How to Take the Pressure Off Yourself and Others: Let the Energy From the Pressure Work For You

Learning how to take the pressure off yourself and others regardless of its cause is vital to everyone’s mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. At times, there are no easy answers for the kinds of pressure experienced during stressful times or in difficult situations, but there are things you can do and encourage others to do, that will help.   

Take a deep breath and try to relax. 

“Quick stress relief: Fast and effective ways to rapidly reduce stress” suggests “talking about your stress with a calm and balanced listener will make you feel better instantly”. 

Consider the following suggestions, but you may need to explain how the steps you intend to take will help to reduce the pressure on you and everyone else. Some people may not be able to comprehend what you are trying to do. 

Become pro-active immediately:

Becoming proactive immediately will help to take the pressure off yourself and others. Becoming an active leader during a time of stress will put you in a unique position, where you may still experience pressure, but it will likely be different in nature. You will no longer experience the same negative feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Others will begin to turn to you for answers and it will help them to find relief from their own pressure.

Determine the source of the pressure:

Determining the source of the pressure that you and others are experiencing will put you in a position to be able to assess it realistically. It could be something you can control. You may need assistance from others to determine the source of the pressure. There are times when you have to seek professional help.    

Assess the degree of pressure:

Assessing the degree of pressure will help you determine whether it is a serious emotional, mental, spiritual threat for yourself and others. Do not panic and encourage others not to panic. Using common sense leads to appropriate action or non-action.

Determine your plan of action by setting goals:

Determining a short and long-term plan of action by setting distinct goals, changes the face of pressure. What is causing the pressure is no longer in control. You and those you delegate to assist you, have assumed control over it.

Begin to take appropriate steps to reduce the pressure:

At first, there may only be small steps that will help to reduce the pressure. Take one small step and encourage others to do the same. As you find yourself and others on solid footing, increase the size of the steps that you are taking. If you are a natural born leader, others will follow you.       

Be alert to resistance:

You may need to explain to others how the steps you are instituting will help to reduce pressure on you and everyone else because some people may recognize its merit immediately, while others may not be able to comprehend your mode of action. Work with those who understand your line of thought. Be aware that those who are resistant may have their own agenda intended to increase the pressure on you and others, not reduce it.

There will always be pressure related to stress. Let the energy from that pressure work for you, not against you.