Transforming Stress

As summer fades and the school year begins, the pace of life picks up with increased activities and planning. With this shift, it's common to notice a corresponding rise in stress levels.

Stress is an inevitable part of life, with both positive and negative effects. While it can harm us physically and mentally, stress is also essential for growth and performance. Understanding the difference between good and bad stress can help us transform it from an enemy into an ally.

So, what exactly is stress?

When you think of stress, what comes to mind first? Is it a feeling of overwhelm or is it a physical reaction in your body?

Stress comes in three forms: acute, chronic, and eustress.

Acute stress is short lived and comes in small forms such as the traffic on the way to work or the juggle of managing kids’ activities and daily household chores. There is potential to experience this kind of stress in most situations each day.

Chronic stress is persistent and can be more challenging to manage. It often arises from factors beyond our control, such as ongoing health issues or long-term difficulties.

Eustress is a form of positive stress that can boost our resilience and enhance performance. The term, coined by Hans Selye, combines the Greek prefix "eu," meaning good, with "stress." Selye described eustress as an initial source of discomfort or worry that ultimately leads to a beneficial outcome. A common example is the stress we feel when moving to a new home or starting a new job—challenging at first, but ultimately leading to growth and positive change.

Psychologist Ryan M. Niemiec (2020) further refines the concept of positive stress into two categories: eustress and motivating stress. This is where we turn our negative experience into useful or meaningful stress and use it as an opportunity to motivate ourselves or to help others.

So how do we turn bad stress into good stress?

1. Reframe Your Perspective:

Changing how you think about stress can positively impact your health. Research by psychologist Kelly McGonigal (2015) suggests that stress only harms us if we believe it does. By viewing your stress response as helpful, you can reduce its negative physical effects. When we perceive stress as a tool for motivation or growth, our bodies respond differently, leading to healthier outcomes. Research suggests that viewing stress as a positive force can energise and motivate you.

2. Connect with Others:

Strengthening relationships can significantly improve our ability to cope with stress and adversity. When we have strong, supportive connections, we become more resilient to stress and enjoy better overall health and longevity.

3. Learn Something New:

Research by Professor David Mayer (2018) on stress found learning activities to be an effective means of buffering against the detrimental effects of stress and burnout.? Examples of this could be picking up a new skill, gathering new information, or seeking out intellectual challenges. Workplace success is closely tied to continuous learning, which studies reveal as a powerful strategy for revitalizing energy and enhancing vitality. By engaging in ongoing learning, employees not only sharpen their cognitive abilities but also experience a renewed sense of motivation, ultimately sustaining both their productivity and well-being at work.

Learning something new buffers stress by “building positive resources.”

4. Express Appreciation:

Practicing gratitude can significantly enhance happiness. Professor Robert A. Emmons (2013) describes an effective method as "coping gratefully". ?This involves actively seeking the positive aspects of challenging situations. For instance, reflecting on how a stressful experience has contributed to personal growth or led to a reassessment of life’s priorities. By focusing on the benefits derived from difficult circumstances, we not only cultivate resilience but also foster a deeper sense of well-being.

5. Use Your Strengths:

People who use their strengths more, experience less stress. ?Discovering and using your own character strengths will help you to enhance your well-being and to manage stress.

Stress refers to the total amount of pressures and demands you are under after you consider your various capacities to cope. Ryan M. Niemiec provides this simple equation to help us to recognise how we can better manage our stress by increasing our capacities – particularly our character strength capacities. Our strength capacities are internal resources that we can call upon when needed to manage stress.

Reach out today to discover how our strengths-based training can help reduce workplace stress and enhance well-being.

Do you have any tips on transforming stress in your life? We would love to hear from you…

Caroline & Shelley

Spreitzer, G. M. (2010). Little things matter: The role of small practices in fostering high-quality relationships at work. University of Michigan.

Baker, W. (2018, September 24). To cope with stress, try learning something new. Harvard Business Review

McGonigal, K. (2015). The upside of stress: Why stress is good for you, and how to get good at it. Penguin Random House.

Wood, A. M., Linley, P. A., Maltby, J., Kashdan, T. B., & Hurling, R. (2011). Using personal and psychological strengths leads to increases in well-being over time: A longitudinal study and the development of the strengths use questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(1), 15-19.

Emmons, R. A. (2013). Gratitude works: A 21-day program for creating emotional prosperity. Jossey-Bass

Nieman, R. M., & Smith, R. A. (2020). The strengths-based workbook for stress relief: A personalized approach to reducing stress and building resilience. New Harbinger Publications.