Episode Transcript
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Raeanna (00:28):
Hey, what's up, you
guys?
Welcome back to Sash and Soul.
I'm so glad you're here today,especially if you are listening
to this in the middle ofcompetition prep, because this
one is definitely going to hithome.
So let's talk about timepressure.
It's that feeling when yourplanner is overflowing, your
group chat is blowing up, you'retrying to finish a class
assignment, pick up a shift atwork, text your director back,
(00:50):
and still have time to eatsomething other than coffee and
protein bars.
And maybe you're thinking, if Ijust had one more week or one
more hour or one more ounce ofenergy, I could get it all done.
But what if the goal isn't toget it all done?
It's to be fully present inwhat actually matters.
So that's what we're unpackingtoday.
How to handle time pressureduring competition week when
(01:13):
life just keeps going.
Because let's be real, lifedoesn't hit pause just because
you're competing.
You're still a student, asister, a daughter, a friend, an
employee, a volunteer.
And sometimes it feelsimpossible to give everything
100%.
So today we're going to talkabout how to find calm when time
feels really scarce and how towork with pressure instead of
(01:36):
against it.
And how to walk intocompetition week feeling
grounded, even when yourschedule is anything but.
So let's start with this one.
Time pressure hits hardest whenexpectations don't match
capacity.
Let me repeat that.
Time pressure will hit thehardest when your expectations
don't match your capacity.
(01:56):
So that's really what so muchof competition weak stress comes
down to.
Not that you're unorganized orincapable, but that you're
trying to operate at a levelthat your current capacity can't
support.
Because you've got schooldeadlines, you've got work
shifts, you've got familyobligations, social
expectations, and of course athousand tiny details bouncing
(02:18):
around your brain.
And yet you're still expectingyourself to show up as if
preparing for competition isyour only focus.
But here's the truth (02:24):
your
capacity shifts depending on
what's going on in your life.
It's not fixed.
So some weeks you can juggleeverything flawlessly.
Other weeks, you're just doingyour best to stay afloat.
When your expectations stay skyhigh while your time, energy,
and emotional bandwidth shrink,pressure will become panic.
(02:45):
So that's why it's reallyimportant to check in with
yourself.
You gotta ask, what's realisticfor me this week?
Maybe that means choosing restover one more mock interview or
deciding that your dress doesn'tneed another round of
alterations to be perfect.
But when you align yourexpectations with your actual
capacity, the weight lifts.
Not because there's suddenlymore time, but because you've
(03:08):
stopped fighting your ownlimitations.
And this is a great reminderfor me right now, too.
Time pressure is going to loseits power when you give yourself
permission to do what you canwith peace instead of forcing
yourself to do it all withguilt.
Because you're not unorganizedand you're not behind.
You're just balancing more thanone human should at once.
(03:31):
So here's your permission slip.
It's okay to adjust yourexpectations.
That is not weakness, it iswisdom.
And again, you have to askyourself, what's actually
realistic for me this week?
Maybe you need to skip thatmock interview so you can get
some sleep.
Or maybe you let your mom steamyour dress instead of doing it
(03:53):
yourself.
Or maybe your platform goes upnext week on social media
instead of today.
The world isn't gonna end andyour preparation isn't gonna
unravel when you make space forwhat's human.
So let's nerd out for a second.
And I know you've heard me talkabout this before, especially
(04:13):
if you listen to the week, theepisode last week on
nervousness, the day ofcompetition.
When you feel that I don't haveenough time, anxiety, your
brain actually flips intosurvival mode.
It's called the fight, flight,or freeze response.
Sounding familiar?
The same instinct that oncekept our ancestors alive when
they were literally being chasedby wild animals.
(04:35):
But now instead of running froma bear, we're running from our
own calendar or that urgentemail or that half-finished
paperwork or that text from yourdirector, the list of things
you told yourself you shouldhave done by now.
Your brain doesn't know thedifference between is this a
real threat and is this justtime pressure?
(04:56):
It only knows that somethingfeels urgent and it acts the
same way it would if you were inphysical danger, just like
those nerves that we talkedabout last week.
So here's what happens.
Physically, your heart ratespikes, your muscles will tense,
your breathing gets shallow,and your focus narrows in on the
problem.
