IT’S official, stress is good for you. Stress, that is, of the short term variety, not the type that leads you down the route of high blood pressure and the like.
Firdaus Dhabhar of Stanford University School of Medicine has been conducting experiments for well over a decade on the effects of the major stress hormones on the immune system. According to the research by, the so-called “fight or flight” response may boost the immune system.
Apparently, work-related stress could have a similar positive effect on the immune system as that experienced by impala dealing with the stress of lurking predators. So, next time you’re munching on the workplace equivalent of a bit of dry grass (in other words, skiving by taking a cheeky look at Facebook) bear in mind that the fear of being caught by your boss is good for you and will probably produce a cut in workplace sick days. How’s that for creativity?! And if that doesn’t work, just tell your boss you think of him as a lion, as ‘king of the working jungle’ and, shortly before he calls the men in white coats just see if you don’t spot his chest swell a little.
