Stress can be both a motivator and a distractor because on the one hand, if you have a positive and you got an test next week, then you need to study a little bit each day then you will have a positive attitude and be more confident in class when the test day is here and you will be a ble to focus and do well. On the other hand, if procrastinate the day of, then your stress level will be high and you will get all nervous and have a negative attitude, then you will not be able to do well on the test as you should have if you use your time wisely.
Darryl,
You're ability to persevere is a talent. Be sure you are not harboring your feelings internally.
Dr. Gary Carlson
Sharon,
Losing a job is a big shock to our system. This experience only makes us stronger in the future. Of the many people I have known who lost their jobs came out better in the future. This is a good lesson about stress is that we worry about things that only really motivates us to be better in future. We avoid the same mistakes and become wiser for the experience.
Dr. Gary Carlson
I have always done my best work under pressure and have never thought of it as stress. I personally scored very low on the "worry self-assessment". Though this has not been an issue for me, the course has helped me greatly in understanding some of the challenges my team faces.
To me stres is a motivator in some respects and a distractor. I recently lost my full- time job at a local school district and found so completely overwhelmed with stress at the time that I became physically ill. After much reflection adn some excellent physicians, I was able to make the stressor of loosing my job a motivator. I was able to reflect on the issue and then plan a new pathwa for myself. It has been working thankfully so far, and I can now see some of the silver lining that has come from my experience.
Colleen,
There is good and bad stess. Some stress invigorates and is rewarding. Bad stress can cause depression and emotions which raises heart rates.
Dr. Gary Carlson
Both. Some stress can motivate people. Some people work better under stress. Too much stress however, can become a danger to your health.
Positive stress can actually be helpful in increasing motivation or urgency when completing a task.
The stress becomes negative when it gets in the way of accomplishing the goal(s). The negative stress, referred to as toxic in the presentation is when the stress is out of balance and counter-productive.
Anne,
Our bodies and minds don't discriminate with work stress or home. It is necessary for us to use good stress reduction practices for both. Keep your emotions in tact and proceed with a clear mind. you will have better solutions to the stress if you can think clearly.
Dr. Gary Carlson
I would agree that stress can be both a motivator and a distracter. Stress can help you to complete a task but if the stress levels get to high then it becomes a distraction that overwhelms every thing else. While there may be a realistic amount of stress in the workplace sometimes personal stress from relationships, family, money, ect can take over and prevent a person from doing as good of a job at work as they could.
Dolly,
you are correct with your analysis. Realizing the necessity to have a plan in place when stress strikes is a good first step.
Dr. Gary Carlson
I think stress begins as a motivator because with it, it's how deadlines are set and plans are set into action to accomplish them. Stress however can develop into a distracter when you dwell and worry if you have not giving your best into that project. I think it is at this point that stopping, breathing, reflecting and choosing comes in to decide you have done your best and move on with the next task. Stress is unavoidable and it has to do with our mechanism of coping with situations that creates a motivating stress into a distracting stress.
Melissa,
Good point. Obviously there is diversity in our ranks.
Dr. Gary Carlson
That is an essential thing for a manager to know. Hopefully they will not necessarily have learned that by poor experiences :)
Melissa,
Crunch time is when the best comes out of many people. These times let some people shine when they work at there best. Others may not fair as well under stress. We just need to know who are those that can perform at a high level at a crunch level.
Dr. Gary Carlson
Definitely it can be both, depending on degree. Sometimes I work more efficiently when I feel a deadline or the "crisis" approaching. And when I don't have a deadline, I could just float along and not do anything. But, if there is too much stress, too many things going on, I feel burnt out and overwhelmed and just want to quit. It's a fine line and everyone has a different balance that works for them and may not work for someone else.
Edward,
Our bodies adjust to the activity in our lives that is healthy. This is why we need to be sensitive to good practices. When you retire it is not characteristic of us to just shut down.
Dr. Gary Carlson
You are so correct. I have witnessed this expecially in the education field, teachers who are retiring because of age or years worked but are not psychologally ready. We are creatures of habit and sometime it doesn't do us justice.
Sheri,
When the practice of reducing stress with best practices becomes like a natural habit you can conquer all types of stress.
Dr. Gary Carlson
Edward,
It is important to recognize stress and deal with it rationally. I have had the opportunity to meet with people at high level positions that have now retired. For those that have stayed active and productive in their retirement without the stresses of the daily corporate world have improved their health. People look healthier after retirement with the relief from stress.
Dr. Gary Carlson
