Shift Your Mindset: How to Stay Calm & Focused Under Pressure
Emma Hughes
Senior brand & content manager for leading innovation software brand and weekend entrepreneur
Our mindset is a powerful tool that can either help or hinder when it comes to coping with stress and navigating pressure. While it's completely natural to feel overwhelmed or anxious when faced with a challenging situation, a flexible mindset can help us remain calm and focused, allowing us to more easily navigate difficult circumstances.
One way to adopt a flexible mindset is to approach challenges with an open and curious attitude. Instead of viewing obstacles as roadblocks, try to see them as opportunities for growth and learning. For example, if you're struggling with a project / issue you are facing, try to approach it with a fresh perspective by:
1. Stepping away from your usual working environment to feel inspired and shift your usual view.
2. Seeking input from colleagues - the simple act of saying stuff out loud and asking others' opinions often solves a problem.
3. My personal fave -?Listen to podcasts by people that inspire you.
By being open to new ideas and perspectives, you may discover solutions that you hadn't previously considered.
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Another way to develop a flexible mindset is to focus on the things that are within your control. When faced with uncertainty or change, it's easy to become overwhelmed by things that are outside of our control. Instead, focus on what you can do to manage the situation, whether it's by developing a plan, seeking support from colleagues, or practicing self-care such as regular exercise, sitting quietly for a few minutes each morning, getting enough sleep or taking breaks when needed.
By focusing on what you can control, you can reduce stress and build resilience.
Adopting a flexible mindset that adapts to pressure requires a willingness to approach challenges with an open and curious attitude, focusing on what is within our control and practicing self-compassion and self-care.
By cultivating a growth-oriented mindset that embraces challenges and opportunities, we can build resilience and navigate difficult circumstances with greater ease and confidence.
I do understand (first hand) it's easier said than done - but in its most simplest form, how we manage our response to stress and pressure, is all just practice. If we get it wrong, we learn from it, dust ourselves down and have another pop.