Working effectively under pressure and towards deadlines

Today’s world of work is extremely dynamic and fast-paced. Now more than ever and with the final quarter of the year approaching, the ability to work well under pressure and towards deadlines is a vital part of a worker's skillset.

Although stressful, with the right techniques in place, you can manage working under pressure effectively.

Following the tips in this blog will ensure you thrive under pressure, and can turn your stress into a driving force for productivity and success. Let's explore some best practice for working under pressure to meet deadlines:

Eliminate distractions

If you find yourself procrastinated, you’re not alone. Research found that about 80% of employees admitted to procrastinating daily. It’s important that we stop finding excuses to put off our work and become productive.

If you need to, put your out of office or do not disturb on until your tasks are complete. There is often a sense of a relief when we get that task done that we have been putting off.

You will feel so much better for doing so, and get the job done much quicker. – Nikki Phillips, Senior Recruitment Consultant for Legal roles across Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside.

Prioritise, prioritise, prioritise

Create a list, stick to it, and mark off your progress as you go. Identify those tasks that are most critical and get them ticked off first.

Don’t try and multi-task multiple assignments, one at a time will be effective.

Additionally, break down your tasks into manageable chunks. This will make you feel productive and motivated when you’re able to tick them off quicker.

By prioritising, you are less likely to leave work until the last minute. Finishing tasks in plenty of time allows you to proofread and double check your work, so no silly mistakes are made! – Amy Watson, director and Senior Legal Recruitment Consultant covering Yorkshire and the North East.

Identify strengths and weaknesses

Identify your strengths and weaknesses based on your past projects. Don’t dwell on things that might have previously gone wrong, but use it to better your next assignments.

For the areas you might have struggled with focus on improving them. For example, you might have noticed your focus levels were low last time you worked towards a deadline.

Maybe this time around eliminate distractions to keep your focus on the tasks.

Similarly for identifying your strengths, maybe you’re good at time management, so get a plan in place way before your deadline and stick to it.

This way, if you do end up falling to your weakness of procrastination, you have steps in place to combat it also. – Duncan McIlroy, Financial Planning Recruitment Consultant covering the North West.

Break down tasks

As mentioned briefly above, the bigger picture and the deadline may look daunting. So, break it down into smaller tasks.

Celebrating the little achievements along the way gives a sense of accomplishment and refuels motivation for the next tasks.

Stay positive and use visualisation

Positive mindsets and reinforcement when feeling stressed can help calm you down. You will most likely have handled stressful situations before, or much worse. If you got through those, then you can get through this as well.

Also, visualise the end goal and how you’ll feel when you finally meet that deadline. Visualise the journey to that end point too. By visualising, these practices are more likely to become reality.

 Ask for help

Never be afraid to reach out for help if you are struggling, stressed, or feel under pressure. Most likely, your colleagues will have also been in the same situation you are in.

They can offer advice on how to get through it, or just be there for you to blow off some steam. Moreover, your company might be able to allocate additional resources to help you meet your deadlines or manage working under pressure. 

Take care of yourself and stick to a routine

Remember to prioritise self-care during stressful times – it is easy to neglect yourself and put work first. Take breaks, get enough sleep, exercise, and eat healthily.

If you need to step away from your desk for five minutes to get a drink of water or some fresh air. Doing so, can help focus your mind and see things from a different perspective. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is essential for maintaining productivity and managing stress. 

Also, part of self-care is maintaining a set routine. One that works for you during busy periods. Get up, have lunch, and go to bed at the same time.

In your routine, assign time in the evening for down time to do something you enjoy.

This will take your mind off your deadlines and help you get a good night’s sleep. Furthermore, sticking to a routine will help your concentration levels during your working hours. Enabling you to focus your mind on tasks and meeting the deadline. 

Conclusion

By implementing these techniques when working towards a deadline, you will manage being under pressure much more efficiently. Simultaneously, you will be able to minimise stress and maximise your productivity. Always, put yourself first when you are under pressure. Remember, the stress is only temporary, and the rewards will be worth it. 

Written by the Eventus Recruitment Group based in Lancaster, specialists in Legal, Finance and Financial Planning Recruitment. If you are recruiting or beginning a job search, don't hesitate to contact us for a confidential chat at [email protected] or on 01524 34400.