Lily asks
How do you handle a stressful day?
How to build your answer
Habits: four moves, about a minute.
- 1What you doThe habit, plainly. “I usually…”
- 2When and how oftenEvery morning? Once a week?
- 3WhyWhat you get out of it.
- 4A real exampleThe last time it happened.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Okay, so first I try to stop for a minute. I leave my desk and walk round the block for ten minutes, just to get some fresh air. It really helps me calm down. Then I come back and do one thing at a time. In the evening I cook something easy, and I tell my flatmate Mia about my day over dinner. She's a great listener. Then I have an early night. On a really bad day, sleep fixes a lot. It doesn't fix everything, but it helps.
Phrases to borrow
get some fresh air
/ˈɡet səm ˈfreʃ ˈeə/
go outside to breathe clean air and feel better
I've been inside all day, I need to get some fresh air.
Natural
Lily's voice note
I think the main thing is, don't panic. When everything's going wrong at work, I get up from my desk and walk round the block for ten minutes. Then I come back and try to take one thing at a time. If I look at the whole list, I just freeze. In the evening I cook something simple, and if something's really bothering me, I talk it through with my flatmate Mia over dinner. She's good at saying, 'Is it really that bad?' Usually it isn't. Then I have an early night and try to let it go. Tomorrow's a new day, right?
Phrases to borrow
take one thing at a time
/teɪk ˈwʌn ˈθɪŋ ət ə ˈtaɪm/
deal with things one by one instead of all together
There's a lot to do, so let's take one thing at a time.
talk something through
/tɔːk ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˈθruː/
discuss a problem carefully with someone
Let's sit down and talk it through.
let it go
/let ɪt ˈɡəʊ/
stop worrying or being angry about something
It was a small mistake, just let it go.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
I've had to learn this the hard way. I used to just push through and get more and more wound up. Now, when I feel it building, I step away from my desk for ten minutes and walk round the block, headphones on, cold air on my face. It sounds small, but it really helps me think straight again. In the evening I'll cook something that needs lots of chopping, which is weirdly calming. And I try not to bottle things up. My flatmate Mia and I'll have a good moan over dinner, and then I'm in bed early. Sleep sorts out most of it.
Phrases to borrow
step away from something
/step əˈweɪ frəm ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
leave something for a short time to rest
Sometimes you need to step away from your screen.
think straight
/θɪŋk ˈstreɪt/
think clearly and calmly
I was so tired I couldn't think straight.
bottle things up
/ˈbɒtl ˈθɪŋz ˈʌp/
keep your feelings inside and not talk about them
It's not healthy to bottle things up.
have a good moan
/hæv ə ɡʊd ˈməʊn/
complain a lot, often in a friendly way that makes you feel better
We had a good moan about work over coffee.
Your turn: answer Lily
How do you handle a stressful day?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Feelings & wellbeing
take one thing at a time
deal with things one by one instead of all together
“There's a lot to do, so let's take one thing at a time.”
heytardy