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Irritability is contagious. The slightest excuse – and we are ready to pounce on the one “who did it”, without finding out the reasons. Words that the boss is out of sorts instantly fly around the office, and it becomes spacious on his way. However, the one who is in an excited state is also not sweet. What should I do to recover as soon as possible? Seven steps towards peace.
1. Find the cause of irritation
Although it seems to you now that literally everything is annoying, there is always an underlying reason, and very often it turns out to be banal. It can be a small cut that you constantly touch, an uncomfortable insole, an unloved prickly scarf.
Analyze the events of the day and remember when you felt irritated for the first time. Be sure to eliminate the cause: it is the insignificance of the event that makes us postpone it until later, which becomes fertile ground for new discontent.
2. Limit coffee and alcohol
Sometimes unlimited access to coffee in offices can play such a trick on those who cannot deny themselves another cup and do it every hour.
Psychology Today blogger Guy Winch recalls a barista friend he once worked with who was extremely emotional and found it increasingly difficult to contain himself over the years. It turned out that the reason for this was the endless cups of mochachino that he could afford while working at the bar.
3. Find the real cause of stress
Because it’s stupid to be angry at someone who passed you and managed to sit in an empty seat in a subway car, or came up with a word three times longer than yours when you decided to play scrabble? That is why many of us do not realize the true cause of irritability and drive stress into ourselves.
Do not reproach yourself for being stressed, the body is just working at its maximum and asking for a little rest.
Such minor annoying troubles indicate to the proud person the subtext – “you are not the first.” Be honest with yourself, get to the bottom of it, and remind yourself of what an adult and successful person you are.
4. Feel sorry for yourself
When you find fault with everyone and everything in annoyance, do you know deep down in your soul that you are doing something wrong? Undoubtedly, and sometimes the more you realize it, the more you find fault. Make an unexpected move – pity yourself. Imagine that someone who cares about you comes up to you and hugs you. If you feel better, you can come up and hug the person you just lashed out at.
5. Change the scale
Usually we are not annoyed by global things, but by events of medium and small scale. Those that after a couple of days we will not remember at all. So push the perspective, change the scale and think about what suits you in a global sense: home, work, family … Or even – if you are so lucky – both, and the other, and the third.
6. Get rid of excess energy
It’s no secret that a person as a biological species is “designed” for a greater range of movements during the day. In addition, large portions at lunch provide calories, some of which we will never use. Let us add that part of the nervous energy accumulates from unspoken and restrained emotions. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, briskly walk part of the way home from work, or better, at the slightest sign of irritability, go straight to the gym.
7. Set aside time for silence and solitude
If you are completely alien to the idea of sports, just the opposite will help. Irritability can be a natural reaction to too much communication. How many eyes do you think look at you every day? Our ancestors, the same ones who guarded the ancient sites, would tell you that each such look must be analyzed (is it friend or foe?) to take into account what action will follow in a second.
So do not reproach yourself for being stressed, the body is just working at its maximum and asking for a little rest. Turn your music on (or off if you listen to it with headphones all day). Do a couple of stretches or just let yourself lie down without getting up for as long as you want. Then take a deep breath and get ready to return to your usual rhythm.