Deadlines were made to create pressure and force a sense of urgency to complete a task. Some people thrive under pressure, using deadlines as a motivating tool to produce their best work. Others fold under pressure, allowing deadlines to pile up and bury them. This causes them to either miss the deadlines or produce mediocre work just to get it done on time.
What’s the difference between people who succeed through deadlines vs. those who let deadlines beat them down? It’s all about their response to pressure. Can you relax under pressure? If so, you will hit your deadlines with ease. If you have trouble hitting deadlines and producing your best work in a timely manner, here are some tips to relax under pressure and perform at your best…
1) Organization. It’s hard to meet deadlines if you don’t know what they are and when they are due! Come up with an organization system that works for you. Make sure your deadlines are visible and easy to access. Put a list on your phone’s lock screen, leave post-its on your bathroom mirror… Whatever it takes, make sure your deadlines are visible and easy to track.
2) Consistency. If you are making progress toward your deadlines every day, you will see success and feel a taste of achievement. On the other hand, if you blow off your deadlines for a period of time, you will feel unproductive and panicked. Consistency is key to relaxing under pressure as it will remind you that you’ve taken the right steps to reach your goal.
3) Plan your work and work your plan. Big assignments are difficult for many to start because of the overwhelming nature of it. If you are given an assignment to write 10 pages in 20 days, most people do not think half a page per day, every day. Instead, we think about the size and difficulty of writing 10 pages as if we need to write it at once. It puts a stranglehold on us and forces us to stop before we start.
Learn to break down your deadlines into consistent, achievable goals. Only look at those small parts one at a time. The bigger project will come together with ease if you do your job. Plan out what you have to do every day, then hold yourself responsible to do that part.
4) The champion’s rep. An important lesson I learned from competing in wrestling was a concept my coaches called “the champion’s rep.” The concept is simple. Whatever exercise we did, the coach would tell us to do a certain amount of reps (say 25 push-ups). We would be expected to do at least one more, because champions do more.
This concept applies well to school. If you want to feel relaxed when the pressure hits, get used to doing extra. Read one more page than is required. Write an extra paragraph. Do an extra math problem. Even if it is one more, you will be used to going above and beyond your assignments. Then, when the pressure is on, it will not feel any different than the pressure you have been putting on yourself daily. You will feel relaxed because you are giving a consistent effort, not a special one.
5) Balance. Life does not stop for a deadline. Your other priorities still matter. Family, faith, health, friends, and other responsibilities should not be put on hold for a deadline. If you are pulling all nighters and eating junk food to stay awake to study more, you will not be able to perform at your best now or in the future. As deadlines get nearer, you might have to evaluate your priorities and shift time from one area to another, but be careful not to neglect your other priorities. Find ways to meet your deadlines while maintaining your health and happiness.
6) Make it fun and purposeful! What are you hoping to achieve by meeting this deadline? How will it help you reach a bigger goal you have? What can you do to enjoy the process? Many buckle under pressure because they forget the purpose behind their work or they simply aren’t enjoying the process of working toward their goal.
Next time a deadline is causing you pressure, think about the purpose behind the deadline. Consider the ways you can make the process more enjoyable. It could be listening to music while you work, studying with friends, or even having fun rewards for yourself for reaching the daily steps needed to meet the deadline. If you are having fun and are working with purpose, it will be much easier to remain calm and collected as deadlines approach.