Whether you’re in the middle of a stressful situation or feeling anxious about events from the past, having some reliable coping mechanisms and strategies can help you find relief. Try using some of the coping strategies listed below to help manage and relieve stress when you need it the most:
1. Talk to someone
Coping with the hard stuff doesn’t have to be done on your own. Share your worries with a trusted friend or family member. It could take pressure off your shoulders, and they just might have some advice that you’ll find useful.
2. Get journalling
Journalling (writing down your feelings) can help you work out what might be troubling you and ways you can improve the situation. Don’t worry too much about what you write just write down whatever comes to mind. Keep your journal handy so that you can look back at what you’ve written.
3. Take a break when coping with stress
Don’t feel like you have to slog through the hard stuff. Give yourself permission to leave situations that make you feel stressed or angry. If you’re in a stressful conversation, try leaving the room for a moment and only resume talking when you feel calm and ready. If you’re involved in group chats, it can get a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re already stressing out. If this happens, you can leave a chat or set some boundaries. Let your friends know that you’re not going to check your phone for the rest of the day or only look at messages at a certain time each day.
4. Be nice to yourself
It might sound strange, but an important step in coping through hard times is remembering to be easy on yourself. How we talk to ourselves makes a huge difference to how we feel. Using positive self-talk can help you overcome negative thought patterns.
5. Make a list of what needs to be done
Remember you can’t do everything. Make a list of the things you need to get done and work out a schedule that will help you get there. Don’t forget to schedule in some fun and relaxing times.
6. Think about the big picture
One of the most useful positive coping strategies is putting things in perspective. When you’re going through a stressful situation, ask yourself: ‘How important is this? Will it matter in the long run?’ Some people find it handy to ask themselves: ‘Is this going to matter in five years’ time?’
7. Focus on the positive
It can be so easy to get caught up in all the negatives. It may feel hard in the moment but trying to find the positives in a stressful situation can help you with coping and overcoming what you’re going through. If you can find at least one positive thing about a situation, is it teaching you something about yourself or is it strengthening your relationship with someone, it will help you to see a more balanced picture.
8. Say thanks
If you’re feeling down practice gratitude by writing down three things you’re thankful for. They can be little things, like your morning coffee. Look at these whenever you’re feeling down.
9. Make the big things feel small
When life is being stressful you might feel tempted to avoid everything. Instead, try breaking big tasks down into smaller, more achievable goals. Celebrating small will help you to build confidence and stay motivated until life feels easier. These small wins may feel insignificant, but in time, you’ll build up the mental and physical energy to take on the bigger things you’re coping with.
