16/04/2025
April is National Stress Awareness Month, so a little post about positive pressure vs negative stress. When I trained with The Stress Management Society two decades ago, I loved their definition of stress, and I still share this with my workshop and one-to-one clients today. ☀️
I believe that there is no such thing, as ‘good’ stress. Yes we need little bit of pressure to kick us up the bum to get things done, and perform to our best, but we don’t need to feel stressed every day. Our bodies are very clever and can deal with short bursts of stress, or finite periods of stressful events in our lives, but day-in, day-out stress is really bad for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Long-term stress leads to poor health, low mental wellness, and ultimately burnout. So how do we know the difference between positive pressure and negative stress? 🙋♀️
If, for example, you have piece of work that needs to be completed, or you have a few things you need to juggle in a day, and it all needs focus but feels manageable, it’s likely to be positive pressure. That’s great, keep going! But if you’re always chasing your tail, feel mentally frazzled, or your ongoing mental/physical workload feels overwhelming, this is negative stress. So something needs to change. Being stressed shouldn't be a badge of honour. We really aren’t designed to live the way modern life is dictating we do. 🏃♂️
We're all unique and so our individual signs, symptoms and feelings of stress and pressure will vary. And we will each have our own ways of looking after ourselves. The important thing is to keep self-care activities in place, and non-negotiable, to release the pressure when needed. It’s also important to address the root cause of our stress because no amount of exercise, meditation or reflexology will balance out a constantly stressed body and mind. This can sometimes mean making significant changes to your life, but I can tell you that it’s usually worth it! 🌈
Do you agree with this distinction? How do you release your pressure valve to stay well? What changes might you need to make sure your balloon doesn't pop? 🎈Let me know in the comments below! ⬇️
