Stress is a common obstacle to productivity and career success.
That’s why being able to manage stress effectively can prove pivotal.
We spoke with psychotherapist Amy Morin, the author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” to find out the best way to approach stress management.
Here are nine things mentally strong people do to keep stress from taking over:
1. They keep their problems in perspective.
As stress builds up over time, it’s easy to become frustrated and exaggerate the negative. Mentally strong people, however, understand that stressful situations arise and don’t let the ill effects loom over them. “They reframe their negative thoughts into something more realistic in an effort to keep their stress in proper perspective,” Morin says.
2. They reassure themselves.
Self-confidence and self-assurance, key characteristics of mentally strong people, helps people work through stress. Instead of being negative and saying, “I can’t handle one more problem, they tell themselves: ‘I can deal with stress, and I’ll be OK no matter what happens,'” Morin says.
3. They focus on what they can control.