Breathe.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? I mean, you do it all day long, every day of your life (until you don’t, which is the subject for another day).

The challenge is that you are staring at that HUGE DEADLINE. It is HERE. NOW. it is time to FREAK OUT.

No, it is not. It is time to…

…BREATHE.

That’s right. When I used to face a deadline I freaked out, too. It did not matter if it was something about which I procrastinated, or it was a project that was thrown at me at the last minute. Regardless of how I got there, my first instinct was to panic.

Over time I got better at it. I started working earlier – and more consistently – at projects. I planned better. I proactively learned from books, seminars, and people with whom I networked to learn ways to keep myself out of the situation.

All of that sounds great, but you are still looking at that big deadline right in front of you – TODAY. What is the best advice I can give to help you now?

Breathe.

When you stop and take a few deep breaths, many things happen. Stress is reduced. It is easier to focus. Many times a sense of Peace will come over you that was not there before.

I love the song Just Breathe by Jonny Diaz. I discuss it some in my book (SubmUrgency: How to Live – and Die – Without Regret). Here is a small part of the song:

“It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
When the stress is on the rise in my heart
I feel you say just

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe.”

I am now going to do something that I rarely do.

I am going to stop.

I want you to focus on this one piece of advice. Just this one. Go forth and breathe. This too shall pass. You can do it.

I believe in you.