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The Good Stress and its Sleepy Friend

One of the best things about my practice as a business lawyer is the opportunity to work with people in all areas of commerce. From bakers to doctors, I assist all kinds of business owners who share interesting developments in their areas of work. Some months ago, the owner of a med-spa casually told me that she was trying to increase “good stress” and decrease “bad stress.” She continued talking about her plans for making certain other adjustments in her life, we finished working with the documents I was reviewing, and she left our meeting.

As I was eating my lunch that day, the idea of different types of stress intrigued me. By the end of the day, I could not wait to get to bed, take my computer out, and start researching stress. I did, and I discovered that I was completely ignorant about stress.

Not only are there different types of stress, but our bodies need the good kind of stress. For example: bones and muscles need to be stressed to produce bone and muscle mass and keep us healthy. Our brain needs to be challenged and “stressed” in a good way to keep us sharp, and there is a beautiful type of stressed state that makes us super productive: it is called being “engaged” with our work. That was mind-blowing. Technically, when we are engaged in work, we are stressed, but it is not bad stress; it is the brain equivalent of working out. That state of stress is where we produce our best work, have great ideas, and are capable of pushing our businesses and pursuing our goals. Wow!

What was most shocking was learning that we cannot be in this state all the time. If we do not rest, then this good state of engagement becomes tiredness and, hence, bad stress. We have to get to that point of being engaged, dedicate it strategically to our best work, and then release and rest—or engage in less “important” work. WOW!!! This was a strategy game.

Calendaring, in my eyes, transformed from a ministerial task to a high-stakes mission: harvest my best “brain product” at its peak, and then plant and cultivate sufficient energy and rest so I could be engaged again in the future. I had to treat my body and mind differently. I needed a plan.

I also learned that the key in this balancing act is the stress-and-recovery game: our body and mind’s capacity to endure stress and then come back to the original baseline. The amazing thing is that once the body recuperates from good stress, it comes back better—immersed in the good kind of chemicals, sharper, and ready to take on life’s challenges and joys.

After learning all of that, I was obsessed with trying something to increase the good kind of stress, but I had no clue what my baseline was, or what indicators would give me numbers to start. That is when my research guided me to wearable devices that measure all kinds of health indicators—heart rate, temperature, oxygen levels, etc. I saw many, and because I was focused on studying my levels of stress, and Oura seemed like the leader in that type of measurement, I got my Oura ring. I have been using it for months, and it has really transformed the way I see my body.

I normally would not write about health. I am not a doctor. However, the transformation I see in my ability to work and make business decisions—from little changes motivated by the valuable information I receive from my Oura Ring—is worth sharing. Personally (and of course this is not medical advice—again, I am a humble lawyer, not a doctor), I have found the sleep and stress measures incredibly helpful.

When I started wearing the ring, I noticed that in weeks when I went to bed and woke up around the same time, I would have better sleep numbers compared to the weeks I had random bedtimes. Even if the total hours I slept were comparable, the quality of sleep was radically different.

Moreover, I was shocked to see how those numbers translated into the times I was in “good stress” (engaged) during the day, and I also saw that those weeks I was making better decisions. I exercised more, and when I really did my homework and evaluated my eating habits, I noticed that the weeks I had lower sleep scores, I fell for the “temptations.” Thanks to our omnipresent cameras, I saw myself in social media indulging in all kinds of pastelitos, empanadas, and all other deliciousness always available at my usual networking events. On the other hand, I saw that when my sleep numbers were high, I not only completed more work, I also ate better. I went to the same places, I saw my usual networking groups, but I did not fall for the food. That was eye-opening.

I was raised in a culture of hard work. I prized myself for being competitive, hardworking, and always busy. As a lifelong student and history enthusiast, I pride myself on pulling all-nighters reading a book, completing a project, or just being engaged in research. However, as I was seeing in numbers the direct and immediate impact of good sleep on my life, I converted.

I am now a preacher of the “sacred sleep” scriptures, and I have modified things in my calendar to accommodate the advice of my beloved Oura Ring. Armed with technology, I actively aim for a good sleep number, and I keep an eye on my stress levels. I have now blocked off my time in the late morning for my most important work, which is what my numbers show to be my normal engaged time, and I feel so much more satisfaction from the work. 

I know this is not the kind of information you expect from your business lawyer. However, as I am getting older in my life and my practice, I grow convinced that the real motivation for opening a business is to be happy—and happiness is found in simple things like sleeping well. We can be better business owners if we are rested. So maybe it is sound business advice…

I hope this tickles your curiosity about the new tech that allows us to learn more about our bodies, and that you check out some of those amazing devices. As I said, I am using the Oura and I am researching the Whoop band, but I make no other recommendations than getting curious and looking into the tech. Maybe you find something that helps you be more productive and happier. The key is that this new year you add yourself to your business plan. If the business owner is well, the business is better. Take care of yourself and prosper.

I am adding a link to the ring I am using in case you are curious: https://ouraring.com