Should You Cope with a Situation or Change the Situation?

We’ve all been there. A rough day at the office. Something around the house went wrong. The kids are acting up. The dog threw up on the rug.

A good set of coping skills can help when you’re facing tough times. Coping skills can help you tolerate and deal with stressful situations you deal with every day.

But the question that rises is … Should I cope with this situation or should I change the situation?

Once you answer that question for yourself then, and only then, can you decide on which coping skill you’re going to pull out of your handy-dandy toolbox of coping skills.

You can’t just up and change jobs whenever you have a conflict with your boss. That’s just unrealistic. But, how you handle it can go a long way toward improving your mental health.

You could go to your boss and talk about the root of the conflict. It’s amazing how an open line of communication can ease tensions.

If it’s something that doesn’t need further communication, but it’s just something you need to deal with yourself then finding a constructive outlet – exercising, watching your favorite show, gardening, cooking your favorite meal, taking a long walk with your spouse and/or your dog. Anything really that will help you decompress and think about the situation more clearly.

Coping skills don’t have to be complicated. In fact, most of the time they can be things you usually do every day. Take a look at some of these activities that are terrific coping skills …

• Clean the house (or a closet, drawer, or area)
• Cook a meal
• Do yoga
• Draw
• Drink tea
• Garden
• Go for a walk
• Engage in a hobby
• Exercise
• Listen to music
• List the things you feel grateful for
• Look at pictures to remind you of the people, places, and things that bring joy
• Meditate
• Picture your “happy place”
• Play a game with your kids
• Play with a pet
• Practice breathing exercises
• Pray
• Put on lotion that smells good
• Read a book
• Reframe the way you are thinking about the problem
• Squeeze a stress ball
• Smile
• Spend time in nature
• Take a bath
• Take care of your body in a way that makes you feel good (paint your nails, do your hair, put on a face mask)
• Think of something funny
• Use a relaxation app
• Use aromatherapy
• Use progressive muscle relaxation
• Write in a journal

Looking for some helpful coping skills for kids? Check out copingskillsforkids.com for some great resources.

Coping skills are personal. There’s no one-size-fits-all tool kit. You might find that certain coping strategies work best for specific issues or emotions. When it comes to coping skills, there’s always room for improvement.