Pressure

Nowadays we all have pressure coming in from different settings and from different groups. Mostly we get pressure because we want something to happen and the desire turns us into anxious beings. There are many ways to handle pressure some more effective than others but it all comes down to which one is better for you. Today
I am going to recommend three simple strategies that will help you release some of the pressure that has been accumulating through various days, weeks or years.

First of I want to recommend that you read my recent comment about anguish, do not let yourself fall into it, since the pressure while only become greater and more difficult to manage.

Now back to managing pressure. I consider pressure a positive impulse and driving force if it is well managed, otherwise it will be just a lot of different feelings waiting to explode. My first recommendation is to follow a mind setting strategy that is composed of three easy tasks:

1. Take a step back, and consider what you are feeling, what is going on that makes you feel this pressure? Is it because of economic reasons? Job projects that need attending? A loved one that is having health problems? Some of your colleagues/friends/roommates that are giving you a hard time? Once you have determined what is
not working out in the way you plan or need, it is time to go a step further.

2. Build a plan, what am I talking about? a plan to take small baby steps into improving that pressure that has you gripped hard on the neck. Write the actions down, explode the plan into teeny weeny actions so they can be easily performed and will not take you a lot of time to complete. Be very explicit and most of all try
to be concise. Remember that in this moment the pressure you are feeling may seem like a monstruous thing to handle, but if you write down too many steps, what will most likely happen is that you will not follow them thoroughly. Try to put down an action plan that will consist of four or five actions whenever possible.

3. Take action, as simple as it sounds that is basically what you need to do, you have set up your plan, you know what you have to do, now is the time to do it. If you have read or heard about Getting Things Done, a book by David Allen, you will notice that this strategy uses a similar approach. For more on GTD go to David Allen’s web site or to Merlin Man's 43folders,he has a very nice blog on productivity that can be a good guide to more than just handling pressure.

The second strategy will be posted soon so try working out on this one for now.

When in doubt, do

Everybody has had times of reflection, a moment to pause and think back about the good and the bad and the ugly. Everyone has had that sort of reflection, but how many take a short moment to dedicate it to the future? It is pretty simple actually, it is just a matter of thinking what others want from you, and what you want from yourself. When this sort of ideas come into mind, you should try to put yourself in a positive state first, reflect upon those whom you love, the ones that are far from you, physically or emotionally. What kind of words do you think they might need today, what kind of words do you need today?

If we can set apart a few minutes of our daily chores to think about this small but very important things, your life will start balancing out and a more positive state of be-living will come into place. Remember that those that most need help are the ones that more desperately seem to avoid it.