STEP 6: Carrying out the solution
This is often the most difficult step because you now have to actually start carrying out the solution you chose. Most people are afraid that they might have picked the wrong solution, or that perhaps there is a better solution if they just think about the problem more. This is not helpful thinking: it is better to act than to do nothing at all.
To help you carry out your solution, you can make an action plan. If you know how you are going to carry out your solution, you are more likely to follow through.
Your plan should include all the steps that you will need to take to carry out the solution, and it should be as specific and concrete as possible. For example, if my solution is to “get a new job”, some of the steps involved in that solution might be:
- Make a list of the types of jobs I would like to have
- Buy a newspaper every day and check the “help wanted” ads
- Contact all the employers who advertise a job that I would like to have
- Rearrange my work schedule so I can go to interviews, if necessary
STEP 7: Checking in on your problem
Now that you have carried out your solution, you need to make sure that it is working. Sometimes the best-laid plans don’t always turn out perfectly, so it is a good idea to have markers that let you know whether you are on the right track. For example, with the work problem, you might use your workload as a marker for tracking your solution. If you notice that your workload is going down, then your solution is probably working.
What do I do if my solution isn’t working?
Because the unexpected happens in life, sometimes even the best solutions don’t work out well, which is unfortunate but normal. The best thing to do is to recycle through the different steps and ask yourself the following questions:
- Did I define the problem properly?
- Were my goals realistic?
- Are there other possible solutions?
- Is there a better solution that I could have picked?
- Did I carry it out as planned?
If you work through these steps, you might find that you went wrong somewhere, and then you can fix it and try again.
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How to Solve Daily Life Problems
Everyone has problems in life. For the most part, we are able to quickly solve them without much trouble. We either come up with a quick solution or use a strategy that worked in the past. For example, if you overslept in the morning and are going to be late for work, you might decide to call work and explain your situation while getting dressed and ready in half the usual time.
Problems become more difficult when there is no obvious solution and strategies that you have tried in the past don’t work. These types of problems cause a great deal of stress and anxiety and require new and different strategies.
The Steps to Solving Daily Life Problems
Step 1: Is there a problem?
As a first step, it is important to realize that there is a problem. Because problems can cause anxiety, many people will try to avoid, ignore or procrastinate when dealing with difficult issues in their lives.
Unfortunately, avoiding your problems usually causes them to come back, and a small problem can become a big problem over time. So, how can you recognize a problem early on?
Hint: Write it down. When a problem causes you anxiety, it is best to use a pen and paper and to work it out in written form. You are more likely to deal with a problem when it is written down in front of you.
If you can find some benefit or opportunity in a problem, you are more likely to work on it. For example, if your problem is not getting along with coworkers, the opportunity might be that it is a chance to improve your communication skills and possibly resolve some arguments with your coworkers.
Key Point: There is always a benefit to solving problems. Remember that if you solve a problem, even a difficult one, it is one less thing to worry about, and one less problem on your problem list!
Step 2: What is the problem?
Before trying to solve a problem, you first need to define it. Here are some tips on how to properly define what your problem is:
You can then put your problem into a sentence. For example, the problem is that my boss gives me too much work; I would like to have less work, but I’m not sure how to ask him to reduce my workload.
Step 3: What are my goals for this problem?
In order to know whether you have solved your problems, it is important to know ahead of time what a solved problem would look like. Here are some tips for setting goals:
Step 4: Thinking up solutions
The biggest mistake that we tend to make when finding solutions for our problems is to think about the same old solutions. However, if those old solutions worked, the problem would not still be around. In order to come up with new solutions, you can follow the rules of brainstorming:
REMEMBER: When it comes to difficult problems, the first idea that comes to your mind is not always the best. Take the time to come up with new possibilities.
Some other tips for thinking up lots of different solutions are:
Step 5: Deciding on a solution
If you struggle with anxiety, actually picking a solution to your problem can often seem quite difficult. However, it is important to remember that not solving a problem can lead to more anxiety than trying to solve it, no matter how anxious you feel. The following are some guidelines that can help you find the best solution to your problem.
REMEMBER: The goal is to find the best solution to your problem, NOT the perfect solution. If there was a “perfect” solution, you would have already found it.
For example, if you picked the solution, “blame my coworkers for work that isn’t done”, this might solve your problem right now, but it will probably seriously affect your relationship with your coworkers, and in the long-run your boss will probably find out. The costs of this solution seem to outweigh the benefits.
REMEMBER: There is no perfect solution, so when you are judging each potential solution it is unlikely that it will meet all four criteria. That is, it probably won’t solve the problem with no time or effort, make you feel happy while doing it, and have no costs and only benefits. You are looking for a solution that BEST meets the criteria, not perfectly.
STEP 6: Carrying out the solution
This is often the most difficult step because you now have to actually start carrying out the solution you chose. Most people are afraid that they might have picked the wrong solution, or that perhaps there is a better solution if they just think about the problem more. This is not helpful thinking: it is better to act than to do nothing at all.
To help you carry out your solution, you can make an action plan. If you know how you are going to carry out your solution, you are more likely to follow through.
Your plan should include all the steps that you will need to take to carry out the solution, and it should be as specific and concrete as possible. For example, if my solution is to “get a new job”, some of the steps involved in that solution might be:
STEP 7: Checking in on your problem
Now that you have carried out your solution, you need to make sure that it is working. Sometimes the best-laid plans don’t always turn out perfectly, so it is a good idea to have markers that let you know whether you are on the right track. For example, with the work problem, you might use your workload as a marker for tracking your solution. If you notice that your workload is going down, then your solution is probably working.
What do I do if my solution isn’t working?
Because the unexpected happens in life, sometimes even the best solutions don’t work out well, which is unfortunate but normal. The best thing to do is to recycle through the different steps and ask yourself the following questions:
If you work through these steps, you might find that you went wrong somewhere, and then you can fix it and try again.
TIP: Solving the difficult problems in life is hard work, so make sure to reward yourself afterward for a job well done.
Here is a helpful resource for more information on problem solving:
Solving Life’s Problems: A 5-Step Guide to Enhanced Well-Being by A.M. Nezu, C.M. Nezu, and T.J. D’Zurilla. Springer Publishing.