All of us have bad days when we feel like we’re spiraling downward. Just like a computer, our software is hung up and going nowhere good. Maybe we’re stuck in a negative thinking pattern, fussing at ourselves for our imperfections. Or, maybe we’re reacting to a stressful situation or a negative person. Whatever the reason, we notice our body holding tension, our thoughts going faster and faster and we know that very soon we’re going to say or do something counter-productive.
It’s possible to stop yourself from reaching that point. It’s possible to stop the downward spiral, reset, and restart in a better mode. With a little experimentation you can figure out what works as your own personal reset button.
Some examples that may be helpful are listed below. Try them and see what works for you.
- Take a break, get away from the situation and go to another room
- Go outdoors for a breath of fresh air, take a walk, go for a run
- Exhale slowly, inhale slowly, repeat
- Sing or hum a song out loud or to yourself
- Distract yourself with an exertive task such as cleaning, mowing, straightening
- Distract yourself with an absorbing mental task like Sudoku or a crossword puzzle
