How to Relax Under Pressure

On a day-to-day basis many of us can find ourselves in extremely high pressure situations.  From the stresses of work to family life and a myriad of other responsibilities, many of us often find ourselves overworked, underwhelmed and stressed out, making it more difficult to relax and perform well when we really need to.One of my favorite books that I've read recently is a novel by Dr. Robert James Cerfolio, one of the best cardio-thoracic surgeons in the country.

In his book, Super Performing at Work and at Home: The Athleticism of Surgery and Life, Dr. Cerfolio passes on some practical suggestions on how to deal with high pressure situations which are based in techniques he used as an all-American baseball player. Some of his suggestions are as follows:

• Controlling your breathing

• Engaging in positive self-talk

• Staying in the present

• Recalling previous success

Like me, Cerfolio also believes in the power of visualization. This can often be a good technique to manage extremely stressful situations, especially if they're anticipated like an upcoming job interview, presentation, or speech.Along with these suggestions, having back-up if available and proper planning can also be key in preventing panic settling in during demanding circumstances. I also think that guided imagery, quick body tension exercises and mindfulness practice can be extremely helpful in battling stress not only in specific instances but for overall mental wellness as well.

Whatever methods you choose, it's vital that identifying potential stressors with prior planning can always help prepare us for potentially tough times. Short of that, practicing some de-stressing skills at other, less extreme times, can also be incredibly helpful when faced with new and unexpected challenges.