Good Stress vs. Bad Stress: How to Tell the Difference

Stress is our body’s response to fear and anxiety. It is a survival instinct. While we are rushing to meet project deadlines, sitting in traffic or juggling family life, it is easy to get overwhelmed.

However, some kinds of stress can be a motivating force in your life—like worrying about a project, presentation, competing for promotion, or even going on a first date. Good stress is the type of stress you feel when excited, your pulse accelerates, and you feel the surging of your hormones. It keeps you feeling great and excited about life. However, bad stress occurs when you repeatedly face stressors that take a heavy toll on your mood. 

It could be a stressful job, an unhappy lifestyle, or something that constantly puts you in a bad mood and makes you lose interest in family and hobbies.

So how do you deal with good stress vs. bad stress?

1. Dedicate time to Yoga and meditation
2. Take walks frequently
3. Maintain social connections
4. Exercise regularly
5. Always remind yourself of your strengths
6. Have a positive mindset
7. Try to see the potential benefits of every situation
8. Create your method of self-care
9. Try journaling whenever you feel overwhelmed
10. Plan ahead
11. Reach out for help

Life is enjoyable. Try to make every moment count. According to Eleanor Roosevelt:

“The purpose of life is to live it, to experience the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”