How to stop 'sweating the small stuff'

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing feels like it's going right — before you even leave your house?

Not only is it Monday, but the plug in the bedroom of my apartment stopped working this morning. Of course it was the power strip with all the most important plugs attached to it — my internet, my alarm clock and my phone charger.

Then, while carrying my laptop bag, I smacked my finger against the bag and the wall (it already feels like a bruise is starting to form there).

I had to deal with this all while being sleep deprived and waking up too late to be able to take a shower. 

Sure, these are all small problems. But these are daily problems that we all have to deal with. So, if you can't find your keys, you sleep through your alarm or you drop your newly purchased coffee in the parking lot, how do you keep these problems from ruining your entire day?

CNN reports that training yourself not to "sweat the small stuff" could be crucial to your health. Studies show that feeling chronically stressed increases the risk of heart disease and weakens the immune system. Not only that, it can also affect your memory. 

• People can train themselves to think more like an "even-keeled" person. When something bad happens, take a moment to yourself, even if that means going into the bathroom in the middle of work. Breathe slowly, in and out. Exhaling slows down your heart rate, and I've noticed that, when you concentrate on your breathing, this can help you stop concentrating on everything else.

 • Instead of dwelling, ask yourself, "How am I going to solve this?" Rosalind S. Dorlen, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist in New Jersey, told CNN, "Once you phrase the question in your mind, you have awakened the reasoning portion of your brain and put yourself in a position to find an answer. ... You're no longer the victim of your emotions." If you keep losing your keys, start putting them in a designated spot, like a key hanger or a bowl by the door. Or — one of my favorite possessions that my boyfriend bought me for Christmas — a remote key finder. If you dropped your coffee on the sidewalk, stop trying to carry too much in your arms or stop putting your coffee mug on the top of your car.

• Think optimistically. If you're Internet goes out, instead of getting mad, first call your Internet provider and then think to yourself, "I can take this time to catch up on my reading." It's easier said then done if you're a natural pessimist to, all of the sudden, start thinking on the bright side. CNN reports, to try become optimistic, imagine yourself in 10 years. Every day, spend five minutes visualizing these details. This will help you realize that these small setbacks do not affect you in the long run.

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