Your body literally thinksyou're in danger when you're
(05:20):
just trying to finish packing ormeet a deadline.
And that's why in thosemoments, it feels like your
thoughts start racing.
Your body is saying, we need tosurvive this, and you start
rushing, multitasking,second-guessing yourself, all
the things that actually makeyou less productive.
But here's the thing:
adrenaline isn't bad, it's (05:37):
undefined
energy, it's power.
You can use it as focus fuel.
You just have to learn how.
So when I was competing, I usedto think that that feeling of
pressure meant something waswrong, that I wasn't ready or
I'd done something wrong in myprep.
(05:59):
But since then, I've learned,especially through coaching and
mindset work, is adrenaline isyour body's way of saying this
matters to you.
So pay attention.
When you feel that rush, whenyour mind is going 100 miles an
hour and you feel that heatrising in your chest, don't
fight it.
Just take one deep breath.
(06:20):
And even if it's awkward or itfeels forced, and then remind
yourself, my body is giving meenergy because this matters.
That one reframe shifts youfrom panic to power.
You stop seeing the pressure asa sign that you're not ready
and start seeing it as a signthat you care deeply.
(06:42):
Adrenaline doesn't have to makeyou spiral.
It can sharpen you, it can helpyou zone in, get laser focused,
and do exactly what needs toget done if you stay present
enough to guide it.
So think of it like this (06:57):
your
nervous system is a horse.
If you let it run wild, it'lltake you straight off the trail
and into chaos.
But if you grab the reins,breathe, and guide it, that same
energy can carry you forwardwith power and control.
So next time you feel that waveof there's not enough time, try
(07:21):
to recognize what's reallyhappening.
Your body's not working againstyou, it's working for you.
And the more you learn to meetthat energy with calm instead of
chaos, the more prepared you'llfeel, no matter how full your
schedule is.
So, time pressure isn't theenemy.
It's feedback.
(07:41):
It's your body saying, hey,we're stretched thin.
It's your mind saying, this isimportant.
Pressure doesn't mean you'rebehind, it means you care.
And often the reason that wefeel so frantic is because we've
connected enough time withfeeling ready.
But those two things don'talways go together.
You can feel unprepared andstill be ready.
(08:04):
You can feel nervous and stillbe capable.
You can feel behind and stillbe on time for your moment.
When you shift from I don'thave enough time to I'm
prioritizing what matters most,then you reclaim your power.
So use this as a helpfulmantra.
I can't control the clock, butI can control my focus.
(08:27):
Pressure starts to lose itsgrip when you remember that not
everything on your list deservesequal urgency.
Let's get practical.
If your to-do list is stressingyou out, it is time for a
detox, my friend.
Grab a notebook, do a fullbrain dump.
Every little thing you thinkshould you should do before
(08:49):
competition, your outfits, yourerrands, your interview, emails,
self-tan, social posts, packinglists, everything.
Now look at that list andcircle the three things that
will actually impact yourperformance or your piece.
Everything else, you need toeither delegate it, delay it, or
delete it.
You do not need to perfectevery tiny detail to feel
(09:13):
prepared.
Sometimes the most confidentcontestants are the ones who
gave themselves permission tonot do it all.
Have you ever been told thatmaybe you just need to take a
step back and chill for a bit?
If you've been one of myclients, you know I've
threatened making you take abreak from prep for a full week
(09:33):
so that you can recenteryourself.
This is all about balance.
So that extra half hour ofsleep, totally worth it.
That skipped scroll throughsocial media, definitely worth
it.
That 10-minute quiet moment inthe hotel room before a
rehearsal, absolutely worth itand necessary.
Your mind will perform bestwhen it's rested, not when it's
(09:57):
running laps.
And keep in mind, your mindsetis going to reflect how you
treat your body.
So even in the chaos, protectyour non-negotiables.
So for me, that's sleep,hydration, nutrition, and a few
minutes of stillness each day.
You guys, sleep isn't a luxury,it's strategy.
Hydration is definitely notoptional.
(10:19):
It's going to provide clarityand energy.
And stillness, that is whereyour confidence roots itself.
You've heard it before.
You will hear it again.
You know it's true.
You can't pour from an emptycup and you can't interview well
from a fried brain.
And that's why I don't evenallow my clients to practice
(10:40):
during our calls if they'reburnt out or crazy stressed.
