How to Shine Under Pressure

Late nights and long hours? No problem. Strict deadlines? You’ve got it covered.

This is the type of grace-under-pressure attitude that so many virtual assistants aspire to have. Unfortunately, being an efficient worker not something that comes easily to many.

Everybody feels pressure at work. Yes, even the ‘lucky ones’ who get to do online work and make money from home. One of the things that sets an efficient worker apart from the rest is their ability to thrive under pressure.

Want to excel under pressure? Follow these tips.

• Get help from technology.

There are so many apps today that aim to help people work better under pressure. From meditation apps to productivity apps, you’ve got so many options when it comes to making stressful situations a lot easier. Take advantage of these apps. You might need to do some trial and error as different methods work differently for each person, but the benefits you’ll get when you find the right app or method for you will be worth it.

• Have a game plan.

What makes high-pressure scenarios even more stressful is the lack of a strategy. Take some time before starting a project to plan out how you will tackle each aspect, how long you should be taking on each task, and what complications you should be able to foresee. Having even a rough mental picture of how your workday is going to pan out will be incredibly helpful when it’s time to navigate through the difficult situation.

• Take a deep breath, have a cup of coffee, and just relax.

Sounds counterproductive? Not really. You can’t force your brain to work if you’re super stressed out. Take a couple of minutes away from your computer and do some breathing exercises or have a cup of coffee. You might even want to take a nap or go for a walk. Just get away from everything for a while so you can recharge and regroup.

• Reward yourself for a job well done.

Treat yourself after successfully working through a difficult, high-pressure situation. You can do this in simple ways. If you had to work for 24 hours straight due to a looming deadline, then take the next day off if possible. You might even want to go to a spa, eat at your favorite restaurant or do an activity that you absolutely love. Just do something that makes you happy so that you can reset your mood and give yourself a fresh boost of energy and positive outlook.

• Don’t make it a habit.

No matter how great you’ve become at handling stressful situations, it’s still unhealthy to be under pressure all the time. When work is slow, try to do some of your regular tasks in advance. This way, you’ll have more time to allot to unexpected and urgent tasks.

It’s also important to assess why you’ve been thrust into these high-pressure situations in the first place. Is it because you like cramming? If that’s the case, then it’s something that you can resolve. You want to only be under pressure because of something you can’t control not because of something avoidable that you caused yourself.

There are two types of virtual assistants: those who crumble under pressure and those who shine even brighter when placed in stressful situations. If you want to have a great career in this industry, make sure you belong to the latter group.