9 Ways to Not Let Things Get to You So Much — Even During Stressful Times

There's no way to escape the fact that, sometimes, we're going to have to deal with stressful, worrisome things in our lives. In these situations, how do you not let things bother you? We all respond to challenges differently, and what helps one person feel strong and empowered might frustrate another person even more than they already were before. That's why we've rounded up a range of tips on learning to not let the tough stuff bother us as much, so that everyone can hopefully find some advice that works for them! Keep reading to learn more about how to let things roll off your shoulder, and see which ideas click the most for you.

01
Acknowledge What's Out of Your Control
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Acknowledge What's Out of Your Control

The first step to getting tough things not to bother you? Acknowledging that some things are just out of your control. It's easy to want to "fix" everything that goes wrong, or to feel guilty if you can't — but you shouldn't feel that way! When you acknowledge what you cannot change, you set yourself free from feeling failure if you don't make those impossible changes.

02
Journal Your Highs and Lows
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Journal Your Highs and Lows

Remember when you kept a diary and it felt so cathartic to get those feelings out on the page? It's still a valuable technique for when things are starting to get to you, and it's useful for both the positive and the negative emotions you might feel. Writing out your frustrations can help to work through them, while writing about the things that bring you joy can help to counteract negativity.

03
Exercise Mindfully
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Exercise Mindfully

If your mind can't let something go, shift focus from that obsession to your body by doing your favorite form of focused, mindful exercise. Anything that gets your body moving and your mind focused is a good thing, so work up a sweat with your favorite activity or video!

04
Lean on Your Friends
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Lean on Your Friends

It's often harder to deal with things when you're all on your own. When the stressful or uncertain things in life start bothering you, reach out to your crew. Whether it's a venting session to get it all off your chest, some good advice, or just some distraction time, friends can make almost every problem seem less insurmountable.

05
Do What You Can
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Do What You Can

If something is bothering you, do what you can to address it! That may seem like simple advice, but it's often harder than it looks — feeling like you can't even get started on tackling a problem can stop your work before it even begins. Make a game plan, be realistic, and try to chip away at a little bit. You might not be able to get rid of it altogether, but it may help your worries to know that you've done something.

06
Practice Gratitude
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Practice Gratitude

It's one of the most frequently given pieces of advice for a good reason. When you're surrounded by things that are bothering or worrying you, focusing on gratitude won't make them go away, but it can help reset your mindset so that you can look at problems with a fresh perspective.

07
Connect with the Energy Around You
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Connect with the Energy Around You

When something is really getting to you, it can feel like you've tried everything and nothing is working, which just sparks a new cycle of frustration. Try quieting your mind and just letting yourself be in the world around you. Whether that means religious prayer, some type of meditation, or just a quiet awareness, taking a quiet break is like hitting the "restart" button on your brain.

08
Reframe Your Thinking
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Reframe Your Thinking

When you're stuck focusing on a problem that's bugging you, try reframing your approach. Go ahead and "let" things bother you — then find a new solution. Reframing is a technique that therapists use for a variety of mental health approaches, and it's just as valuable here!

09
Find What Makes You Happy
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Find What Makes You Happy

More than anything else, when worry is knocking on your door, the best thing you can do is embrace what makes you happy. It might not make the worries go away, but it will help you combat the negative self-talk, the frustration, and the stress. When you're surrounded by things that bring joy into your heart, it's a lot easier to let the bad things roll off you.