Reader here!
How are you when it comes to dealing with the unexpected? When life suddenly throws an unforeseen curveball your way, and you suddenly have to shift what you’re doing, and adjust on the fly?
Usually, I’m pretty good. I think most of us have to become that way, even if it doesn’t come naturally, as life is always changing, and throwing surprises our way.
Take today, for example. I was in the newsroom, getting ready for the show, when Grayson texted me at 4:59 a.m., to let me know that he was going to sit out today, as he was not feeling well, likely due to something he ate that didn’t agree with him. (Random aside: Don’t forget to to give anything in the fridge the eye test and smell test, and check the expiration dates before consuming!)
Anyhoo, in the past, truth be told, I probably would have been freaking out, over such an unexpected development.
But, in the end, it is what it is, and you just have to strap on the helmet, get in the game, and make it happen.
I got on the air, rolled on with the show, and came through with flying colours.
Why is it that sometimes, in crunch time, we’re able to buckle down and do what we need to do?
I put the question to my handy-dandy AI assistant, and it provided some suggestions as to why that’s the case.
- Natural Boost: When deadlines loom, our body gives us a gentle nudge with a boost of adrenaline. This natural energy kick can sharpen our focus and enhance our performance, making us feel more alive and ready to tackle challenges. Think of it as your body’s way of saying, “You’ve got this!”
- Clarity Zone: There’s something about knowing the clock is ticking that helps us cut through the noise and zero in on what truly matters. With a clear end in sight, we find ourselves prioritizing effectively, letting go of distractions, and concentrating on the tasks that make the biggest impact.
- Creative Spark: Sometimes, a looming deadline is just the push we need to think outside the box. When time is tight, we’re often more willing to explore unconventional ideas and solutions that we might not consider otherwise. This urgency can ignite a creative spark, leading to breakthrough moments. Next time you find yourself in the midst of a crunch, take a deep breath and embrace the process. Trust that with a little pressure, you can unlock your potential and deliver your best work.
It makes me think of the many times in school and college when I’d put things like reports and term papers off until there was little time left to get them done. It’s not that I completely ignored them. I’d be researching and finding info to use beforehand, but I’d leave it to the last minute to actually write the papers.
In my college days in Medicine Hat, I had a routine.
Once the research was done, a day or two before the due date, I’d take my electric typewriter (this was 1996-97, and this guy didn’t have a laptop yet!), head down to the basement of my place in student residence, turn on Foo Fighters’ “The Colour and the Shape” (my official soundtrack for writing), and get down to business pounding out my papers.
And the best part was, more often than not, I’d get a pretty good grade. Admittedly, if I didn’t leave it until the last minute, they could have been even better.
But I think that when it came down to crunch time, I found it easier to cut out the fluff, and extra BS that I didn’t need, and find focus, to keep the important stuff.
Now, it’s not a method I recommend to everyone. I just happened to work for me.
Maybe that saying is true… pressure creates diamonds!
So, I want to know… How are you under pressure?
