How to deal with pressure
Don’t let life circumstances take over — try these 7 tips
Remember those teenage days where we wanted to be our own self without giving in to the crowd? The pressure to do the right thing was, at times, quite heavy for our young minds. Or the time when we got our first job and had to juggle multiple tasks all at once. The pressure to perform and gain recognition at work was immense, to say the least. Or when we wanted to pursue a different career from the one our parents had been planning for you. The pressure to give in was indeed debilitating.
Trust me, whatever the situation, we’ve all been there.
Whether it’s a hectic job or family commitments, dealing with pressure is the need of the hour. Sometimes, life situations put us under duress while at other times, we are burdened by the weight of our own dilemmas and expectations.
If you think that things would smoothen out eventually, you may be right. Bad times don’t last, and what feels overwhelming today does ease out tomorrow.
I have realised, in my nearly three decades of existence, that it’s not possible to completely do away with the pressure—such is the nature of life. So why not find your own ways to deal with it?
Here are some tactics that help me personally and may come in handy for you too:
- First, just breathe
Relax, take a deep breath. It seems difficult but you’ve got this. Don’t panic under pressure, it only makes things worse. It’s really important to take a step back and reset, and a deep breath helps a lot with that. Your manager will create a false sense of urgency for every task. Don’t take pressure for every thing!
2. Change your environment
Sometimes, staying in one place can also seemingly increase the burden on us. For example, during COVID days, a lot of us were facing family pressures from various fronts, and being confined to home all the time did not help. It’s a good idea to change the environment which is inducing pressure for you. This will help give you some mental relief and serve as a breath of fresh air.
3. Share your thoughts
In the same way a pressure cooker lets off steam, you also need to sometimes just vent it out. Find a trusted confidante, a friend or even a therapist who will patiently hear you out. Share the entire story with them and let it all go. Even if the pressure does not vanish, it will feel more manageable and easier to deal with.
4. Be with nature
The moment you learn how to disconnect with your stressing environment, you are already a level ahead. Take a walk in the park, bask in the warm sunshine and listen to the trees rustle. Listen to the sounds of the birds chirruping. Even simply going out in the fresh air would help. You’ll find that your pressure has instantly dissipated at least temporarily. Nature has the power to heal!
5. Take small breaks
Sitting at your desk and re-working that work report for hours under immense pressure will not make you more productive. However, if you just leave your desk for some time and take a small walk in the office, or just let your brain wander as you look out of the balcony, you’ll find yourself come back energised and ready to take the task head on!
6. Listen to music
Sometimes, all we need is to block out the noises outside and just tune into our inner voice. Music really helps with that! In moments of extreme pressure, just listening to an uplifting melody can work wonders. And it also puts your own situation into perspective — the lyrics give you a new insight into life.
7. Cry it out
Stop suppressing your emotions and just let it out. Crying is really helpful sometimes; it’s our body’s way of relieving the stress and letting go of the pressure. Even if you may not find a solution to your worries, you will be in a more relaxed state of mind to tackle your problems head on.
How do you deal with high pressure situations? Let’s talk in the comments!
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