Positive stress or “eustress”: How to get the positive side of stress

Can stress be beneficial? Does it have a positive side? Usually when we refer to stress, the meaning we give it is negative; we relate it to something that threatens us and causes us tension. Different situations in our lives demand so much of us that we believe we will not be able to cope with them, and we begin to feel discomfort. However, we can feel stress due to negative factors, such as when, for example, at work we have more tasks than we can handle, or when we are told about a terrorist attack, or due to positive factors, such as preparing for our wedding.

What is positive stress or Eustress?

Positive stress is the kind that stimulates us to face problems. It allows us to be creative, take the initiative and respond efficiently to those situations that require it.

“Eustress motivates us, it allows us to focus our energy toward the goal, it is short-term, it is perceived as something exciting and as something we can cope with, and it improves performance”

Examples of positive stress can be: receiving a promotion at work, starting a new job, getting married, buying a house, having a child, taking a vacation or being on vacation, or learning a new hobby or pastime.

Instead of feeling helpless and unsuccessful, positive stress allows us to feel full of life and energy. Converting stress into positive stress benefits our daily activity and benefits our health, since by channeling stress we do not feel the tension that would be caused by feeling overwhelmed or threatened by negative stress.

What benefits do we obtain by managing stress and turning it into positive stress?

Benefits of positive stress:

- Direct handling of the problem: we will feel stimulated to solve the problem directly.

- Positive effect on our health: when we manage stress and allow it to become positive, we feel more relaxed and take things more calmly. This will keep us from feeling the negative effects of distress or negative stress.

- Greater productive activity: it will help us be more efficient and faster when carrying out different activities.

- It stimulates our creativity: we are more creative when facing a problem.

- We are alert: it allows us to be active to respond to any situation that arises and to which we have to respond quickly.

- Emotional stability: when we manage our stress and turn it into positive stress, it makes us feel greater control over our emotions. Having a positive attitude helps us feel better about ourselves and about situations.

How can we manage negative stress and turn it into positive stress?

Managing stress can be a complicated task; however, the benefits that proper stress management can bring us must be taken into account. It all depends on the way we cope with it: if we do so in an inadequate way and over a long period of time, we can suffer negative consequences, both physical and psychological: anxiety, depression, irritability, headache and stomachache, dizziness…

“It is long-term stress that will end up affecting your physical and mental well-being, with reactions such as palpitations, stomach problems and difficulty making decisions"

On the other hand, if we manage it in the appropriate way and have a positive attitude, we can turn it into positive stress.

Some basic tips:

- Relaxation.

- Physical exercise.

- Better time management.

- Rest between tasks.

- Sleeping 7 to 8 hours a day.

- Practicing hobbies.

- Talking to someone you trust.

- Listening to music.

- Setting priorities.

- Having a positive mental attitude.