Stress gets a bad rap. Sure, if it’s chronic, it’ll drag down your health. That said, a boost of short-term stress will immediately narrow your attention and give you a rush of energy. What if we viewed it as a tool, not a burden?

I’m always looking for ways to have more energy and dial in my focus. Much of the time, that means reexamining and reframing what’s already in place so that it contributes to this goal. There’s a lot out there about mitigating and reducing stress. But how can we use it as a tool?

What’s Cool About Stress?

This is what happens when your body perceives a potential danger, when it experiences stress:

The pupils dilate to see better
The other senses become more acute to identify threats
Muscles tighten to prepare for action
The heart beats faster, improving circulation
Bronchi enlarge, breathing quickens, to supply more oxygen to muscles and tissues
Sugars and fats flood into the blood stream to supply fuel
Adrenaline and other hormones provide energy

In a word, you’re more attentive, ready to act, and have more energy. Performance, efficacy, productivity, and creativity boom. It’s the rush of sports, the excitement before an event.

What’s the trick to using this to our advantage? Short bursts of stress balanced with lots of recovery. When it’s intermittant, it can work for you, but if it’s continuous, you’ll start to fall apart.

You want enough to push forward, not to push you over edge.

Why You Want to Dose Stress

To be clear, chronic, non-stop stress sucks. It will dampen your memory, your concentration, your decision-making, your relationships, and your sleep. It’s all downhill. The physiological response also makes your blood more acidic, slows your digestion, weakens the immune system. Let’s face it, with a lion at your heels, who needs to eat anyway? But on a day-to-day basis, the nutrients can help.

What’s your normal? Are you thriving on stress? Or have you stepped into the downward spiral? If you’re dealing with chronic stress, it really helps to work with a professional to get to the root cause.

Hacking Stress

The first hack consists of changing your relationship to stress. Taking back the choice.

Focus on what you can control.
Review the stressors in your life, from the obvious ones like your boss to the things we don’t usually target: the news, those people who suck up your energy, exercise (yes, it’s a strain), your commute, etc.
For each one, ask how you will use it to your advantage. Can you time your meetings with your boss so they provide a stimulus when you’re feeling strong? Can you cut back on the news? Can you exercise when you’re not already exhausted?

Start small, experiment, reiterate, adjust.

The Basics of Getting the Most Out of Stress

Remove self-stress: stop the negative self-talk. This one is entirely within your control.
Sleep more. And sleep better by shutting down devices, news, and work 30 to 60 minutes minimum before shuteye.
Delay social media and email in the morning. Start the day on your own agenda, not someone else’s. Then use your technology intentionally.
Organize your day around 60 to 90 minutes of focused time, followed by bursts of movement and unfocused free time.
Exercise both causes and mitigates stress. Use it wisely.
My favorite: cold showers. They make you more resilient.