomfortable. Safe Work Australia says workers should not stay in seated, standing or other static postures for long periods (Safe Work Australia 2024). Movement breaks are helpful, but they are only one part of the solution. Your body also needs strength through the positions you want to access easily: hinging, squatting, rotating, stepping, reaching and carrying. At CGPT, this is where personalised training comes in. Rather than throwing you into random exercises, a trainer can identify where you are stiff, where you are under-supported and what needs to be progressed gradually. 4. Your Energy Crashes Even Though You “Haven’t Done Anything” One of the frustrating things about desk work is that it can leave you exhausted without making you physically fitter. You can finish the day mentally drained, physically stiff and too tired to train, even though you have barely moved. This is an important point because physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are not the same problem. You can do a workout and still spend most of your day sitting. Australia’s adult movement guidelines recommend being active most days, including muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days per week, and reducing and breaking up sedentary time (Australian Government Department of Health 2026). Strength training helps because it gives your body a stronger physical base. You are not just burning calories or “doing exercise.” You are building the muscles, joints and movement confidence that help you feel more capable across the whole week. 5. Your Posture Collapses When You Get Tired Most people can sit tall for a few minutes when they think about it. The real test is what happens when you are tired, busy, stressed or deep in work. If your posture collapses the moment you stop concentrating, it may not be a discipline issue. It may be an endurance issue. Posture is not a fixed position. It is the ability to move, support yourself and change positions without feeling strained. That requires strength through the upper back, trunk, hips and legs. It also requires a program that builds gradually so your body can tolerate more work over time. This is one reason generic workouts often fall short. A class or app may make you sweat, but it may not address the specific weaknesses that show up in your workday. A well-designed strength program should make real life feel easier, not just make the session feel hard. 6. You Avoid Lifting, Carrying or Training Because You Don’t Trust Your Body Another sign your body is not coping is when you start negotiating with it. You avoid carrying heavy bags. You hesitate before lifting something from the floor. You skip training because your back feels “a bit funny.” You feel unsure which exercises are safe, so you do less and less. That loss of confidence really matters. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners notes that exercise is one of the best treatments for ongoing low back pain and that strengthening exercises, including resistance training, can help reduce pain and improve everyday function (RACGP 2024). For many people, the right answer is not avoiding movement altogether, it’s learning how to move well and progress safely. At CGPT, the one-on-one model is designed for exactly this. You are not left guessing on a busy gym floor. Your trainer can adapt exercises to your starting point, build confidence with technique and progress your program in a way that feels achievable. 7. You Keep Promising Yourself You’ll “Get Back Into It” If you keep telling yourself you will start training when work calms down, after the next deadline, after school holidays, after travel, or once your back feels better, your routine may not be realistic enough for your actual life. Busy professionals need structure. Not an extreme challenge. Not a random collection of workouts. A plan. Strength training works best when it is consistent, progressive and tailored to the person doing it. That is why personal training can be so valuable for desk workers. It removes the guesswork and helps you build momentum even when life is busy. At CGPT, we understand that most professionals are not training for a bodybuilding competition or trying to become a different person overnight. They want to feel stronger, move better, have more energy, reduce recurring niggles and know they are doing the right things for their body. What Your Audit Results Mean If you recognised yourself in one or two of these signs, it may be time to pay closer attention to how your workday is affecting your body. If you recognised yourself in most of them, your body is probably asking for more support. The good news is that you do not need to wait until something becomes a serious problem. A well-coached strength program can help you build the capacity your desk-based life demands: stronger hips, better trunk control, more resilient shoulders, improved posture, more confidence and a clearer sense of what your body needs. CGPT is a private personal training gym in Hawthorn built around structured, progressive strength training. It is calm, personalised and one-on-one, which makes it a great fit for professionals who want expert guidance without the overwhelm of a commercial gym or the guesswork of training alone. If this audit felt uncomfortably familiar, a complimentary intro session is a good place to start. We can talk through your work routine, what your body is telling you, what you have tried before and what you want to feel capable of again. No pressure, no judgement, just a clear first step. To find out more or book an intro session, email Andrea at andrea@chrisgympt.com . Disclaimer This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Pain, stiffness, fatigue and changes in function can have many causes. If you have severe pain, pain following trauma, unexplained symptoms, numbness, weakness, changes to bladder or bowel control, or symptoms that are worsening or not improving, please consult your GP, physiotherapist or qualified healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program. References Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2026, Recommendations for adults (18 to 64 years): 24-hour movement guidelines for all Australians, Australian Government, Canberra. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023, Back problems, AIHW, Canberra. Chen, X. et al. 2018, ‘Workplace-based interventions for neck pain in office workers: Systematic review and meta-analysis’, Physical Therapy, vol. 98, no. 1, pp. 40–62. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2024, Exercise for ongoing low back pain, RACGP, Melbourne. Safe Work Australia 2024, Sitting and standing, Safe Work Australia, Canberra. SafeWork NSW 2024, Sedentary work, SafeWork NSW, Sydney. World Health Organization 2020, WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour, WHO, Geneva.