Stress is part of being alive-without it we would not get out of bed in the morning.

The usual response to stress is an increase in effort and performance, up to a point the more stress the harder we work and the more work we get done….

There will come a point when the straight line graphical relationship between output and stress flattens and then begins to descend and performance drops off sharply.

This point will vary for different people, at different times and even for the same person at different times. We may be all able to make a particular and extra effort for a short time; but overall there is an optimal range where we work best and can sustain continuing output.

The task is to try to find that range, perhaps shift it upwards by better machinery, better reward and better health of the worker.