1. Make an effort to listen with empathy. When someone speaks to you, practice paying close attention and taking the time to understand what they're saying.
2. Keep the focus on the other person while they're talking to you about a problem; don't turn it into a discussion about a problem you're having.
3. Maintain your composure. Keep calm during arguments to ensure that they are productive rather than damaging. If you can't keep your cool right now, take a step back and ask to resume the subject when you're in a better mood.
4. HALT. Keep the acronym HALT in mind. Ask yourself if you're hungry, angry (furious), lonely, or tired (weary) when you're upset about something. If this is the case, "pause" to meet those needs before returning to the problem.
5. Interact with people in person. Social media can sometimes exacerbate a tense relationship. On the internet, people may engage in more hostile confrontations than they do in person. Reducing time spent online fosters face-to-face, phone-to-phone, or video-to-video contact, which is frequently less contentious than words uttered from behind a keyboard, such as in text messages.
Making a positive difference
If you discover that a relationship is harmful, it doesn't mean you have to end it immediately; rather, you will need to make some changes.
Define your limits. Setting boundaries with a tough individual in your life can help you get your relationship back on track. You may be present for someone while also setting boundaries to keep the relationship from becoming too burdensome. Burnout is frequent in caregiver relationships, but it can also occur in other types of partnerships.
Make your own health a priority. It's more difficult to set boundaries with a child, grandchild, spouse, or other family members than it is with a friend. In these cases, it may be more important to set aside time to refuel and reset. Many people have been unable to accomplish this as a result of the pandemic.
Take care of your health. You should also take steps to reduce the stress you're feeling as a result of poor interpersonal interactions. Self-care is important. Make time for physical activity, mindfulness meditation, and other enjoyable activities. Activities that engage the senses, such as gardening, colouring, painting, or even simple tasks like sorting beads, might help you relax.
Get some distance between yourself and the other person. Taking a step back can sometimes assist when a relationship is no longer pleasant. For example, if you have a buddy who does not value you or is critical or negative, you may want to keep the friendship but examine it more closely to see whether it should take up less of your time.
Re-establish communication channels. The relationship may not be bad at its heart, but the topic has you at odds. Setting boundaries about what you can and cannot discuss is one strategy to address these difficulties if you continue to disagree.
