Many times, I feel that there are people who truly do not feel pressured in life—people who seem to have everything worked out for them and do not need to feel inadequate or compare themselves with others. They do not seem to worry about how fast time is running while they are yet to achieve many things. I usually associate wealthy families with this category because it appears they have everything and no longer need to worry about certain struggles.
However, when critically examined, everyone, in one way or another, has experienced this or will do so at some point in life. We have seen situations where a marriageable woman from a wealthy family finds it difficult to secure a husband. At moments like that, she will feel that time is running out and that she is not doing enough to change her situation. So, you see, this feeling of pressure is not just about money or career; it applies to all aspects of life.
I have found myself in this situation many times—moments when I feel like I am not doing enough or that I am not keeping up with time. In such situations, I will not lie—I do not take things slowly. My mind will not allow that because I constantly receive reminders in my head about the task or situation at hand.
Whenever I feel such pressure, I tend to increase my effort in whatever I am doing. Just like when I was in school and noticed that my results were not meeting the standard I wanted while it seemed very easy for other students, I had to step up my study habits. I started attending extra classes, even though I was not particularly fond of them. I sacrificed my time and engaged in activities I knew would help me, even though they were not my preferences. This approach helped me a lot during my time in school.
I remember a particular period in the university when I enrolled in a tutorial class for the first time. I was no longer seen at home as often as before because my time, my brain, and even my leisure activities were sacrificed just to catch up academically. In the end, the results came out just as I had wanted.
Many people say that whenever someone feels pressured, they should take a break or relax their mind to avoid mental exhaustion. I strongly disagree with that. In the process of relaxing or taking breaks, one might lose everything.
For me, the best approach is to tackle the situation while it is still fresh. If left to pile up, the problem may grow bigger, and as we all know, time waits for no one.
Another method I use to handle pressure is allowing myself some necessary rest. In case this sounds contradictory, I do not mean resting when I should be working to solve the issue. Instead, I ensure that even in the midst of extra effort, I take compulsory rest in the form of proper sleep, eating good food, and finding moments to ease stress.
Thanks!
