Top 5 Ways to Stay Calm under Pressure

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If you run a business, there is no doubt you must be running into pressure from time to time. Your ability to stay calm even while under pressure counts for much in your productivity index. What that means is that your ability to manage your emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to your performance on the job. Therefore, if you want to stay calm under pressure, learn to do these here 5 things.

01. Staying positive. Staying positive is one great way to avoid being stressed up. Positive thoughts help make stress intermittent by focusing your brain’s attention onto something that is completely stress-free. When things are going well, and your mood is good, it is relatively easy to handle. But when things are going poorly, and your mind is flooded with negative thoughts, this can be a challenge. Your way around such challenges is to have something positive that you're ready to shift your attention to when your thoughts turn negative. That way, you can manage to remain calm even while facing real challenges.

02. More rest and sleep. Credible research has shown that that the stress hormone cortisol is greatly reduced with better rest and sleep. When you sleep well, your brain literally recharges and your body rejuvenates. That way, you can think better and more clear-headed in your thinking. But when you are deprived of sleep and rest, your stress hormone levels go up and that presents a real challenge to your productivity. Getting enough sleep and rest enables you to remain calm even under stressful conditions.

03. Limiting your caffeine intake. Caffeine is a well known stimulant present in common beverages like tea and coffee. Ingesting caffeine somehow helps to trigger the release of adrenaline which is a “fight-or-flight” hormone.  The more caffeine you take, the higher your “fight-or-flight” response, a survival mechanism which defies rational thinking. In such hyper-aroused state induced by caffeine, your emotions somehow manage to overrun your behavior. That is clearly a stressed-up scenario. Ingesting less caffeine therefore, is one sure way to stay calm even under pressure.

04. Engaging more support system. Taking on too many tasks at a time and heaping much more on yourself is stress-inducing. To be calm and productive, you need to recognize your weaknesses/limitations and ask for help when you need it. That is a very smart thing to do anytime you have too much on your plate. One great way out of stress is to tap into your support system when you find yourself in a situation challenging enough for you to feel overwhelmed. Getting a helping hand during such challenges is one way to stay calm and be productive.  Asking for help in times of need helps to mitigate your stress level and strengthens your relationships with the people you regularly rely upon to help out in such scenarios.

05. Routinely disconnecting. Every human being has his own limits of endurance and it varies from person to person. Disconnecting is a way of shifting attention away from the work at hand to focus on other mundane matters which may or may not be directly related to the work at hand. That way you can refocus and somehow get rejuvenated when you turn your attention back to your main work. For example, if you work online, sometimes, forcing yourself offline and taking a short walk, stretching out and grabbing a cup of tea or coffee can help you disconnect somewhat. This is one more very smart way to maintain some measure of calmness even while working under tremendous pressure.

 

High Value Traits of a Good Mentor

Have you ever had a mentor? If you haven’t, you are not alone. Even people who have had mentors still don’t understand the relationship between Mentors and Mentees. Many simply see a Mentee as a young intern or co-worker or someone always looking up to another person for help. Truth is, mentorship is for any and everyone, of any age, who seeks knowledge and wants to get ahead in business or in life in general. Merriam-Webster defines a mentor as “someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and, often, younger person.” The rule is not just to approach anyone to be your mentor. If you want a good mentor, look for the following high-value traits. 

Truthfulness

A good mentor must be honest and truthful at all times. You do not need anyone who flatters you as a mentor. Telling you the truth to your face as a way of encouraging you is all that you need in a mentor. A good mentor should always be truthful with the advice dispensed, even if it stings a little. A straight-shooting mentor in the long run is always more beneficial than someone who is constantly praising you.

Trustworthy and Confidential

Mentors and Mentees relationship is best when based on trust and confidentiality.  The relationship is stronger and most beneficial when these conditions exist. For the mentorship to succeed, there must be a certain level of discretion and trust. This is because mentees need to feel that they can talk to their mentor about anything or any challenge they're facing, without fears of repercussion or any form of loss or reprisals. 

Generous with Information

When you come across someone knowledgeable and generous with that knowledge, you have a good mentor. That is because good mentors are always willing to share what they know with their Mentees. They willingly share information for the benefit of their Mentees and not for their own personal glory or aggrandizement. Good mentoring takes time and commitment, but both parties must set realistic expectations that are agreed upon ahead of time. Mentees must however not take undue advantage over their mentors’ time and privacy. That is what makes the relationship really beneficial.