Stress: it ain’t all bad
Okay, just hear me out. Stress gets a pretty bad rap, but a little bit of stress (and the right kind) can be incredibly good for you.
Good stress, or ‘eustress’, is what keeps you on your toes; pushes you to go for that promotion; encourages you to seek pleasure in life; prompts you to feel excited and alive. Without motivational eustress, we’d be incredibly bored, and quite likely depressed (and that’s not me being flippant: it’s bonafide science).
Weirdly, stress can boost brainpower (by stimulating neurotrophins), increase short-term immunity (by producing extra interleukins), make you more resilient, and motivate you to succeed.
When we’re overworked, under financial pressures, or facing something really tough in life, this typically elicits a greater stress response and higher levels of anxiety than good old eustress. But even with ‘bad stress’, the most damaging aspect of feeling stressed isn’t the stress itself: it’s under-recovery from stress.
The dangers of under-recovering from stress
Our ‘flight or fight’ response is meant to be helpful; not harmful. The trouble is, we’re biologically evolved to face stress, then rest and recover. But when we’re busy (and stressed), we don’t rest and recover. So we get more stressed. And ill. And unhappy. And then we burnout. Bit of a rubbish mix really.
Signs that you’re experiencing work-related burnout (and not adequately recovering from stress) include emotional exhaustion, feelings of detachment, and loss of job satisfaction. And recovery isn’t about finding ways to be more productive: it’s about actual rest.
Whatever type of stress we’re under, the key is to find ways to quickly relax and allow our bodies to return to their pre-stressed state.
So, how do you achieve this elusive state of wellness? You look after your wellbeing.
As simple as it sounds, recovery from stress is all about finding time for YOU; where you don’t engage with work, or anything else that may be triggering your stress levels. This gives times for your cortisol (a key stress hormone) to return to normal.
Internal recovery: This is about taking adequate breaks in your working day. Do some breath work, or take a walk at lunch instead of eating at your desk
External recovery: This is about maximising ‘you time’ out of work. Take a bath; read a book; watch a show that makes you laugh; meditate; work out; spend time with people who make you feel good.
And when you do give yourself time to recover properly? You feel far more energised and enthusiastic about tackling the next day; which, let’s face it, is a hard ask when you’re suffering from burnout. The important thing to remember is that quality, in this case, is better than quantity. Using your time to doom scroll facebook isn’t going to do you any favours.
Focus on things that actually bring you joy; or at the very least, contentment.
Here are 10 wellbeing tips on managing stress.
Gaining control of your stress levels
As well as learning to effectively recover from stress, it’s a good idea to get a handle on your stress levels. Easier said than done, but try starting with these three simple steps:
Choose your good stress: Before committing to any activity, ask yourself how the prospect makes you feel; make sure it’s a ‘want to’, rather than a ‘have to’ (and leave your ‘have to’ activities for unavoidable commitments!)
Avoid OD’ing on good stress: Even good stress can tip the scales into bad if you have too much of it; everything in moderation! Tune into your body, and learn to recognise when you simply have too much stress in your life. Full stop.
Perceive threats as challenges: Because you body responds to perceived stress, learning to manage your body’s response to potentially stressful situations can be incredibly powerful; try to reframe your thoughts by focusing on the potential benefits of a situation, and dust off those ‘positive thinking’ mind control tricks.
Got it? Great!
The past 12 months have been incredibly stressful all round. We’ve all been under a lot more pressure – and different kinds of pressure – than ever before. As we start to find our ‘new normal’, now really is a great time to think about what sort of life, and working life, you want to aim for.
A little bit of stress is a good thing, and if you’re able to find ways to manage your stress – and use it to push you out of your comfort zone from time-to-time – then by all means embrace it. But if certain areas of your life are causing you more stress than is healthy, start to evaluate where some changes might be needed.
But most of all: don’t forget to give yourself adequate time to recover from stress; no matter what kind it is.
Article by Emma Attenborough-Sergeant, The Wellness Writer.
With a passion for mental health and wellbeing, Emma set up The Wellness Writer to help leaders and organisations improve culture and engagement through relatable wellness content.