Once the water is added, I place the lid on the French Press with the screen just above the water level. Now I start the timer, wait about a minute, remove the lid, give a good stir, and replace the lid to allow the brewing process to complete. Now I wait with much anticipation as the timer counts down. After what feels like forever, I get to plunge the plunger. I do this slowly and with steady force. I try to be careful not to use too much force. Too much resistance means the screen is clogging. It is a good idea to stop if this happens, rinse the screen with hot water, and try again. As a side note, I have never had any trouble with the plunger not plunging properly, but I feel obligated to tell people to be careful with scalding hot liquid and thin glass.