STRESS AS A BADGE OF HONOR

Do you subscribe to the notion that excess stress is unavoidable and needed for success. If you are not stressed you are not achieving. Is it common for you to answer to How are you? with I am stressed. I recently came across the work of Paul McKenna where he introduced the term "busyholism". Essentially, we are conditioned to believe that we constantly have to be doing something to be productive. The more busy you are the more productive. Or are you? In effect, the opposite may be true. To be most productive we need periods of meaningful rest where you unburden your body and mind. I dare you to try it. Initially I found it really hard and unconfortable to be resting. But little by little I started to experience the benefits: better sleep, better focus, more efficient at my tasks, but more importantly I started having a much better mood. Any additional thoughts or techniques to try?