Master stress to boost performance and productivity

Ever wondered how the same force that keeps a balloon afloat can also cause it to burst?

It's all about balance.

This isn't your usual guide on how to just 'manage' stress.

However, if you're going through challenging times now and looking for that, check out the comprehensive strategies I've laid out in a previous issue here.

Today, we're going to flip the script:

Stress can be productive.

How? That's the secret I'm about to share.

Stress, like a balloon, can lift you up or cause an implosion.

The difference lies in how you use it.

Today, we explore the ways stress can work for you, not against you.

Read on!

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Before we begin: Here’s what you might have missed last month

• In issue #30 of The Productivist, I shared a 3-step guide to creating the environment that helps you succeed. Access the full issue here.

• In issue #29, you learnt 59 lessons on productivity. Revisit them here.

• In issue #28, you discovered the strategies to never feeling stuck again. Open this link to read it.

• In issue #27, you got to save my ultimate anti-procrastination checklist. Overcome procrastination here.

Which one has been you February favourite? Reply to this email to share. 🫶

Big idea #1: Stress is subjective.

Some thrive under pressure, claiming it sharpens their edge. Others shut down, insisting stress is too debilitating.

Who's correct?

Both.

Stress is a subjective experience.

Your perception shapes your reality.

• Believe stress is a performance booster? It will be.

• Convinced it's harmful? It will take its toll.

Mindset is pivotal.

Groundbreaking research from Yale and Stanford reflects a compelling truth: The attitude you hold towards stress critically influences your physiological response, distinguishing between two distinct mindsets — stress-is-enhancing and stress-is-debilitating.

Key takeaway:

Stop stressing about stress, and start researching its benefits.

Big idea #2: Stress is a privilege.

Consider stress as the other side of responsibility.

It's a signal that you're in a position to make decisions that matter.

Stress comes with the territory of leadership and high stakes; it's a marker that you're pushing boundaries and driving change.

So, when stress knocks, remember — it's a vote of confidence in your abilities.

It's an invitation to step up and grow.

Embrace it as a privilege.

After all, stress is for the movers, the shakers, and the impact-makers.

Big idea #3: Master your stress.

Mastering stress isn't just about managing it — it's about understanding and directing your response to it for optimal performance and well-being.

It starts with acknowledging your stress.

Why acknowledge?

Unrecognized stress puts you in autopilot, letting the amygdala hijack your brain with cortisol.

This activates the fight-or-flight response, an ancient mechanism that isn't always appropriate for today's challenges.

It tends to lead to reactive behaviours like lashing out at others or withdrawing from the situation entirely.

Shift the control.

Consciously acknowledging your stress shifts control to the brain's prefrontal cortex.

This area is your command center for logic, reasoning, and problem-solving.

By acknowledging stress, you move from reactive to proactive, choosing your response rather than being controlled by instinct.

How to acknowledge:

1. Identify the stressor:

   What is stressing you right now?

   Pinpoint something immediate and tangible.

   Acknowledge it simply: "I am feeling stressed about X."

   
   

2. Emotional response:

   Reflect on how you emotionally react to this stress.

   Do you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or anxious?

   
   

3. Behavioural response:

   What actions (or inactions) do you typically take under stress?

   This could range from arguing to procrastination, or even stress-eating.

   
   

4. Physiological response:

   Tune into your body. Stress can manifest as physical symptoms like a racing heart, muscle tension, or sweating.

Mastering stress is about self-awareness and intentional action.

Acknowledging your stress, identifying emotions, recognizing behavioral patterns, and being aware of physical signs are essential steps in understanding your stress response and initiating change towards choosing the response effectively.

Big idea #4: Learn from stress.

Next, you have to welcome your stress.

Why welcome?

Resist stress and you'll drain.
Welcome it, and you'll gain.

When stress shows up, flip the script: Say, "I'm built for this!"

See every stress moment as a win waiting to happen.

Stress is not just an obstacle; it's a teacher.

Self-awareness:

What is a personal value or positive motivation behind your stress?
Understanding what's at stake can transform stress from a foe to an ally.

Self-regulation:

With time, you learn to not just cope but excel under pressure.
Your body and mind can adapt, becoming more familiar, resilient and capable in the face of stress.

Big idea #5: Use your stress productively.

Stress doesn't derail you — how you handle it does.

Choose to see stress as a boost, and it becomes your secret weapon to beat deadlines.

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) deserves more spotlight.

Quite often individuals experience significant positive changes following stressful events or challenges.

Not just bouncing back, but bouncing forward — achieving a level of personal development that might not have been reached without facing adversity.

Stress, in this context, acts not just as a barrier but as a catalyst for profound personal growth, leading to outcomes such as:

• resilience

• skill mastery

• creative solutions

• deeper relationships

• strengthened priorities

• stronger self-awareness

• gratitude for what you have

• increased sense of purpose

Reflecting on your own journey, can you identify a moment of adversity that became a turning point, catalyzing unexpected personal growth or discovery?

How has this experience reshaped your approach to stress and challenges?

TL;DR

1. Your perception of stress greatly influences its effect on your well-being and performance.

2. Stress is a privilege, indicating a level of responsibility and trust.

3. Acknowledge your stress and recognizing the physical, emotional, and behavioral responses to stress is crucial for developing effective coping mechanisms.

4. Welcoming stress rather than resisting it can transform it into a source of energy and growth, reinforcing the concept of post-traumatic growth.

5. Stress, when approached with the right mindset, can be harnessed as a powerful tool for achieving personal and professional growth, leading to resilience, skill mastery, creativity, and a deeper sense of purpose.

Tiny habit: Microdosing stress

Master stress by deliberately exposing yourself to it in small amounts:

• Take a cold shower/cold plunge.

• Start a chat with a stranger.

• Try a new intense workout.

• Answer an unknown caller.
  (Maybe only Gen-Z will get this one 😅)

• Learn a new skill in public.

• Skip a meal.

Engaging in these small acts of deliberate stress exposure not only enhances your resilience to stress but also fosters adaptability and open-mindedness, enriching your life with a breadth of new experiences and skills.

The Productivist Question

In today’s issue, I’ve asked you a lot of questions.

Pulling them together:

• What is stressing you right now?

• Do you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or anxious?

• What actions (or inactions) do you typically take under stress?

• Are you experience any physical symptoms during stress?

• What is a personal value or positive motivation behind your stress?

• Reflecting on your own journey, can you identify a moment of adversity that became a turning point, catalyzing unexpected personal growth or discovery?

• How has this experience reshaped your approach to stress and challenges?

Have a productive week ahead with just the right amount of stress,

Valeriya

PS: Would love to hear your biggest takeaway today. Please reply to this email or DM me on LinkedIn with your thoughts!

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