TY - JOUR
T1 - Designing a eustress toolbox
T2 - From entrepreneur experiences to an online service
AU - Heikkilä, Päivi
AU - Mattila, Elina
AU - Ainasoja, Mari
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was realized as part of the Quaero Programme, funded by OSEO, French State agency for innovation. - The idea dates back to 1998 when one of the authors (VS) worked at Philips Research Labs, Aachen. First experiments were done by Hauke Schramm, now at Fachhochschule Kiel.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Päivi Heikkilä, Elina Mattila, & Mari Ainasoja, and the Open Science Centre, University of Jyväskylä.
PY - 2018/8
Y1 - 2018/8
N2 - Stress is typically seen as a negative phenomenon. However, the positive side of stress (i.e., eustress) has the potential to improve well-being, productivity, and innovativeness, thus increasing individuals' daily resources at work. Focusing on eustress could enhance work engagement by turning some of the negatively perceived stressors into positive challenges. We explored this possibility by interviewing 21 Finnish entrepreneurs from various fields regarding their experiences of eustress. Nine of the interviewed entrepreneurs also recorded a eustress diary. Based on thematic analysis of the interview data, six main themes supporting eustress were identified: (a) Self-reflection toward changing the mindset, (b) Organizing work, (c) Stimulating positive pressure, (d) Harnessing a feeling of joy, (e) Mental preparation, and (f) Recovery. A Web-based service, the Eustress Toolbox, was designed to support practicing eustress skills related to the six main themes within the daily lives of the entrepreneurs.
AB - Stress is typically seen as a negative phenomenon. However, the positive side of stress (i.e., eustress) has the potential to improve well-being, productivity, and innovativeness, thus increasing individuals' daily resources at work. Focusing on eustress could enhance work engagement by turning some of the negatively perceived stressors into positive challenges. We explored this possibility by interviewing 21 Finnish entrepreneurs from various fields regarding their experiences of eustress. Nine of the interviewed entrepreneurs also recorded a eustress diary. Based on thematic analysis of the interview data, six main themes supporting eustress were identified: (a) Self-reflection toward changing the mindset, (b) Organizing work, (c) Stimulating positive pressure, (d) Harnessing a feeling of joy, (e) Mental preparation, and (f) Recovery. A Web-based service, the Eustress Toolbox, was designed to support practicing eustress skills related to the six main themes within the daily lives of the entrepreneurs.
KW - Digital services
KW - Entrepreneur interviews
KW - Eustress
KW - Human-centered design
KW - Positive stress
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Work engagement
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058978714&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.17011/ht/urn.201808103818
DO - 10.17011/ht/urn.201808103818
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85058978714
SN - 1795-6889
VL - 14
SP - 233
EP - 257
JO - Human Technology
JF - Human Technology
IS - 2
ER -