Stress

A bit of pressure in your work life can create excitement, challenges, and help push yourself further performance-wise. But if the demands become too much, they can lead to work-related stress.

We asked Cate Murden, founder of corporate wellbeing and performance company PUSH about how employers can help alleviate stress in the workplace.

Why do you think mental health and wellbeing in the workplace is having a moment right now?

Many don’t recognise that stress is an important factor in workplace performance, health, motivation and engagement. Positive stress is actually called Eustress, but when the balance tips and it becomes more negative, it is Distress. A word we are more familiar with I am sure. So my tips are not about eliminating stress completely but getting the balance right.

1. Recognise and differentiate between good stress and negative stress.

Everywhere I look nowadays I see something about stress and reducing stress.  When my doctor inquired about my stress level, he seems shocked when I said "Zero".  I guess most of his patients feel stress.  I just don't.  I have a friend who was nice enough to point out all the things that I should be stressed about, "kids, work, money".  Thanks for that buddy, but nope, still not feeling stressed.

Can stress ever FEEL like a positive? 

Stress impacts the body negatively, but are there times when it can be perceived as a positive? 

Can we trick our minds?