Welcome to the modern world: we’re all stressed here. Habits and practices designed for relaxation or a more active unwind are the most common antidote, with spa days, time outside, and a solid yoga class countering some of the effects of overwhelm. But what if the solution to your habitual stress is actually more stress?
“The idea of adding stress to our lives as a method of stress management might seem nonsensical, especially since many people already experience too much stress,” says Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist, a research scientist and author of The Stress Paradox. “However, this is because we often experience the wrong kind.”
Paradoxically enough, good stress does exist—you might even be experimenting with it already—and incorporating it into your routine can make you more physically and psychologically resilient in athletic performance and beyond.
Good Stress Versus Bad Stress
Defining good stress becomes easier when you understand what it’s not. The type of stress that you likely complain about (the bad kind) is called chronic stress, which is “bad” because it’s…
