3 Super Practical Ways of Handling Pressure!

How much of a grasp do you have on handling pressures in your life? Do the they weigh you down? Have you ever been on the receiving end of life's devastating blows? Was the breath knocked out of you? 

You are not alone! Some things will always remain out of your control. However, here's the good news...

These 3 Super Practical Tips of Handling Pressure Will Help You Navigate life's pressure-filled moments!

Handling pressure pretty much comes naturally these days! Being a 46-year-old woman who's married, with three children at home, and near the end of my graduate school career, I can say confidently that my life is full of all kinds of pressures!

I feel the pressure to be the perfect wife, mom, and added provider in our home. Let's not forget the pressure to be an attentive friend, TikTok star, volunteer extraordinaire, and socially likable at real-life events when hiding behind a keyboard is not an option. Life can be challenging, and it is necessary to take practical steps to manage the pressure we face in our lives.

Recently, my family faced an out-of-the-blue illness that landed my husband in the hospital for nearly a week. I felt pressure to handle the situation perfectly, which was exhausting. (I am a failed perfectionist. However, it does not keep me from trying.) I discovered I couldn't do it all, no matter how hard I tried!

These are the 3 Most Practical Tips I have About Handling Pressure after my recent ordeal!

Tips for Handling Pressure

Tip #1 for Handling Pressure

GET REST

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), rest is essential for brain function. Lack of sleep can cause a person's memory to lapse, mood swings, and even cause heart problems. You can read all about the APA's findings by clicking here.

Our recent health crisis began with a phone call from my husband while I was at work. First, he never calls me because we are texters. Secondly, he never calls me at work. I pick up the phone and hear my husband's voice, "Okay, don't panic." What else would evoke a panic response except to be told not to panic? "I feel like I am having a heart attack," he says, "and I am sitting in the hospital's parking lot deciding whether or not to go inside."

Insert a crazy amount of pressure here!

I wanted to be an attentive, supporting, loving, and caring wife, so I left work and headed to the hospital. Thanks to Emergency Room restrictions, no visitors were allowed. Once again, I felt pressure to wait – in my car! Five hours of waiting later, my husband convinced me to go home, which was an hour away, rest, and care for our children.

A week that would take a turn for the worse began with a lack of sleep. I needed to be present mentally for my husband.

Lack of rest clouds our ability to handle pressure and manage stressful situations properly.

It's critical that we get some rest in these moments!

Tip #2 for Handling Pressure

Be Honest

What did I learn from our recent crisis and handling the pressure of life's challenges? I had to be honest. I could not count the times someone said, "Let me know if you need anything," and I stayed silent. The only way to successfully manage the unexpected pressure I was facing was to be honest.

When someone asked what I needed, I responded truthfully. "My kids needed to be fed." I could not help them because I was an hour away.

I was honest with the expectations of my seventeen-year-old, who was left home with our twelve and seven-year-old. She held down the fort like an awesome teenager would do!

It is okay to ask for help and need it when faced with unexpected pressures of life.

Honesty with ourselves and others helps navigate pressure that knocks the ground from under our feet. It is okay to need help from others!

Tip #3 for Handling Pressure

Be Realistic

Realistically, the hospital was an hour away. On day one, I did not get enough rest. On day two, I thought he was being released from the hospital, and reality hit me head-on, plans changed, and pressures mounted. Not only did I become candid, but I also became vulnerable to the truth I was facing. I had to be realistic to make it through the unexpected adventure life was taking me on. I was not Wonder Woman and could not do everything on my own.

Be realistic with yourself and how much you can handle!

What are your strengths in this situation? What do you know is your weakness? Be realistic with the expectations of others and be grateful for the small, thoughtful ways people reach out to you. I have found it easier to handle pressure when approaching situations with a sense of reality. If all else fails, go back to step one and take another nap.

Life is challenging without the added pressure of unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves.

I hope my recent experience gave you the practical tips you need for your next pressure-building life event. Make sure you get the proper rest, be honest with yourself and others, and set realistic expectations for yourself.

Let me know in the comments below how you have faced pressure-filled moments and if these three tips will help you in the future. 

You got this!

Saying Goodbye to Anxious,

Nikki U.