“Too little produces a bland, dull meal; too much may choke you,” said Donald Tubesing about spices. You’d be surprised to know that the same saying can be applied to stress too!
Stress is so much like spice – in the right proportion, it enhances the flavour of a dish.
In scientific terms, good stress is called “eustress.” Eustress is the spark that drives us to achieve more, to improve the quality of our life, to ask for a raise, to fight for justice, or simply go on a holiday. So, here is a list of positive effects of stress.
It boosts brainpower – low-level of stress helps in the production of brain chemicals called neurotrophins and strengthens the connection between neurons in the brain. In fact, this can be the primary mechanism by which exercising helps boost productivity and concentration. Short-term psychological stressors can have a similar effect, as well.
It can increase short-term immunity – when your body responds to stress, it prepares itself for the possibility of what is to come. The way our body does it is by producing extra interleukins, a chemical that help regulate the immune system, providing at least a temporary defensive mechanism.
It can make you stronger – dealing with manageable stressful situations can make such situations in the future easier to handle. Repeated exposure to stressful events makes your body develop both physical and psychological sense of control.
Makes you creative – we feel stressed when we move onto a new path because we are afraid of the unknown. Stress pushes you to change, to fight, to grow and to adapt. All life events, even good ones, cause a certain degree of stress. For example, getting a new job is a positive change, much like getting married, falling in love, getting a raise, winning a tennis match and so on. Stress often accompanies a breakthrough in creativity.
It motivates you to succeed – eustress can be the thing you need to get your job done at work. Think about a deadline staring you in the face. It’s going to encourage your behaviour to manage the situation effectively and more productively. Success can be achieved in the workplace, in sports, or in a creative endeavour if it’s driven by pressure.
It can enhance child development – pregnant women often worry that their anxiety will negatively affect their unborn babies. And it sure can if it’s constant. But if the stress levels are moderate, they can in fact be good for the child. A study found that children of most women who reported mild to moderate stress levels during pregnancy actually showed greater motor and developmental skills by age two than those of mothers who were unstressed.