Turn micro-stress into optimism

Small, everyday hassles can build up and leave you feeling discouraged. Here’s how to defuse theses little arghs and restore your optimism

You’re about to leave the house to meet a friend at a restaurant you’ve both been dying to try. Wallet? Check. Phone? Check. Keys?

Not so much. When you finally find them, a detour stops you in your tracks. Increasingly frustrated, you pull up your GPS, only to discover your smartphone is throwing a tech tantrum and won’t cooperate. While each of these challenges may not be a big deal on its own, they soon pile up, causing a cumulative effect that’s enough to make you scream…at least on the inside.

“These day-to-day aggravations are known as micro-stressors,” reveals psychologist Jasmin Tahmaseb McConatha, Ph.D. “Everything from constant deadlines to making what seems like a million decisions a day can create a chronic state of ‘red alert.’ In fact, more than one-third of women rate their daily stress level an eight out of 10, and studies show we tend to internalize these stressors more than men, often developing headaches and losing sleep.”

As soon as you think, I don’t have what it takes to deal with this, a microstressor turns into a major obstacle, adds psychologist Erin Olivo, Ph.D., author of Wise Mind Living. The good news? “By reframing these challenges and reminding yourself that, yes, you do have the tools to overcome them, you can increase your self-efficacy, calming your mind and regaining control.”

Read on for the study-backed tactics that will help you cut the most common micro-stressors down to size by tapping your deep reservoirs of resilience.