AAPS PD: Session 3: Energy, Focus, and Personal Cadence - Sustainable Performance in High-Demand Systems
Program Summary
We will begin this session by checking in on how participants are doing with the tools and practices in the first two sessions.
Sessions 1 and 2 focused on understanding and regulating our nervous system – aiming to increase our awareness and shift into a less reactive and more connected and productive state. From this strong foundation, we are ready to build the energy and focus we need to thrive at work and in life.
The challenge in the world today is that the same technology we use to access and share information, ideas and communication has the undesired effect of overwhelming us with too much information, frazzling our energy, and fracturing our focus.
The goal of this session is to recognize how digital overwhelm affects us and create the structures and boundaries you need to keep your energy levels high and your focus clear for the weeks and months ahead.
Join us in this session where we will:
- Unpack chronic fatigue, cognitive overload, constant digital stimulation, fractured attention, the urgency/being “busy” culture, and groupthink.
- Understand how we got here and contrast the current state with alternatives that foster energy, focus, and deep work.
- Learn practical tools and skills to manage our energy and create the habits and personal rhythms that support focus and attention.
Outcome: Participants reclaim clarity, discipline, energy, and sustainable momentum.
How You Will Learn (online):
- Practices and reflection
- Small and large group discussions
- Slides, stories, and examples
- Third-party engagement tools (e.g. Mentimeter)
- Zoom meeting platform and tools
About this Series
Developing Agency in Uncertain Times: A six-part series to help you build skills to adapt to our rapid world.
There is a lot going on in our personal lives, professional workplaces, communities, and globally. What can we do to help ourselves so that we can continue our personal, professional, and community work? How do we stave off overload and overwhelm to be able to pursue our passions and joys? How do we find optimism and fun in the prospect of the future while making space for action?
We are pleased to welcome back popular AAPS facilitator Scott Orth for this six-part series, designed specifically for AAPS and APSA members.
We will explore topics related to the themes of adaptability, resilience, change, self-management, agency, and interpersonal relationships. Through conversations, tools, and experiences, we will work to develop practices and structures that we can carry through our days to help us stay steady, calm, caring, and connected. We aim to have you ending the series feeling more clear, confident, and hopeful.
Session 1: Being in The Storm and Regulating the Nervous System: Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 12pm-1:30pm
Session 2: Between Stimulus and Response - Managing Reactivity and Choice: Friday, May 29, 2026 from 12pm-1:30pm
Session 3: Energy, Focus, and Personal Cadence - Sustainable Performance in High-Demand Systems: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 from 12pm-1:30pm
The final half of the series will run from September through December 2026. We’ll post dates and finalized topics in August. Sessions will likely include building capacity, boundaries, relational-strength, and staying focused and grounded going forward.
We will make a recorded version of each of the sessions.
About your Facilitator
Scott is a resilience coach and trainer who gives busy professionals the tools they need to delete the overwhelm, focus on what matters most, and create the life they want. He helps them understand and better manage their reactive brain, teaching them how to be more focused, resilient and happier - even when stressed.
He previously had a career at one of Canada’s largest employee-owned engineering and science consulting organizations, moving from a role as a front-line consultant to a role on the senior leadership team. This brings a wealth of experience and understanding to Scott’s coaching and training.
He uses these tools every day in his own life and brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to it all. Scott is happily married to Meghan, is an engaged father of a 19-year-old son (Noah) and 17-year-old daughter (Kayla). He is a constant reader, avid mountain biker, passionate espresso maker, and loves staying active and healthy.
Registration
The AAPS Professional Development program is designed for and offered exclusively to AAPS members at no cost. AAPS members can register to attend an in-person, live Zoom session, or access the recorded version. Before registering, please consider your schedule and your ability to actively participate.
The live Zoom sessions require you to use audio, and video is also strongly encouraged. For the in-person and live Zooms, your presence and focus are important for the structure of this session. If that doesn't work for your schedule this time around, no worries, there is always the recorded version.
If you have accessibility requirements or questions, please email aaps.pd@ubc.ca. Zoom auto-captions are always enabled for our sessions. Please let me know if you need a live transcriber, interpretation, or other specific audio or visual supports for in-person or Zoom sessions. If you have other accessibility requirements for in-person sessions or would like more information about the venue, I can also answer those questions.