Stress often gets a bad rap. After all, it’s hard to see the bright side when you’ve got a never-ending to-do list or things just aren’t going to plan.
However, stress can be positive. When your body is stressed, it releases hormones like adrenaline that help lift your performance and resilience.
But, since stress is a common response to tricky or unfamiliar situations, how do you tell if your stress is good or bad?
Good stress comes and goes with life’s demands. It emerges when you care about something and motivates you when you need a boost but slips away when you’ve conquered the challenge.
Picture that feeling you get when you’re working to a deadline, trying something different or nudging outside your comfort zone. That’s usually healthy stress, which encourages focus, growth and sometimes even feelings of excitement.
Bad stress, also called distress, is when your stress gets out of control and feels endless. After the initial trigger has disappeared, harmful stress usually persists, leading to restlessness or overwhelm.
The tipping point between good and bad stress varies for everybody. The key is to find balance.
Signs that harmful stress has reared its head include feeling unable to cope or stop worrying, having trouble concentrating or experiencing mood changes. You may also notice physical clues like exhaustion, sleep issues, appetite changes, headaches and social withdrawal.
While stress will always have a presence in our lives, we can manage it. Relaxation techniques like box breathing, meditation, yoga and exercise are a great start.
You can also try establishing boundaries to avoid saddling yourself with more than you can handle. This can look like saying no to a new project or tamping down your inner perfectionist and settling for ‘good enough’.
Whether it’s between meetings or while you grab a drink, make the most of opportunities for a break when they arise. Stretching, walking, taking deep breaths, dancing to your favourite song or stepping outside for a few minutes can make a world of difference.
At Impact Community ACADEMY, support systems are in place to help young people understand and manage their stress before it gets out of hand. Wellbeing always comes first, as it always should.
Stress is everywhere and impacts everyone. Whether it’s good stress, bad stress or somewhere in between, you don’t have to deal with it alone.
Be proactive, lean on friends and family and help others to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
By Jenna Auer, Impact Community ACADEMY Principal
