Nappin' Ain't Easy 8

Stress ain't easy

In 1936, the late Dr. Hans Selye, a Hungarian-born endocrinologist (they study glandular hormone secretions), described stress (or “general adaptation syndrome,” as he calls it) as the body’s non-specific response to demands put upon it. The World Health Organization defines stress as “any type of change that causes physical, emotional or psychological strain.” While this may sound pejorative, Cleveland Clinic notes that stress is normal and that stress management training can help one better deal with the common “negative” side effects of stress.

OK, so stress is inherently “bad?” Not necessarily.

I believe that if you ask most people how they experience stress, they will use 1000 or so words that amount to this. Also, If you haven’t seen Get Him to the Greek, you really should.

Selye divides stress into what he calls distress and eustress, and most of us have experienced both. Distress is what we mean when we describe “stress” — something that brings negative side effects that we typically seek to avoid and prevent, whether through GTD (where applicable) or otherwise. Eustress, on the other hand, brings positive impacts, including fulfillment and a feeling of making progress, both of which strengthen motivation. Distress has no shortage of deleterious consequences, including fatigue and sleep problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. With eustress, on the other hand, the outcomes are positive, including increased mental discipline or physical strength.

So eustress can be good in and of itself, and you might view distress simply as data to inform future actions. The latter sounds like great advice I’d give to a friend but could not actually put into practice myself – so if distress is no bueno, how do we manage it, and what role does napping play?