So give yourself permission totreat rest as preparation.
You also don't need giantblocks of time to prepare
effectively.
You need consistency and youneed intentional moments.
If you have 10 minutes beforeclasses, review your paperwork
(11:00):
or visualize your talent.
If you're driving, listen tothe news and reflect on your
personal opinions.
If you're on your lunch break,breathe and check in with your
energy instead of yournotifications.
Small, consistent moments willadd up.
And so you have to ask yourselfconsistently throughout the
day, how can I make use of thetime I already have?
(11:23):
Because it's not about findingmore time, it's about using the
time you have with purpose.
And then of course, don'tunderestimate the power of
communication.
If you're balancing school orwork, tell your professors or
your boss what your competitionschedule looks like.
People can't support what theydon't know about.
(11:44):
And most people reallygenuinely want to help, but they
just need some clarity anddirection.
And with family or friends,say, you know, it's okay to say,
hey, I love you guys, but Ineed to focus tonight.
And setting boundaries,remember, is not selfish.
It's self-respect.
So when you are going throughthe crazy hectic time of
(12:11):
preparing for competition mixedwith school and work and
everything else, you have toremind yourself that you are
calm, you are focused, andyou're capable.
And everything that needs toget done will.
I say that to myself all thetime.
And I have to lean into it.
When you start to spiral, thatis your cue to slow down, not to
(12:34):
speed up.
That's Tasmanian devil.
And we do not want that kind ofenergy.
You do not have to rush toprove you're ready.
You just need to be ready.
And readiness is presence, youguys.
Wherever you are, you have tobe there fully.
If you're at rehearsal, be atrehearsal.
If you're home with yourfamily, be with them.
(12:56):
If you're studying, focus onthat.
Presence will build peace.
And if you're noticing yourselfhitting that wall, that
irritability, those tears for noreason, the brain fog, the
snappiness, that's probably yourbody waving a red flag.
And it's not failure.
It's just fatigue.
So step away for 10 minutes.
(13:17):
Take a walk, stretch, cry ifyou need to.
Call someone who reminds youthat you're more than a
contestant.
Rest before you break.
Because when you take care ofyour energy, time expands, tasks
feel lighter, your mind clears,your presence, not your
(13:41):
productivity, is what winspeople over.
So here's what I want you toremember.
The judges don't see your to-dolist.
They don't know how many hoursyou slept, how many mock
interviews you squeezed in, orhow late you stayed up
perfecting your paperwork.
What they see is you, yourpeace, your confidence, your
grounded energy.
(14:01):
When you walk in calm andconnected, that's what stands
out.
So stop trying to win the mostprepared award and aim to be the
most present.
Time pressure often tricks usinto thinking if we don't do
everything perfectly, we'refailing.
But pageantry is just one partof your story.
It's not your whole identity.
(14:22):
When you learn to managepressure here, it translates in
every area of life, in yourwork, in your relationships, and
leadership and your goals.
You're not just preparing forcompetition, you're preparing
for life under pressure.
That's the gift of thisexperience.
So as you head into competitionweek, ask yourself, how can I
(14:44):
protect my peace this week?
What can I let go of thatdoesn't serve me?
Where can I show up fullyinstead of halfway everywhere?
You cannot add more hours toyour day, but you can choose how
you feel them.
And so remember, you are alwaysmore prepared than you think.
You've already done the work.
(15:06):
You don't need to prove it.
You really just need to trustit.
Time pressure does not defineyour readiness.
Your mindset does.
So you've got this, my friend.
Breathe.
Focus.
Walk in with calm confidence.
Everything that's meant tounfold will.
Pretty quick and easy onetoday.
(15:30):
Thank you for hanging out withme.
If this episode resonated withyou, please send it to your
sister queen or to a friendwho's preparing for a
competition, or maybe justsomeone who needs that reminder
that she's doing enough.
And of course, as always, ifyou want more tools like this,
like deeper mindset work,confidence training, or
interview prep, you can join meinside the Fearlessly Authentic
(15:50):
app or connect with me for afree no obligation consultation
because together we turnepisodes like this into action.
So I'll see you next week foranother episode of Sash and
Soul.
And until then, please protectyour peace, trust your prep, and
show up as you.
We'll talk to you then.
Bye.