Stress is a natural part of being human. Anyone with a family, home, job, or who has any sort of life outside their living room sofa, is going to experience some level of tension during even the most ordinary of days. But stress doesn't have to shut you down or send you to the medicine cabinet. In fact, when used mindfully, stress can actually help you live a fuller, more rewarding life. Let's explore!
Stress helps you identify the bad stuff
There is an anomaly known to occur in a small group of people who have no nerve endings in their skin. Essentially, they cannot experience pain. While this condition may sound desirable (no painful paper cuts, no flinching from a flu shot), it's actually quite dangerous. Pain is your body's warning system, and without it, severe damage can take place. The same goes for stress. Anxiety is one way your body tells you that something is not quite right.
If you view stress as your own personal early-warning system, you can learn to identify negative influences in your life before they become dangerous. You can tell when you need to take a break from the computer because the back of your neck begins to ache. You know something is not quite right in a relationship because you feel that tightening in your gut. Learn to recognize these early signs and act on them.
Stress can make you focus
Because of your body's fight-or-flight response, which is your body's natural response to stress, a low level of stress can actually help you filter out distractions and may force you to focus more intently on the task at hand. The key is to schedule your time wisely, and to not let the stress get overwhelming. If you're the type of person who works best under a deadline, set intermediary goals for big projects to fool yourself into that "get it done now!" state. In other words, use the stress of the deadline, even a self-imposed deadline, to rev up your focus and production.
Stress can help you set priorities
When you've got five million things on your to-do list, everything can seem equally important. But when you have a very limited amount of time or resources, suddenly everything can become much more clear. Strapped for cash and have to choose between groceries and your gym membership? No question. Only have an hour before picking up the kids, and you need to do the laundry, answer work email, or take your sick mother to the emergency room? That's an easy one. Let stress work for you to help force you to put things into perspective and make the right choices.
Stress can rev up your immune system
Limited bursts of stress, such as the kind you get from taking an exam, speaking in public, or being late for an appointment, can actually be good for you. Research has shown that this type of stress enhances your ability to fight infection, and has also helped ward off age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's. Instead of passing off the opportunity to give the big presentation to your partner, step up to the podium and give yourself a dose of immunity-boosting anxiety.
Stress can boost your confidence
It sounds like twisted logic, but it's true. Face an anxiety-producing situation, handle it successfully, and you'll feel better about yourself and your ability to deal with similar situations in the future. The key is to keep pushing your comfort zone, a bit at a time, expanding your area of expertise and know-how a step at a time.
Stress doesn't have to be seen as a negative. Thanks to many smart researchers, we can now actually view stress as a benefit and use it to improve our life!
