If your friend cancels your Friday-night plans at the last minute, use your freed-up evening as an opportunity to relax and unwind at home. If your favorite take-out place messes up your order, use the experience as a chance to try a new food or flavor combination.
My alarm went off late, and now my whole day will be bad. It stinks that I didn’t wake up on time, but now I have the rest of the day to make things better! I’ll never improve at this. This is definitely tricky, but I’ll get better if I just keep at it. This will never work. It might not work, but I’ll never know if I don’t try. Always treat yourself the same way that you’d treat a close friend or trusted loved one. You wouldn’t say something mean and discouraging to them, right? Apply the same logic and kindness to your own thoughts.
Listen to your favorite podcast on the radio so you look forward to your daily commute Bring your favorite energy drink to work as a pick-me-up Make your favorite meal the night before so you don’t have to stress around dinnertime
Is this problem worth the energy and stress that I’m putting into it? Three months from now, will this problem matter at all? Do I have any need to get upset about this?
Try not to dwell on the past, either! There’s no point in focusing on unchangeable memories and events.
Try not to be a perfectionist, either–this can make your to-do list way more stressful and unwieldy. Just focus on doing a good job, not a perfect job.
Make a detailed to-do list for yourself if you tend to procrastinate Set phone reminders if you often forget deadlines Use a timer to improve your time management skills
You might walk yourself through a workplace presentation, going over every important point. During this visualization, picture yourself speaking clearly and confidently, and answering your supervisor’s follow-up questions with ease. You could pretend that you’re face-to-face with a negative friend, walking yourself through exactly what you plan on saying. In your imagination, picture yourself speaking calmly, confidently, and steadily.
Some people like keeping a gratitude journal, where they write down what they’re thankful for each day. [13] X Trustworthy Source Greater Good in Action An initiative by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center promoting science-based practices for a meaningful life Go to source
Choose an activity that fits your current fitness level, whether that’s walking around the block, jogging on the treadmill, or going for a long-distance run. Health experts agree that rhythmic exercise, like swimming, biking, running, and dancing, are extra helpful ways to let go of stress and feel less tense.
Watching a funny video on YouTube Unwinding in a warm bath Cleansing your social media feeds of toxic, unhelpful accounts Leaving uplifting notes for yourself around your home
If you aren’t comfortable meeting with a therapist one-on-one, think about joining a support group instead! It can be really comforting and validating to know that other people are going through the same struggles that you are.
