The mind works best when it has no distractions and is focused on the task at hand. Such distractions as anxiety, fear, worries, and doubts make it pre-occupied, thus preventing an appropriate focus on the relevant things. According to experts, being nervous undermines expert performance. Even when a person is proficient in music, athletes, or anything else, but his mind is distracted, he will perform poorly (Noa & Pen-Pen, 2020). Since performance in these fields is determined by key moments, when they are missed, the expert will not succeed, which is called “choking”. In such a situation, both the irrelevant and relevant thoughts compete together for the same attention, which will result in the simple tasks being completed, whether relevant or irrelevant.
People are not susceptible to choking at the same level as factors like over-analysis of a task, high level of self-consciousness, anxiety, and the fear of being judged negatively place individuals at a risker position. Those subjected to the abovementioned factors are likely to complete only the simple tasks, while more complex goals remain unattended. According to experts, there are several ways people can stay calm when under pressure and perform their tasks (Noa & Pen-Pen, 2020). One is First, one of the possible techniques in exercising how best to perform under pressure. When hardships become a constant factor, the mind and the body will adjust and perform accordingly. Another useful practice is pre-performance routine, for example, repeating a keyword or taking in deep breaths, which can contribute to consistent achievement of high results under pressure. Finally, focusing on the external goal other than the internal goal allows one to concentrate on the results other than the mechanics of the activities they are doing. The three processes discussed above are important in helping people to stay calm under pressure.
Reference
Noa, K., & Pen-Pen, C. (2020). How to stay calm under pressure (video). TED conferences. Web.