How can I create an environment that fosters growth? This page explains the importance of balancing high stress and recovery for optimal growth.
Humans evolved needing two types of (enriched) environments; high stress and high recovery. In the former, we are completely on, whereas in the latter, we are entirely off.
The first enriched environment is highly stressful. Here, we push ourselves to our limits, but not beyond them—this would cause distress. Positive stress makes us stronger, but only when we allow ourselves to recover from it. This is what happens in the second enriched environment of rest and rejuvenation.
In a way, our growth depends on the quality of our recovery. When we don’t recover from exercise, we become physically weak. In the mental domain, 84% of creative and mental breakthroughs happen while not at work.
In today’s techno-dominant world, it’s hard to create such a deep recovery environment. Fear of missing out prevents us from putting in effort to do so.
Most environments are optimised for distraction, neither for performance nor for recovery. You need willpower to act in desired ways, be it relaxing or performing.