16 Ways to Deal with Frustration

The road to success isn’t straight, level, or smooth. There are bumps and potholes. Hills and curves. Dead-ends and detours.

And as a result, we all get frustrated from time to time. What separates top salespeople—and high achievers in general—from everyone else, is that they don’t let frustration derail them. They find ways to deal with the frustrations in their lives and their work.

And you can be one of them, by utilizing the same tactics to overcome frustrating situations. Here are sixteen of them.

1. Listen to Music
Your favorite music can quickly change your emotional state and re-energize you. Keep some good music (and if necessary, headphones) nearby at all times.

2. Revisit past successes
When you’re frustrated, it’s easy to doubt yourself. So remind yourself how good you are by going over past victories. The person who achieved those accomplishments can achieve more.

3. Talk with someone
Sometimes the simple act of verbalizing our frustrations can help us deal with them. And often when describing our challenges to others, we discover they have the exact same problems! That in and of itself can help us feel better, because at least we’re not alone.

4. Take a break
Getting away from the source of your frustration can help you cope with it. Depending on how big your frustration is—and your circumstances—your break might be a few minutes, a day, a week, or even a year.

5. Treat yourself
What makes you happy? What brings you instant joy? Whether it’s getting some ice cream, watching a movie, playing with your dog, reading a romance novel, grabbing a latte—anything that lights up the pleasure center of your brain will reduce the stress hormones you’re experiencing, enabling you to tackle your challenge with fresh energy and a better mindset.

6. Do something physical
Engaging in physical activity does two things for you. First, it gets you away from the problem, which can be a relief. And second, the exercise increases blood flow, oxygen delivery, and endorphins, alleviating some of the stress.

7. Read, watch, or listen to something inspirational
Some inspiring or encouraging words can break you out of a funk and give you fresh perspective. And there’s no shortage of inspirational blogs, podcasts, and videos online. (Most of which are free.)

8. Brainstorm
For some people, there’s no better way to cope than to deal directly with the problem that’s causing the frustration in the first place. Grab your computer, tablet, or phone—or if you’re old school, pen and paper—and start brainstorming possible solutions to the issue at hand.

9. Meditate
Meditation is a proven technique to relax the body and clear the mind. There are numerous resources and tutorials available at bookstores, local centers, and online.

10. Pray
If you’re the religious type, tap into to the power of prayer. You might pray for calm, strength, guidance, perseverance, or anything else you need to overcome the challenges you’re facing. And consider talking about your frustrations with your spiritual advisor.

11. Do a gratitude inventory
No matter how bad things get, there are always some things to be grateful for. “Count your blessings” may be a cliché, but it works. Make a list of things in your life you’re grateful for. It will change your perspective and improve your mental state.

12. Hone your skills
Perhaps you’re frustrated because you don’t have the knowledge or skills to effectively deal with the issue at hand. If that’s the case, learn more! Get a book on dealing with difficult people. Attend a sales training seminar. Take an online course. Then put that new knowledge to work!

13. Bring in an expert
Everyone sucks at something. And if that something is driving you crazy and negatively impacting your life or business, you need to offload it to someone who’s good at it. It could be an assistant, a professional organizer, an accountant, a COO, or any other person with a skill set you don’t possess.

14. Try something completely different
If something isn’t working, maybe it’s time for a radically different approach. That could mean trying a new sales tactic, going after a different market, or even changing companies.

15. Seek out a mentor or coach
Nobody succeeds alone. And if you’re struggling, maybe that’s a sign you need to get some help in the form of a coach or mentor. A different, more experienced perspective may be exactly what you need to conquer what’s frustrating you.

16. Get rid of the source
If what’s causing you frustration is a difficult client or a toxic person, your best bet is to get rid of them. You’re never going to change them and they will continue to drain your time and energy as long as you let them.

The next time frustration gets you down, don’t succumb to it. Use these sixteen ideas to get past it, so you can continue on your path to success.