The Lowdown on Stress

The word “stress” often carries a negative connotation with it due to its association with unpleasant side effects.

But here’s the thing: stress is simply how the brain and body responds to any given stimulus that requires a change or adaptation.  Therefore, stress is actually a good thing because it allows you to adapt to new situations, and to keep on keepin’ on.

In fact, there is a correlation between stress levels and performance.  The Yerkes-Dodson law states that the correlation between performance and physiological or mental arousal (stress) takes the shape of an inverted U-curve.  That is, your performance in life is positively impacted by stress, up to a point.  Once stress levels pass a certain threshold, performance decreases due to increased anxiety.  

Essentially, stress is not inherently bad, but as with most things in life, there can be too much of a good thing.  The key to harnessing stress in a positive way is multifaceted: recognize your stress levels, and change your reactions to necessary stressors by managing them.

The first step to managing stress is to recognize that it is there and to acknowledge the degree to which it is present.  Physical signs of excessive stress can include decreased energy, headaches, trouble sleeping, muscle tension, accelerated heart rate, and more.

However, there are less obvious but equally important mental clues: mental exhaustion, feelings of depression or anxiety, or frequent and intense mood swings.  By being cued into what you are experiencing and recognizing your stress levels, you’ll be able to manage them before they get worse, and ensure you stay on the positive side of the Yerkes-Dodson U-curve.

Once you have recognized your stress levels, it’s time to manage them!  To do so, you need to create a balance between activities/habits aimed at maintaining your physical health AND your mental health.  This combination will decrease the perceived threat to your body and aid your brain in returning to healthy stress levels.

To take care of your physical health, it’s important to prioritize whole nutrient-rich foods, exercise often, and adhere to a consistent and healthy sleep schedule.  To care for the mental aspect, try to prioritize hobbies, spend time alone (or time with loved ones, whatever rejuvenates you most), and establish morning and bedtime routines to relax and unwind.

Of course, there’s really nothing quite like a relaxing massage to get your mind off of things and help you HARNESS your stress!

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