Handling the Pressure of Being a Student or an Educator

Everyday, students and staff at Belle Plaine feel a certain level of stress or pressure.  The source of this can come from a variety of places for each of us and, at the same time in many cases.  Deadlines, expectations, rules, procedures, policies, and many more can cause all of us the feel stress.  Friends, family, co-workers, supervisors, teammates, classmates, teachers, and several other people can also lead to enhanced stress and anxiety.  How we deal with all this stuff flying at us all every day determines how we progress and move forward.  There is no doubt we each need to face these issues and take them on but our strategies can vary.  One of my favorite quotes ever is- "Adversity does not build character, it reveals it".  Stress and anxiety are not exactly adversity, but they certainly can lead to it if not handled with character.

Students talk to me quite often about anxiety and the pressure they feel as students.  I encourage them to always keep trying and to stick with it.  Working through the challenge will benefit them more in the long run than avoiding it.  Too often we enable students by finding ways around difficult situations rather then nudging them in the right direction and guiding them as they work through it.  Communication is a key to this process.  It is never a bad thing to ask for help!  In a letter sent to our 8th grade Leadership class from former Belle Plaine alum Henry B. Tippie he advises- "When in doubt ask.  Some are afraid to ask as they are concerned they might be looked at as not being very smart.  It works the other way around.  The smart person who asks is the one who will get ahead."  Mr. Tippie also states, "Rewards are generally received on the basis of effort expended."  Facing stressful situations takes effort and assistance to get past them.  The accomplishment of working through these things can be extremely gratifying and a huge life lesson.

The following advice may provide some guidance for us to see stress as a way to grow individually.

WHY YOU NEED TO ADD A LITTLE MORE STRESS IN YOUR DAY

STRESS CAN MAKE US MORE PRODUCTIVE. WITHOUT IT, YOU MIGHT NEVER MEET THAT DEADLINE, ACE THAT EXAM, OR NAIL THAT PITCH.

BY LISA EVANS

While many of us think as of stress as something we need to avoid--or manage through daily yoga and meditation practices--a small amount of daily stress can help us to respond faster, focus more intently, and perform better than if we were in a constant state of relaxation.

Sebastian Bailey, author of Mind Gym: Achieve More by Thinking Differently, says putting stress under a negative spotlight means missing out on some of its key benefits.

 He argues our peak productivity comes at a point of eustress--or euphoric stress--a state in which we’re being challenged. “[In this state] you feel more energized; you’re exhilarated," he says. "You may feel slightly under pressure but are determined, acting as though every moment counts.” It’s in this state of eustress that productivity is maximized. Being slightly under pressure causes us to work a little faster, and focus more intently on the task at hand.

 But, the benefits of stress have a limit. Too much stress can cause us to feel overwhelmed, which is when we tip into a state of distress--where the negative consequences of stress become more pronounced.

 When you find yourself in a stressful situation, keep these tips in mind to take advantage of its productivity benefits:

 1. CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION

While the thought of standing in front of a crowd of people to deliver a presentation is enough to send many of us into an instant state of distress, Bailey says we can quickly and easily put ourselves into the ideal state of eustress simply by altering our perception of the situation.

 The first step is to minimize the importance of the event. “By minimizing its importance, you downplay the level of arousal,” he says. The second step is to downplay the importance of the outcome. “People often over-exaggerate how important the outcome of a situation is,” says Bailey. Consider whether you will remember the presentation six months, or a year from now. Chances are, you won’t remember it a month from now.

 2. CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE

Think about what’s positive about the situation that’s causing you to feel stressed. An overloaded work schedule, for example, may cause you to tip into distress. But taking a moment to celebrate the fact that you’re needed, that your business is successful, or that you’re learning and growing can be enough to push you from the inhibiting state of distress into the productivity enhancing state of eustress.

Similarly, receiving negative customer feedback can be paralyzing to some business owners who worry a few negative reviews will signal the end of their business, but focusing on the positive--like how a customer’s feedback will allow you to improve either your product or business--can change your state of distress into eustress.

 3. SET GOALS THAT PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE ON

Your über-relaxed coworker who never seems to stress out about a deadline may be the envy of his stressed-out colleagues, but being too relaxed can be as detrimental to productivity as being overly stressed.

Bailey advises those who are feeling a little lax to add a little challenge to their lives to reach the productive state of eustress. When setting goals, he explains, be sure to make them challenging, but realistic as well. “If you set over-stretching goals, then you’ll give up much faster,” warns Bailey.