Can a moderate amount of stress actually be good for you? It is perhaps not by chance that Virat Kohli finds his form against Pakistan, Muhammad Rizwan bats & wins on an injured leg, Muhammad Nawaz turns into a hard-hitting all-rounder and Arshdeep Singh tries hard to overturn his dropped catch with a very fine last over, and he nearly does.
It is no coincidence that an India vs Pakistan match is more often than not, a nail-biter, a match that gives back to the cricket fans, thrill & excitement on every ball bowled & every run taken, or missed – a lifetime of political adversity cast onto a sporting arena is perhaps, the healthiest way to win hearts. Definitely better than war…But ahem, more importantly, what does an Ind vs Pak match teach us about STRESS?
I got curious because, if Muhammad Nawaz can become the next hard hitter overnight, I wanted to know how stress actually works wonders, and not wreak havoc (as we are conditioned to believe), in our minds!
Is Moderate Amount Of Stress Good For You?
Here’s what you should know
1. Stress can create new connections between your brain & neurons, hence, making you more productive. Ever wonder why you’re able to pull off a one nighter, work better & more creatively under stress? It’s the new nerve cells, says (not me, but) a University of Berkeley study!
2. Moderate stress helps boost immunity & fight disease.
Yes! If you’re wondering why you’re a tough cookie, able to take on more stress than you could before, it’s because, your body has learnt, that as you get exposed to stress, over time, you are able to deal with higher levels of stress and manage quite well, infact, even thrive, under the pressure!
Experiencing stress allows our immune system to kick in and we are able to combat pressure situations with a boost in health. This of course, doesn’t refer to chronic situations but our bodies are designed to react to a moderate degree of stress with an instant immunity boost.
3. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Yes! Moderate stress in our lives makes us mentally stronger.
Now you know why players exposed to playing in those oh so close matches, 2 balls, 2 runs to go, running a player out before he makes it to the crease and getting that incredible catch is as much physical as mental training. And our bodies have something to do with making sportsmen mentally tough because they have been through similar situations & learnt to take the pressure.
4. And that’s, not all, babies born from mothers who experienced some stress in pregnancy have bern shown to depict advanced early development in the 1st two years of life!
What do all these findings teach us? Oh well, you might want to think about stepping out of that comfort zone, embracing your fears, and pushing your boundaries!
So don’t keep calm & add a little bit of stress to your life. Remember, we are talking about moderate levels of stress, like taking on a new role, learning a new skill, or, watching an India vs Pak match! Well, maybe that’s chronic!
Bring on the stress, in small doses, and win your personal matches in life. Just like Team Pakistan & India!
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The information for this write up gas been sourced from various online studies including University of Berkeley & Healthline
