Do you have a positive stress mindset?
For years we have assumed that stress negatively impacts performance and health. However, the latest research suggests the reverse. Casper found that employees’ tend to react differently to perceived stress depending on their mindset. Those with a more positive stress mindset (vs Negative) performed better on cognitive tasks and maintained more positive emotions.
What is your stress mindset?
Rate your agreement to the following statements on a five-point scale, from 1 Strongly Disagree to 5 Strongly agree. And while you’re at it, why not also ask friend and family to rate you and check to see if your scores are close. The higher the score, the more negative stress mindset.
- Do you believe the effects of stress are on the whole negative?
- In your life, do you try to avoid stress?
- Do you believe stress negatively affects your well-being, health and vitality?
- Do you believe stress negatively affects your performance and productivity in your work?
People with a positive mindset tend to view stress as a challenge to be managed, an opportunity for growth and improved performance. Whereas those with a negative mindset see stress as a threat, which is harmful to performance and health to be avoided at all costs. This research is important because it reveals the importance of having a positive stress mindset at work to stay resilient and be seen as a high performer. Having a negative mindset will cause you to avoid challenges, stress and taking necessary risk.
How to develop a positive mindset?
The good news is that it is possible to change mindsets. By changing how you think about stress can make you more productive and healthier, if you adopt a positive mindset. By taking proactive steps to cope when anticipating stress at work such as setting safeguards, personal boundaries, and positively reframing heavy workloads/increase responsibility as a challenge to be embraced, an opportunity to grow and perform, which is only temporary or cyclical. Framing your feelings as excitement rather than anxiety will also help you to channel the increased energy you feel to stay resilient and complete the marathon with time and energy to spare.
