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138 reviews for:
The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You and How to Get Good at It
Kelly McGonigal
4.08 AVERAGE
138 reviews for:
The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You and How to Get Good at It
Kelly McGonigal
4.08 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I enjoyed the idea of the book, but found it too long and repetitive to finish. Still, it was worth reading the part that I did as it has adjusted the way I view stress for the better :)
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Good concept and already working for me. Gets repetitive as she really drives the point home with study after study. Everything after Chapter 3 is redundant.
3.75. This book blends self-help with the science behind stress, and I really appreciated that it was written by a woman. The book sheds light on how little stress research has been done specifically for women and highlights some fascinating studies, like the "tend and befriend" response. While it wasn't life-changing, it definitely helped me start my mornings on a positive note and reshaped some of my thoughts about stress and how to manage it. Even so, this book still contained some detailed studies focused on men or rats. Overall, it's a pretty solid read with some valuable insights.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Key points:
• Bigger then self goals > self focused goals. People with the former are less likely to experience burnout, depression, and anxiety than the latter.
• There isn’t just one stress response; there’s a few. People most commonly know The Fight or Flight response but there’s also a Tend & Befriend, which secretes oxytocin that helps us feel more connected to others. Helping others elicits this response.
• Mindset is everything. If we view things as a ‘challenge’ rather than as a threat, we can feel energised rather than deflated. As such, it’s the value we put on the stressor rather than the stressor itself. The author is quick to state that this effect doesn’t mean that we do not feel physically distressed by a stressor (e.g. sweating, racing heart, shaky hands) but that we can feel mentally different about it. This is intrinsically linked to the concept of a growth mindset.
• Bigger then self goals > self focused goals. People with the former are less likely to experience burnout, depression, and anxiety than the latter.
• There isn’t just one stress response; there’s a few. People most commonly know The Fight or Flight response but there’s also a Tend & Befriend, which secretes oxytocin that helps us feel more connected to others. Helping others elicits this response.
• Mindset is everything. If we view things as a ‘challenge’ rather than as a threat, we can feel energised rather than deflated. As such, it’s the value we put on the stressor rather than the stressor itself. The author is quick to state that this effect doesn’t mean that we do not feel physically distressed by a stressor (e.g. sweating, racing heart, shaky hands) but that we can feel mentally different about it. This is intrinsically linked to the concept of a growth mindset.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced