The Link Between Stress and Productivity: The Yerkes-Dodson Law ⚡

Stress isn’t always the villain—it can actually fuel performance. The Yerkes-Dodson Law shows that productivity follows an “inverted U-curve”:

🟢 Too little stress? You’re bored, unmotivated, distracted.

🟡 Moderate stress? You’re sharp, focused, and energized—this is the sweet spot.

🔴 Too much stress? You’re overwhelmed, anxious, and performance crashes.

Think of it like lifting weights: a little resistance builds strength, but overload can break you. The same applies to deadlines, presentations, or business growth—pressure helps, until it doesn’t.

✅ How to find your sweet spot:

Break big tasks into chunks to avoid overload.

Use deadlines as motivation, not panic triggers.

Balance stress with recovery: sleep, exercise, mindfulness.

Know your signs—when focus shifts to anxiety, it’s time to reset.

Bottom line: Stress is a tool. Managed well, it pushes you to your best. Mismanaged, it burns you out. Learn to ride the curve, and you’ll un

lock peak productivity.