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April is Stress Awareness Month, and it’s a time when we see a lot of articles about managing stress. However, many of these articles promote the idea that stress is inherently bad. This one-sided view is a missed opportunity to learn how to leverage the real upside of stress. In fact, stress has both positive and negative effects, and the key is to know how to manage it effectively.
The old science of stress, developed by endocrinologist Hans Selye, identified three stages the body goes through when under prolonged stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. While GAS was an important contribution to understanding how we respond to stress, it also contributed to our conception of stress as largely negative.
It turns out that stress can have positive effects when it’s short-term and properly managed. Our bodies and minds can adapt positively to stress, and it’s only when stress is prolonged and not relieved that it becomes chronic and harmful.
Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal has been at the forefront of an effort to reveal how stress, under the right circumstances, can give us fuel and lead to growth. The way we approach stress has a significant impact on whether it has a positive or negative effect on us. The research points to three protective beliefs about stress: viewing your body’s stress response as helpful, seeing yourself as able to handle, learn, and grow from stress, and recognizing stress as something that is part of everyone’s life.
By adopting a positive stress mindset, we can tap into the power of intrinsic motivation, which is a significant buffer against chronic stress. Stress is more likely to be harmful when it feels against our will, out of our control, and devoid of meaning.
Dealing with stress productively is not just a matter of psychology; it also involves adequate recovery. Just like athletes need recovery time to allow their bodies to grow and adapt, we need recovery time to manage stress. There are several tips that can help ensure recovery during the workweek, such as mindfulness practices, taking micro-breaks, getting exposure to nature, and opting for high-effort recovery activities over passive ones.
Business leaders must be aware of the signs of unhealthy stress and anxiety in the workplace and be ready to provide customized support to employees. With small but skillful interventions, leaders can help employees avoid the downside of stress and turn it into fuel.
In conclusion, embracing the upside of stress is essential to managing it effectively. By adopting a positive stress mindset, recognizing stress as something that is part of everyone’s life, and providing adequate recovery time, we can leverage the real upside of stress and use it to fuel growth and success.
