Eustress, Can Stress Be A Good Thing?

I have taken up running, barefoot running, to help get myself back in shape. I have some problems with my knees and this is helping. This morning, I ran a longer distance than I normally do. My wife was getting after me because every time I do this, I am usually pretty sore the next day. Here is a question for you, is giving ourselves stress a good thing? What about eustress?

I certainly see my wife’s point. I am sometimes so sore the next day that my legs feel like they are not going to hold me up. I feel like they are going to tear apart and I will be left lying on the floor flopping around like a beached seal! Maybe I should go slower.

On the other hand, if I always take it easy, I won’t progress as fast. I am learning a great concept called eustress. We hear a lot of talk about how stress is so bad for us, but in reality, it depends on the type of stress.

My knee is in bad shape because it had so little stress for so long. I sit at my computer a lot and I didn’t walk or do anything. My knee joint got so week that it wouldn’t support me. I know, I should know better! I started walking to build it back up, and it helped. The thing is, you walk differently than you run. I found that running stressed the knee in such a way that it has been healing much faster. The reason for the barefoot running is that it makes me run on the balls of my feet which is again better for the knee.

Anyway, some stress is good. People suffer from osteoporosis and one of the main cures and preventative measures is weight lifting. Our bones and muscles need stress to stay healthy.

What about our mental abilities? Stress is the number one cause of heart attack and stroke, but that is bad stress. It is the kind that has no resolution and causes the fight or flight response continually. That’s bad. Stress like working a puzzle or playing a game is eustress, it is stress that helps us to grow, to learn, and to stay healthy.

What are you doing to give yourself eustress, both physically and mentally? What can you do to push yourself so that you stay strong?