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How to Cope When It's Been a Bad Week

October 17, 2017 Ashley Horsfall

When it's been a bad week, you need to relax to avoid intense anxiety that lasts longer than the cause of it. Try some of these and make your week end better.

How do you cope when it's been a bad week? Some people can shrug it all off, but if you are anything like me you can't. Coping strategies for when it's been a bad week can help prevent intense anxiety as time goes on.

I don't even want to get into how stressful last week was because even thinking about it makes me feel anxious. From analyzing my social behaviors to dealing with a myriad of car-related issues, it hasn't been fun.

The way I cope with weeks like this is to have a plan I've designed ahead of time for when it's been a bad week. I put these steps in place because I've learned that they are the coping techniques that work best for me after a bad week.

Coping Techniques for When It's Been a Bad Week

Take Notes

One of the first things I do when I'm struggling is to make a note. I have a planner with a weekly layout so that I can list what's happening and how I'm feeling. I like to look back at my planner almost like it's a diary. I can see that I was stressed months ago, but that's only a memory now.

Make a List

After it's been a bad week, I also find it helpful to make a list of what I need to do. If I feel suddenly overwhelmed I can just look at that list and pay attention to only the next step I need to accomplish. Sometimes this focus helps to keep me calm.

Don't Cancel Plans

So many times I have felt the temptation to cancel plans because of a bad week. On my way to barre class, I was rear-ended in the car; I just signed papers on this week. The temptation to turn around and go home was strong, but ultimately I didn't give in. I went to class and sweated out my frustration.

Having something to look forward to, whether it's a fitness class or a night out with friends, is a great distraction from a crummy week. Cancelling plans only means I will wallow in self-pity.

Avoid Vices

When it's been a bad week, I can find myself thinking about that bottle of wine I have waiting at home. It's easy to indulge after a bad week, but that doesn't mean it's something I should do. I try to avoid drinking or binging on sweets when I know that I'm doing it out of stress.

Of course, it's just not that easy. Sometimes I don't listen to what I know my body needs. I try not to allow guilt to take over and instead focus on how I can prevent myself from feeling so stressed out again in the future.

How to Cope with Stress When It's Been a Bad Week

One of the ways I try to avoid anxiety is to focus on being emotionally flexible. Watch my video about emotional flexibility below. Then, let me know how you cope with a bad week.

APA Reference
Horsfall, A. (2017, October 17). How to Cope When It's Been a Bad Week, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 18 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/toughtimes/2017/10/how-to-cope-during-a-bad-week



Author: Ashley Horsfall

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