Stress is uncomfortable. It can physically tense us and strain the mind. Psychologists have documented negative effects of stress, especially when it is chronic, on our well-being.

Thus, it might seem surprising that new research from Yale University shows that stress does not always mean less creativity. What is key for creativity is not simply how stressful our experiences are but also what psychological and job resources we bring to our work.

Psychologists have started studying the effects of stress on creativity by asking the basic question of whether mere presence of something stressful (what scientists call stressors) makes a difference for how well people can think creatively. In the laboratory, scientists created stressful situations by exposing people to physical (e.g., noise) or psychological stressors (e.g., telling them their performance would be evaluated). The research has showed that being exposed to psychological stressors, especially anticipating evaluation, can have negative consequences for creative thinking.

Other studies have taken the lessons of laboratory research into the real world, such as our experience and behavior at work. The studies zeroed in on the different kinds of stressors. They identified two groups: Challenge stressors are those with which we can cope by putting in effort and applying relevant skills (e.g., managing multiple projects at the same time), whereas hindrance stressors are those that come in the way of our work (e.g., bureaucratic red tape). Some studies showed that experiencing stress from challenges could boost........

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