We all get stressed – whether it’s due to impending deadlines, the realization that you messed something up, or unfavorable outcomes in a transaction or litigation. We all know that feeling of deep discomfort in the pit of your stomach when something isn’t going the way we planned, and for most of us, this triggers the fight, flight or freeze response. It’s at this moment when we need to discipline ourselves to get out of this anxious mindset to think clearly and be at our best. Here are a few tips I’ve found have been helpful to me when I’m in stressful or anxiety-inducing situations.

1. Step away and take a break.

When I’m feeling stressed, often I will step outside, sit in my car and drive around. I’m lucky to live very close to where I work, so sometimes I’ll also head home for 15 minutes to take a few deep breaths, grab a snack and come back to work refreshed and ready to go.

2. Focus on solutions, not problems.

The best way to get through a challenging situation is to focus on solutions that are the best for everyone. Depending on the situation, this could mean brainstorming a negotiated settlement that resolves a conflict, or, in the case where you messed something up, figuring out the best way to fix it. Go above and beyond in showing your commitment to the solution, as opposed to fretting over the problem. In my experience, most problems work themselves out, and you want to be known for being the one to find a solution as opposed to pointing fingers or playing the blame game. Agonizing over problems or mistakes only makes them bigger in your mind and, therefore, harder to solve.

3. Get some perspective.

When I was younger and in college, whenever I felt like there was no way I could pass a class or get through an exam, I always used to remind myself that, “at least I’m not in prison.” For some weird reason, that would help me realize that things could be much worse than they actually are. That was my mental helper, but I’m sure you have a similar “go to” image of how much worse things could be.

On the flip side, it’s also important to focus on the things you’re grateful for, whether that be your health, your family, your faith, and everything that makes you uniquely you outside of work. Work does not define who you are as a person, and there are so many non-work related things to be grateful for. No one on their death bed is thinking about what went wrong at work on one random day in July.

4. Get some advice.

When you’re in a difficult situation, always remember that you are not an island. No one is expecting you to be superwoman or superman and solve the world’s problems on your own. In reality, whatever you’re going through probably affects other people too, and they would be glad to help you get through it.