How to Use Stress to Your Advantage

A new study found that people can harness some of their stress and redirect it toward something positive.

Take two minutes to read, explore, and reflect. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind How to Use Stress to Your Advantage    While there's certainly a limit to how much stress our mind and bodies can withstand, a 2021 study has found that people can harness some of their stress and redirect it toward something positive. In the study—which was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology—researchers taught student participants how to "reappraise" their stress.   The gist: Instead of eliminating stress altogether, the students strategically shifted away from a negative-stress state towards a more adaptive, challenge-type mindset. They reported that by using their stress for "good," they felt less anxiety, procrastinated less, achieved higher test scores, and responded to academic challenges in a healthier way.   The concept of "reappraising stress" affirms that challenging situations can foster moments of growth. The takeaway is that we should harness those feelings and allow them to provide us momentum in achieving our goals. Without some modicum of stress, we risk becoming stagnant.     Stress is not always negative, and in fact, can fuel growth, innovation, and achievement." — JEREMY P. JAMISON, PHD What This Means For You It's always important to manage excess levels of stress by making time for recovery and rejuvenation. However, we should also try to harness some of our stress and repurpose it as fuel for our successes.   This balance is delicate and requires some practice, but the result can be higher levels of satisfaction and personal fulfillment and, somewhat ironically, less anxiety.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week What's Inspiring Us Written by Chloe Carmichael, PhD, "Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety" provides a clear roadmap for high achievers to harness restlessness, roadblocks, and distractions into a productive drive towards personal and professional fulfillment. Products to Help You Feel Your Best For an introspective look into stress, check out "The Stress Test: How Pressure Can Make You Stronger and Sharper." Written by neuropsychologist Ian Robertson, PhD, the book explores why we react to pressure in the way we do—and how to repurpose that stress for good. Papier's "Joy" Wellness Journal was created specifically to help you prioritize your mental health while you achieve your goals. The pages provide space for you to list out daily intentions, allot time for self-care, monitor, and plan. Read These Next The Benefits of Anxiety and Nervousness READ NOW When Stress Is Actually Good for You READ NOW How to Set Goals When You Are Struggling With Your Mental Health READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy