How to Work Under Pressure: When it comes to the topic of work pressure, it is not just those earning that encounter it. Life itself is so fast-paced and stressful, that you encounter pressure in your daily lives. Whether you are getting an education or learning a trade or running a business, it is something you would come to know so well. For some, it is more intense than others. When certain tasks mount a lot of pressure on some people, they sometimes, cower and fail because of the weight of their working conditions.
Learning how to work under pressure would not only help you at your workplace, it would also prepare you for life. There is another set bat that would interestingly complete the task given to them albeit with an end-product that is not even half as good as it would have turned out, had the pressure not existed. This is limited now to a question of productivity. This is why this article isn’t just about chucking out fair results or just completing your tasks. It is about becoming efficient and productive even under pressure.
When you adequately prepare yourself for a task, you’re halfway through it. This is why we have carefully complied these keys, all ten of them, to help you reach your full potential at work.
10 Effective Tips On How to Work Under Pressure
They are as follows;
1. Always plan: We say this to you with the assumption that you know your work and the patterns of pressure that comes with it. If you don’t, the way to find out is by simply checking out the history or what that particular task would require. Ask yourself questions like;
`When am I usually expected to do these tasks?’
`What are the usual headlines given?’
`What would it take to complete or carry out this task?’
Asking yourself the above questions would give you an idea of what the task would require so you can start planning. If such a task would require special materials, you can start beforehand to get the materials that you need ready. Also knowing what you are about to face, helps your mind deal with it. Unless the task in question is impromptu, don’t let your work requirements ambush you.
2. Break down your task into parts: Breaking down your tasks into bits would help you manage yourself through the pressure. You can start by arranging them in whatever order that is convenient for you. You can start from the least or most pressing (depending on what feels best for you) and then work your way up.
Another benefit of breaking down your tasks is that you would stop looming at the tasks as colossal or impossible. All you need to do after this is a start.
3. Be Positive-minded: To succeed while under pressure, you have to handle yourself properly. Be positive. See the task as something you can easily surmount and you just might!
Sidebar: Know that a lot of pressure could come from your negative attitude to work. Fix it, if it exists.
4. Avoid Procrastination: Another thing you should refrain from is putting off any of your responsibilities. What happens when you do that is that they crystallize, and become more difficult to solve. If it is something you have to study for, start as early as you can. Set reminders and personal deadlines. Sometimes, it might feel like it is something you can put off for a later date, don’t. Face it, handle it and move on from it.
To avoid procrastination, you would need a lot of discipline. To build the latter, you need to start with small bits of the main tasks. Set dates for completion and try your best to keep to them. Over time, you would find that there is so much more stress tolerance.
5. Find ways to make your task a little fun: There is one thing the human body works well with and that is fun. This is not to recommend that you take your work for granted. Rather, find ways to get creative with the assignment you have been given. You can create playlists of songs to listen to, while you work or just fun ideas to infuse into your work. All in all, change the way you view your tasks.
6. Draw lessons from the past: There are chances that this isn’t the first time you have had to work under pressure. You may have encountered it in the past, perhaps of a lower degree. You need to learn from it. Again, ask yourself questions like;
How did you handle your work exactly?
What parts of it proved problematic for you?
These questions would help you prepare yourself to respond differently to those particular parts of your previous tasks and will go a long way in yielding results for you.
However, this does not mean you should focus on the failed tasks. The fact that you yielded to the pressure in the last task does not mean you are going to do the same, this time. Just check for possible patterns in the past and focus on the present task at hand.
7. Ignore external expectations: A lot of times, when we have tasks ahead of us, there could be high expectations from family and colleagues alike. As much as moral support is invaluable, remove yourself from these expectations and focus solely on your work. This is especially for scholars who have to write one periodic exam or another. Choose simply to hold yourself by your standards.
Sidebar: You also have to check yourself for lofty expectations as well. Don’t focus too much on the future as much as the present.
8. Be confident in your abilities: Part of the reason why people do not do well with pressure is that there is not a lot of confidence in the room. When you believe in your skills, there is an ease with which you go about your job, regardless of the deadlines.
9. Let the pressure propel you: There is a popular saying that pain is the most effective catalyst. With this in mind, instead of letting the pressure make you less productive, try channeling the pressure into completing your tasks. Identify the source of the pressure and redirect it. Realize that this is something that can propel your career and your ability to handle future projects.
10. Practise when you can: Nothing becomes a life skill without constant practice. Practice completing your assigned tasks with tight deadlines and not-so-comfortable situations. You can set some of these tasks yourself or step outside your comfort zone for more. Get new certifications, undergo training sessions if you can. Become better after each task.
In conclusion, remember to eat well and stay healthy. You cannot put a body is that is scarcely taken care of, under pressure. Eat meals that are vitamin-concentrated and exercise. You can take long walks from time to time and listen to calm music. When your body is in top shape, you can achieve so much more.
