A Guide to Keeping Your Cool Online
May 04, 2023
It's easy to get upset online. Something seemingly insignificant as a social media post used to get me fired up. I'd think, "How can someone think that way or do that thing?!"
I was wasting energy getting caught up on issues I had no control over or impact on. This wasn’t serving me. So, I started to look for ways to keep my stress levels low. It started with books, then led to me implementing three steps (listed below) to stay a little more zen.
Pay attention to stress triggers.
Once the anger genie is out of the bottle, it’s hard to put back in. That means it’s important to get ahead of your anger. You can start by looking at what triggers you in the first place.
Here are a few triggers I try to avoid:
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Any news
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Sad music
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Being around people who gossip
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Social media (particularly politics)
Stopping these inputs is the tip of the iceberg.
Own the moment
Not all stressful situations are avoidable. I get it. However, you are in charge of your reactions in those moments.
No one else is in control but you, so own that.
That means finding a way to get yourself under control. That can be anything from a short walk to breathing exercises. You have to do what works for you.
Learn from mistakes
I had a football coach who once said mistakes that happen once are a learning opportunity, and mistakes that happen twice are a choice. This has always stuck with me.
If you lose your temper, take time to reflect afterward to see if there was anything you could have done differently.
These three steps have helped me with keeping my cool. I hope they do the same for you.
Please get in touch with a mental health professional if you are struggling with mental health and experiencing anger issues. This article is not medical advice.