Again, a post addressing that time of year: final exams, projects and papers. Of course this kind of advice can also be applied to any situation in which your feeling some pressure. Being under any kind of pressure requires focus.
I suggest achieving it by listening to music while you work. After you actually motivate yourself to embark on whatever feat is facing you, turn on some Vitamin String Quartet, specifically. Personally, it helps me focus by distracting me in a good way. It keeps my spirits up kind of subconsciously. I get to enjoy music I recognize without the disturbance of words, while I accomplish some work in the mean time. I've also heard music stimulates one side of your brain while studying stimulates the other. If this is true, that could explain why music distracts you but doesn't detract from your focus.
So take the edge off of under-pressure stress by staying focused with some motivating music that keeps your spirits up. And keep in mind that music like that by Vitamin String Quartet is great for this!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Under Pressure
The next few posts will include a few methods to handling life under pressure. Whether you're wrapping up a the semester and facing term papers, projects and tests, you have a heavy work load in the office or you're working on a looming deadline, my advice is to pace yourself from the beginning.
Allot time to put a dent in your work far in advance, so you have time to mentally prepare. When that time approaches, you can think back to when you scheduled it and why you wanted to get it done at that time. Even with a few weeks to get through a task, don't push it off. Pace yourself. Spreading your work out will certainly minimize stress as the due date approached, as well as offer the gratifying experience that comes from being ahead of the game or stepping up to a personal challenge.
If you need motivation to start making progress a process over time, think about instances in which you've pushed something off until the last minute or misjudged how long it would actually take to complete at you best ability. Think about the stress that brings. Pacing yourself, although it might be difficult at first, is definitely a good habit to fall into. It could also allow for a consistent amount of free time during which you can relax or get other things done. This, rather than a bunch of free time for a few weeks during which you worry about the task at hand until you really stress yourself out while scrambling to get it done last-minute.
With multiple papers and projects due at the end of two weeks from now, pacing myself has helped me through the early stages of my work. Now I just have to challenge myself to stay on track as I really have to bring everything together. My planner had notes and assignments written in it weeks in advance throughout the past month so that I'm reminded of how much I have to do, but also that it is doable.
Give this tactic to avoiding stress a shot, and wish me luck until the end of the school year!
Allot time to put a dent in your work far in advance, so you have time to mentally prepare. When that time approaches, you can think back to when you scheduled it and why you wanted to get it done at that time. Even with a few weeks to get through a task, don't push it off. Pace yourself. Spreading your work out will certainly minimize stress as the due date approached, as well as offer the gratifying experience that comes from being ahead of the game or stepping up to a personal challenge.
If you need motivation to start making progress a process over time, think about instances in which you've pushed something off until the last minute or misjudged how long it would actually take to complete at you best ability. Think about the stress that brings. Pacing yourself, although it might be difficult at first, is definitely a good habit to fall into. It could also allow for a consistent amount of free time during which you can relax or get other things done. This, rather than a bunch of free time for a few weeks during which you worry about the task at hand until you really stress yourself out while scrambling to get it done last-minute.
With multiple papers and projects due at the end of two weeks from now, pacing myself has helped me through the early stages of my work. Now I just have to challenge myself to stay on track as I really have to bring everything together. My planner had notes and assignments written in it weeks in advance throughout the past month so that I'm reminded of how much I have to do, but also that it is doable.
Give this tactic to avoiding stress a shot, and wish me luck until the end of the school year!
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