Challenge Tips

Assess Your Stress Level With the Stress Continuum

Recognizing and addressing stress levels is essential for personal well-being, workplace productivity, and healthy relationships. The Stress Continuum (PDF), originally developed for the military and first responders, provides a framework to identify and communicate stress levels. It divides stress into different zones, ranging from green (healthy stress levels) to red (severe stress or burnout).

Here's how it works: Most people live day-to-day in the green and yellow zones, where stress is manageable (and even motivating). When you enter the orange or red zones, it's a signal that your stress has reached a critical level. This is the time to take action to restore balance and well-being.

Understanding when you and your team members are under stress can help all of you create a more supportive work environment that encourages self-care and healthy habits.

Your Action for Today

Consider sharing the short Stress Self-Assessment Quiz, developed by the American Nurses Foundation with your peers or colleagues. Each of you will learn where you fall on the Stress Continuum, and receive personalized resources tailored to your stress level.

High levels of stress can cause cloudy judgment and lead to impulsive or ineffective decisions. When your team addresses their stress levels effectively, all of you can manage challenges more proactively, seek appropriate support, and prevent burnout.

Join us on day 5 sneak peek: Identify and discuss burnout before it becomes a serious problem.

Missed day 3? Catch up here.