Life is full of stressors, big and small, and if not properly managed they can affect you both emotionally and physically. Unfortunately, it is near impossible to get through life without some sort of life-changing or extremely stressful event, such as losing a job or the death of a loved one. If you often have difficult handling life’s ups and downs, it is possible to transform your reactions, build up your resiliency, and feel better, too.

Try these tips:

Use reason, not reaction, when things go wrong

Step back and look at problems logically. This can help you find a solution and use resources to avoid more problems and frustration.

Retrain your “self-talk”

Statements such as “I can’t do that” or “I’m afraid I’ll fail” can clutter your mind and condition it to expect negative results. Telling yourself that you can handle challenges can help set you up for success.

Learn to identify warning signs of stress

A common sign of holding too much stress can be feeling tightness or soreness around your neck, shoulders and back. Stress can also cause headaches or can manifest itself in other ways, too, such as diminishing your focus or productivity, or making you feel less calm. Learn your body’s warning signs and when you notice them, use it as an opportunity to take some time to destress.

Practice self-care

This includes any activities that you intentionally perform to benefit your physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Avoid overthinking. When stressful situations arise, it is common to spiral into a series of “what-if” scenarios as you try to anticipate possible outcomes. These thoughts can be overwhelming and anxiety provoking. Try to interrupt these thoughts by reminding yourself you have no actual evidence that things will be that bad.

Learn to say, “hmmm, that’s interesting”

Things not going exactly as planned? Instead of reacting and letting anxiety or anger take over, learn to just observe what you are feeling, and “greet your emotions with kindness.” This will help you reconnect more with yourself, and by so doing, may help relieve some of the stress.

**Adapted from Health Advocate