5 Ways to Build Your Personal Resilience
Posted: 16 December 2025 at 1:37 pm | Author: CAW Business School
Change and uncertainty are part of everyday life at work and at home. Whether you’re adapting to new technology, juggling responsibilities or dealing with personal challenges, resilience helps you stay steady and recover when things get tough.
Resilience isn’t something we’re born with or without. It’s a skill we can all develop through habits, reflection and learning. Here are five practical strategies to strengthen your resilience and support your mental wellbeing:
1. Practise mindfulness and presence
Mindfulness is about slowing down and paying attention to what’s happening in the moment. Taking a few minutes each day to pause, breathe or focus on a single task can reduce stress and help you think more clearly.
You don’t need to meditate for hours to see benefits. Small, consistent moments of mindfulness, like walking without your phone, enjoying a cup of tea quietly or doing a short breathing exercise, can make a noticeable difference.
2. Set healthy boundaries
Boundaries protect your time and energy. With so many ways to stay connected, it’s easy to slip into an “always available” mindset.
Think about what drains you most, such as late-night emails or constant notifications. Then set limits that feel realistic. Communicate those boundaries clearly, and try to stick to them. This helps you stay focused at work and present in your personal life.
3. Take a short digital detox
Screens keep us connected, but too much time online can leave us tired and distracted. Setting aside regular “tech-free” time, like during meals or before bed, can improve sleep and focus.
Even a brief digital break over a weekend can help you reset and feel more refreshed.
4. Build a support network
Resilience grows through connection. Talking things through with friends, family or colleagues can help you see challenges differently and remind you that you’re not on your own.
At work, getting involved in wellbeing initiatives or peer support groups can create a sense of community. If you’re struggling, reaching out early is a sign of strength, not weakness.
5. Nurture positive habits and relationships
The small things you do every day make the biggest difference. Getting enough rest, eating well, exercising and making time for things you enjoy all strengthen your emotional balance.
Surrounding yourself with supportive people also helps you stay grounded. Positive relationships are a powerful buffer against stress.
Building resilience through learning: City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Supporting Wellbeing and Mental Health of Self and Others
Practical actions can make a real difference to how you feel, but structured learning can take your understanding further.
The City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Supporting Wellbeing and Mental Health of Self and Others is designed to help you do just that. It’s a short, flexible online course that explores how to look after your own wellbeing and support others with empathy and confidence.
It covers key topics such as communication, resilience and emotional awareness, and can be completed in around eight hours. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to understand mental health more deeply and bring those skills into their everyday life or workplace.
Resilience develops through practice, awareness and connection. By taking small steps to care for yourself and learning more about wellbeing, you build a toolkit that helps you handle life’s challenges with strength and kindness.
Mental health support at CAW Business School
If you’re a student or staff member with us and you need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher, head of course or line manager – they are there to help you. We also offer lots of additional mental health support that you can access free of charge. To find out more visit www.caw.ac.uk/wellbeing