Benefits of Stress

The Surprising Benefits of Stress

You’re probably stressed out, aren’t you? Don’t worry about it so much. While stress can account for many diseases and other health maladies, it can also be pretty good for you. If you can’t (or won’t) decrease your stress levels, enjoy the benefits that it can bring. There are several.

1. It makes you stronger.

   
   If you don’t let it kill you, it can make you stronger. Both mentally and physically, stressing the brain, heart, and muscles forces your body and mind to learn how to heal itself. If strength training in any area of your life is your goal, you won’t be able to it without stress.

2. You can avoid the flu.

   
   When you’re stressed out, your body releases cortisol. While it does contribute to belly fat, it’s also an anti-inflammatory. Cortisol releases can help the person working overtime (physically, emotionally, or mentally) to ward off colds and the flu. Although you might feel more worn out, your body could take care of your stressed-out self.

3. It helps your memory.

   
   While living in the rat race will probably kill you, you’ll be better able to remember things if you experience stress. Stress can help acutely tune your mental focus for both long and short periods of time. Although chronic stress might give you Alzheimer’s, short bursts of stress can help your memory recall and decision making processes.

4. It helps you fight — or flight.

   
   Stress is the body’s way of dealing with the fight or flight response. These responses are increasingly triggered in our interconnected age. And experiencing this stress can be helpful in separating what’s necessary from what isn’t. Is it worth fighting for, or should you simply move on? Stress can help you make your decision.

5. It gets you “in the zone.”

   
   Stress helps make it possible for you to get all the things done that you’d rather put off. They say that the ultimate inspiration is the deadline, and they’re right. If you’re stressed about something, you’re more likely to get it done.

6. It provides a burst of energy.

   
   A sudden jolt of stress can wake you up and propel you to action on any number of things. Stress releases adrenaline in the body, which helps you perform and maintain resilience throughout the duration of a task.

7. It helps us evolve.

   
   Stress, and how we respond to it, has helped humanity adapt and evolve over time. While you don’t want to stress yourself to death, some modicum of stress can help you personally adapt and change to better respond to your current and unique situation. Relax a little. Stress isn’t all that bad!