Life is like riding a bicycle. There will be a time that you’re on the top or at the bottom. You’d be thrilled to be at the top but, before that, you have to go through many challenges that life will throw at you. Allowing pressure to take control over you is not only unproductive, but you will also waste a lot of precious time worrying. To make sure everything runs smoothly, here are 9 ways to stay calm under pressure.
Take a breather
If you’re at work, try go to the cafeteria, pantry, or an empty meeting room to find some peace of mind. You will not be able to achieve anything by staring at the computer screen at your desk with a chaotic mind. Just take a deep breath and relax.
Identify what you can control
Try not to get too overwhelmed by the pile of tasks waiting for you and forget about the things that are beyond your control. Once your head is clear, you just need to plan your next steps. Manage what you can control first. You can always ask for help if you get stuck later on.
Prepare a to-do list
Your mind will be much clearer when you list down all the things you need to do. Don’t just scribble them all over the place. Instead of using recycled paper, try a notebook or daily planner so that everything is more organized. Include the deadline for each task to make it easier for you to plan.
Tackle the urgent matters first
It might be the ones you dread the most, but you will feel extremely relieved once you get urgent tasks out of the way. It doesn’t matter if you need a whole day to complete it. Go for the difficult items first and the rest can wait. Simpler tasks will not require too much of your time.
Don’t multi-task
You might hit a roadblock and jump to another task, but it’s a waste of time and you will eventually feel more stressed. Focus on one thing at a time. Otherwise, you are most likely going to do things half way and end up not completing anything. This will then bring you back to square one.
Avoid spending too much time with negative people
If your colleagues or boss add on to your pressure, try to minimise your time with them. Focus on your tasks instead. Don’t let anxious or pessimistic people drift you back to where you started. Take control over your thoughts and ignore all the negativity.
Get enough sleep
It’s important that you have sufficient rest in order to be productive. Avoid staying up all night to finish a project. If you’re too tired, get some sleep and continue the first thing in the morning. You will not be able to concentrate if you feel like a zombie!
Don’t skip your meals
You will be able to think better when you eat when you’re supposed to. Try not to skip breakfast or lunch just to focus on your tasks. You don’t want to end up with gastric pain or migraines. Your brain could use some rest too.
Ignore the distractions
If you find phone calls, co-workers, or emails distracting – Just ignore them until your task is done. If you keep entertaining everything and everyone that require your attention, you will probably never get anything done.
