How to stop good stress from turning bad ...or ugly

It seems that every study on workplace stress suggests we have a pandemic on our hands. In the UK alone, a 2024 report claimed 60% of adults feel stressed five or more days each month! Those are big numbers!
For many of us, stress is common enemy number one, often getting in the way of our quest for success. However, to be fair, stress often gets bad press that isn't always deserved. Let's briefly examine the nature of stress.

There's 'good' stress, known as eustress, a short-term fight-or-flight condition that occurs when you're feeling excited. For example, you're about to make an important presentation, watch a suspense-ridden thriller, or go on a nerve-wracking first date. Your heart rate quickens, senses tingle, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are secreted, and breathing becomes shallow. But you still feel in control, invigorated, and primed to perform at your best.
So, that's when stress is 'good'. It's on your side. But it's short-lived.

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