Let's do this "Complaining Detox"

Lets...

Try a Complaining Detox

1. Seek a silver lining. "Reframe things in a way that gets a more positive feeling," says Andy Cope, coauthor of Be Brilliant Everyday. For example, rather than moaning about your partner moving your stuff around, think how neat the house looks. 
2. Set a time limit. "Give yourself, say, 15 minutes, and complain as much as you want," says Robin Kowalski, Ph.D., author and professor of psychology at Clemson University. "Vent, scream, yell. And then you're done." 
3. Use other outlets. Because bottling things up can't be good, right? "It's true that inhibiting disclosure takes a toll. If we're really dissatisfied and keep it inside, it can fester," acknowledges Kowalski. "Keep a journal. When you put problems down on paper, they can seem smaller." 
4. Focus on solutions. Don't wallow when something goes wrong, psychologist Miriam Akhtar advises. "Think, How can we solve this? rather than, Oh, I feel really fed up."