You’ve been putting off your work for weeks and suddenly that deadline is just around the corner. Stress sets in, but that seems to help. Do you recognize this? Then you work well under pressure. Curious how this happens? We will explain it to you!
Is stress something bad?
Although many people see stress as something negative, stress does not always have to be that bad. Stress causes the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine. These substances stimulate blood flow to your muscles and brain, allowing your body to take action more quickly in the event of danger. This is also useful when delivering a performance.
Understand that there is a difference between stress and tension. While mild stress, or tension, does not do any harm, long-term stress does. Experiencing too much stress for a long time may still lead to chronic stress and burnout complaints. And that is of course not the intention.
Healthy tension
The feeling of tension that arises during a job interview, presentation or deadline is also called healthy tension. According to Theo Compernolle (neuropsychiatrist and brain expert), this tension makes our brains more creative and alert. An optimal load that does not last too long stimulates us to better performance.
Compernolle also claims that experiencing stress together with others gives us a feeling of solidarity. Many people also only enjoy their work if they are challenged a little. And regularly experiencing healthy tension would even make us more resistant to diseases and keep your brain and body in top condition. On the other hand, little pressure actually creates a less pleasant feeling, which means you perform less well. It is therefore not surprising that many people suffer from procrastination.
Does pressure really improve performance?
But beware: there is also a downside to this story. Yes, we work faster under pressure. But is that because it simply has to be done or is performance actually better? Because the brain needs space and relaxation to function optimally, the second question remains to be seen.
According to Odette, you are fooling yourself into thinking that you perform well under pressure. By convincing yourself that you perform well under pressure, you can enjoy the distraction while procrastinating. It is actually a constant battle with yourself and in this way you try to justify your own behavior.
