Pressure Performance: The Science Behind Achieving Your Best (5-P Method)

“No pressure, No diamond”-Thomas Carlyle

Whether you’re an athlete, a student, a musician, a professional, or even a simple home maker pressure performance is something we all faces some time in our life. The moment when you are expected to perform at your best and the stakes are very high. Whether it’s a job interview, a critical meeting, first day at your job with lots of expectation or the big game, the pressure to perform can be something which you face.

So, how do we overcome the pressure and perform at our best? Let’s take a closer look at the science behind pressure performance.

The Science of Pressure Performance

Stress, anxiety, and nervousness are the key factor behind the Pressure performance. It’s a natural body reaction which trigger due to “fight or flight” response, which started with the physical symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating, and shallow breathing. While these physical symptoms can be uncomfortable, they are a natural response to stress.

However, pressure performance is not always a bad thing. It makes your body to prepare for the next plan of action. With the balanced mindset and preparation, we can turn pressure into a positive force that helps us perform at our best.

To master pressure performance is how you are using your focus. When we’re in a situation of under pressure, it’s easy to get distracted by the situation or the outcome. We need to focus on the process and the course of action which we need to take to achieve our goal.

Other point to master pressure performance is preparation. The more we prepare for a high-pressure situation, the more confident and prepared we’ll feel when the moment arrives. The best saying for this is “The more you sweat in the training, the less you bleed in the battlefield” This can involve practicing skills, visualizing success, and developing a pre-performance routine to help us get in the right mindset. And eventually a practice makes a man perfect.

Tips for Achieving Pressure Performance

Here are some tips for achieving pressure performance:

1- Practice

Simulating the situation as closely as possible, or putting yourself in similar high-stress situations to build right mindset.

2- Process

Do not think of the outcome, focus on the process. What steps do you need to take to achieve your goal? Fractionalise the task into smaller steps, you can stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

3- Pre-performance routine

Develop a routine which you will do when you are in a situation like that e.g. breathing exercises, visualization, or positive self-talk.

4- Positive

Negativity only arises when you focus on the worst-case scenario. Instead, stay positive and focus on those courses of action which you can control.

I always bring my credit card from home, as well as one from the place I’m going or alternatively an international card such as Revolut. In case anything happens, I always have a way to get money and communicate with people at home.

5- Perceive

Failure is a natural part of pressure performance. Instead of dwelling on the past, use it as an opportunity, the learning which you have gained, to improve for next time.

In conclusion, pressure performance is a litmus test of your personality. Only the difference is how you take it. By understanding the science behind pressure performance and using these tips, you can achieve your best even when the stakes are high.

In pressure performance there are only two thing which can happen, either you succeed or you learn.

Muhammad Sufyan

Medial Advisor and blog writer

The opinions presented are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Getthepulsepost.com.