No matter how cool, calm, and collected you are, sometimes it’s hard not to let the little things get to you.
From annoying people to minor inconveniences, sometimes the smallest frustrations can have the biggest effect on you. If you’re in a terrible mood over stuff that doesn’t really matter, here’s how to make like Elsa in “Frozen” and let it go.
1. Take a deep breath and count to ten… backwards.
When you feel that frustration bubbling up, hit the pause button. Take a deep breath and count from ten to one — it’s like a mini time-out for your brain. Plus, counting backwards keeps your mind busy enough to forget why you were annoyed in the first place. By the time you hit “one,” you might just be wondering what all the fuss was about.
2. Give your frustration a silly name.
Next time something’s grinding your gears, give it a ridiculous name. That noisy neighbour? Call them “Lord Stompy McThunderfeet.” Traffic jam? “The Great Snail Race of 2024.” It’s hard to stay mad when you’re giggling at your own daft nicknames. Before you know it, your frustrations will start to feel more like sitcom characters than actual problems.
3. Play the “it could be worse” game.
When something’s bugging you, try to think of three ways it could be worse. Spilled coffee on your shirt? At least it wasn’t hot soup… or a skunk… or radioactive waste! This little game puts things in perspective and might even give you a chuckle. Just don’t go overboard, or you’ll end up writing disaster movie scripts instead of feeling better.
4. Do a quick body scan and relax.
Frustration has a sneaky way of making us tense up without realising it. Take a moment to check in with your body. Are your shoulders up to your ears? Jaw clenched tighter than a pickle jar? Consciously relax those areas. It’s like letting the air out of a balloon — you’ll feel the tension (and frustration) whoosh right out of you. Just try not to make the whooshing sound out loud in public.
5. Imagine your frustration floating away on a cloud.
Picture your annoyance as a physical object, then imagine putting it on a fluffy cloud and watching it drift away. Wave goodbye as it disappears over the horizon. It might sound a bit woo-woo, but it’s surprisingly effective. Just be careful not to get so into it that you start waving at actual clouds — people might start to worry.
6. Turn it into a silly song or rap.
Channel your inner pop star and turn your frustration into a catchy tune. The cheesier, the better. “Oh, the printer’s jammed again, it’s driving me insane!” Bonus points if you do a little dance along with it. Not only does this help you let go, but it might also earn you some strange looks that’ll distract you from your original annoyance.
7. Give yourself a “frustration holiday.”
Set a timer for five minutes and allow yourself to be fully, dramatically frustrated. Go all out — mutter, groan, roll your eyes. When the timer dings, the frustration holiday is over, and it’s back to business as usual. Just maybe don’t do this one in the middle of a work meeting.
8. Play the “five years from now” game.
Ask yourself: “Will this matter in five years?” Chances are, that queue jumper or missed bus won’t even be a blip on your radar. It helps put things in perspective real quick. And if it will matter in five years… well, maybe it’s not such a little frustration after all, and it’s time to tackle it head-on.
9. Do a quick act of kindness.
When you’re feeling peeved, do something nice for someone else. Send a funny meme to a friend, compliment a stranger, or simply smile at someone. It’s like a little frustration exorcism — you’re too busy spreading good vibes to hold on to the bad ones. Plus, karma points never hurt!
10. Create a “let it go” ritual.
Develop a quick physical action that symbolises letting go. It could be flicking your fingers, brushing off your shoulders, or doing a little shimmy. Whatever feels right to you. Then, whenever you need to let go of a frustration, do your ritual. You’re basically hitting the “delete” button on those annoying thoughts. Just try to pick something that won’t get you funny looks in public.
11. Turn it into a learning opportunity.
Ask yourself: “What can I learn from this?” Maybe that traffic jam is teaching you patience, or that rude comment is showing you how not to treat others. Finding a lesson turns your frustration into a personal growth moment. You’re not just letting go, you’re levelling up. Take that, frustration!
12. Use the “rubber band” technique.
Wear a rubber band on your wrist. When you catch yourself dwelling on a frustration, gently snap the band. It’s a physical reminder to let it go. Just don’t snap too hard, or you’ll have a new frustration to deal with — a sore wrist! The goal is to break the thought pattern, not to start a new career in wrist-slapping gymnastics.
13. Practice gratitude on the spot.
When frustration hits, quickly think of three things you’re grateful for. They can be big (your health) or small (that cup of tea you had earlier). You’re shining a spotlight on the good stuff, making the frustrating thing shrink into the shadows. Before you know it, you’ll be too busy appreciating the good things to remember what was bugging you.
