While too much anxiety can be debilitating, here’s a little-known fact. Just the right amount of anxiety can improve work performance. Hollywood star and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds, who has been open about his anxiety struggles, seems to agree. Recently, he admitted in an interview for People magazine that, “My job benefits greatly.” He adds, “People who have anxiety are constantly thinking into the future. You’re constantly, ‘What if this happens? What if that happens?’ You’re always telling yourself stories. So, anxiety creates that ecosystem of awareness that I wouldn’t otherwise [have]
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Research supports the fact that there’s an anxiety sweet spot when it comes to work performance. The concept began with psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson developing the Yerkes-Dodson law. The law is represented by a bell curve with low arousal (or stress) on the left side and high arousal on the right side. At the center of the curve is what is referred to as optimal arousal and performance. Depending on the task, stress provides motivation to a point. Once that point is surpassed, performance deteriorates.
While intense stress can be detrimental, the proper amount of stress can lead to optimal work performance. Here are a few benefits explaining why anxiety can give you a professional edge.
Anxiety Increases Motivation
Too little stress can keep you from reaching peak work performance. In fact, it may cause you to struggle at the office and lead to intense boredom. On the other hand, some anxiety can help you take on new challenges. That’s because feelings of stress can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that can help you feel more motivated to achieve your goals. Although stress induces nervous energy, it forces us to think about future events. For example, when you have an upcoming deadline, anxiety may help you focus to complete the project on time.
Anxiety Improves Memory
Research from the University of Waterloo published in the journal Brain Sciences, shows that an optimal level of anxiety helps improve memory. In the study, researchers gave volunteers a personality questionnaire. Based on the results, they were separated into low and high anxiety groups. Then both groups were shown a series of words with either a neutral or negative image (like a car crash) in the background. As it turns out, the high anxiety group remembered the words better. That’s because feeling anxious may help you remember things more vividly.
Anxiety Is Linked To Higher IQ
According to research, there is evidence indicating anxiety is a sign of higher intelligence. One study surveyed more than 3,000 members of the group Mensa, a non-profit high-IQ society. Researchers learned that 20% of them reported an anxiety disorder diagnosis with another 26% sharing that they had received a diagnosis for other mood disorders. Similarly, another study published in Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience revealed that people with generalized anxiety disorder were more likely to worry and have a higher IQ. Finally, a third study found a link between anxiety and academic performance. The research showed that students who reported higher levels of anxiety also scored higher on exams.
Despite its negative reputation, there are upsides to experiencing a healthy amount of anxiety at work. It can motivate you to focus on tasks, anticipate problems and overcome challenges. The key is learning to walk that fine line between optimal anxiety and anxiety that impedes work performance. By learning to embrace and harness it, you’ll benefit from a source of compassion and inner strength.