Pressure Versus Stress

There's nothing wrong with healthy pressure. Challenging oneself. Pushing oneself.

Without a little pressure, most of us would stay average.

There's a problem, though: most people associate pressure with stress.

But there's a subtle difference. 

When we have to meet obligations and goals that move us forward, that creates some pressure. When we don't prepare properly, then that pressure becomes stress.

That's where the lack of sleep, inability to focus, and lashing out at friends and family come in. Yeah...not fun for anyone.

There are two keys to thriving under pressure.

First, making sure the challenge is reasonable. You can't prepare and thrive with everything if you're putting yourself under pressure with school, sports, dance, robotics, and piano all at once.

Second is making sure you're taking the steps to prepare. Because when you don't, that's when the pressure will morph into stress.

Try giving this mindset shift a try and let us know what you think.