Three tips for dealing with the pressure of meeting a deadline
Dear Tanja,
I am having trouble finding inspiration for a project, and stress is building up as the deadline approaches. The more effort I put into working on it, the longer I sit with a blank mind on where to start or what to do. How can I work through this?
Working on a deadline, feeling the pressure, and not finding inspiration is challenging. In this case, you have two tasks. The obvious- meeting your deadline. The not-so-obvious- getting yourself to a place where you can tap back into your creativity. The second task is often overlooked, especially when we are under pressure to finish something.
Here are three tips for dealing with the pressure of meeting a deadline.
1- Give yourself space
Sometimes, the more we focus on something, the less we see it. Give yourself permission to step away from the pressure, even if it’s just for a moment. Replace the act of sitting in front of your computer with a blank frustrated mindset with a hike or walk. It might sound counterproductive, but changing your environment will change your energy and invite a fresh flow of creativity. You’ll probably think of ideas while you are outside and return to the office ready to get them on paper!
2- Meditate
The value of meditating is underrated in work environments. Before starting on this project, give yourself 20 minutes to meditate. Rest your mind, release the pressure, and approach the project from a clear perspective. If you are new to meditation, you can follow a guided meditation to help. You can accompany this meditation with breathwork. Depending on how you feel, you can find the right type of breathwork to find balance. For example, if you feel anxious, do some calming rounds of breath like 4-7-8.
3- Stretch
Give yourself a moment to move your body and stretch. Our bodies hold tension, stress, and pressure, among many other things. Taking the time to stretch can help release some of the emotions that might be holding you back from engaging with your work. Close your eyes for a moment and consider where in your body you are feeling resistance. Is it a tightness in your neck? Are you clenching your jaw? Are your palms in a fist? Once you identify it, focus on some movement and stretches that can loosen and alleviate that part of your body.
I hope you incorporate one of these practices into your day and feel the difference as you approach deadlines, stress, and general work challenges. Wishing you the best!
What would you add? What will you try? Share in the comments. Let’s keep working together to keep the office vibes up!
