That familiar stress of too much to do and too little time is familiar to students. Especially at the end of the school year, you have the deadline of the last semester ending, and finals coming up. We may not be able to control the volume of work we encounter, but we can focus on effectively managing our workload within the available time.
For instance, if your evenings are consistently busy, it might be necessary to adjust your routine: consider going to bed earlier so you can wake up with enough time to complete your homework. However, still make sure you are getting enough sleep. It is crucial to prioritize your physical and mental health; never compromise your mind and body for the sake of completing tasks. The most positive outlook we can have when facing pressure is to view it as motivation or constructive stress to avoid the anxiety of being overwhelmed. This means that it motivates us to keep going or try harder, instead of handicapping us. Certain dominant athletes, such as Michael Jordan, thrive under pressure because it pushes them to be courageous and not overthink. You can apply this mindset to any stressful area of your life where courage is needed. However, bravery alone won’t cut it; once you feel motivated by good stress, the next step is to effectively manage the tasks ahead through prioritization and planning.
One Sunday, I checked my calendar and realized I was facing an extremely packed Wednesday. I had a meeting for my job, a class at the Berkeley Community College, optional conditioning in the weight room, and I had agreed to volunteer for the Berkeley Oratorical Fest. This was the day I discovered whiteboard planning. Instead of just looking at my calendar and seeing what I could get to, I broke out my whiteboard and wrote out everything I had to attend. I added their times and why I wanted to go to each thing. Once I had figured out my reason for wanting to attend each thing, I ranked them by importance to me. Topping the list was the Oratorical Fest because I had made a promise to be there, and next came my job meeting. I chose not to attend my class at BCC because it occurs weekly, and I could make the next one. Lastly, the weight room was optional, so I didn’t go to that either. I then mapped out how much time I would spend at each event and the process of getting from one place to another. Having a full, detailed plan eased my mind because there weren’t any unknowns anymore. I had a plan and knew how I would conquer the day, I didn’t have to keep thinking about it and overwhelm myself.
Mind.org.uk has many tips and tricks for dealing with pressure, they include setting mini goals that are more easily reachable, taking breaks and asking for help. I’ve mentioned this before but having a strong support system can lift you up, and even make you feel like you can get through anything.
I hope you finish reading this with the takeaway that stress doesn’t have to be debilitating, and can actually push you further. Writing things out and breaking them down can simplify the situation, making it easier to tackle. Finally, don’t be nervous to reach out; having help can lighten your load and lessen pressure.