Embracing the Sweet Spot of Stress

We often try to avoid stress. Sometimes if something feels stressful, it’s natural to think that there must be something wrong with this choice. The truth is that stress has its perks. Stress can help us focus and give our body enough adrenaline to do what needs to be done. Stress can even feel like excitement sometimes!

When stress gets too high, it can make it difficult to focus. We may give up or procrastinate; other times we might get angry or scared or want to numb out or go on autopilot, or get stubborn or withdraw from others.

How do we stay in the sweet spot of stress?

One way to come back to what we call our Window of Tolerance is to ground ourselves in the moment. Grounding is different than distracting ourselves—grounding helps us stay fully present and then decide what to do.

There are lots of ways to practice staying grounded and they don’t take much time—just some practice!

Feel your feet on the ground. Notice your feet on the ground and the way that gravity holds you to the earth. You might even want to go outside barefoot if you can and feel the grass and the dirt under your feet and between your toes. Notice how your feet feel on the ground. As you notice your feet on this ground, your mind has a chance to slow down.

Breathe out longer than you breathe in. When you’re stressed, our breath often becomes shallower. Our nervous system gets our bodies ready to run (even when there’s nothing to run from). Realize that you’re safe in the moment and get intentional about slowing down your breath. Breathe in for 4 counts, hold your breath for 4 counts, and breathe out for 8 counts. Try it 3 times!

Make your mouth water. When you’re stressed, it’s normal to have a dry mouth (think about what would happen if you have to give a speech!). Making your mouth water sends a message to your brain that it’s okay to be stressed, but not too stressed. You could think about your favorite meal—gooey, cheesy pizza with all kinds of grease, or chocolate brownies with ice cream. You could even keep some sour candy nearby that you could put in your mouth.

Once we get to the sweet spot of stress, it’s easier to logically look at the task in front of us and use our adrenaline and focus to help us meet our goal. Remind yourself that stress is here to help you!