Things to do when life gets hard :10 Small Steps to Take When Life Overwhelms You

When life gets hard, I often turn to these 10 tips. They help me calm my mind and see things in a new way.

I’m not sure what counts as a hard life for everyone. But if you feel stuck, worried, or like one problem keeps hitting you after another, I’m probably in the same boat.

These past few days, I’ve cried more than I’ve laughed. One thing that has helped me cope is reading my old blog posts for comfort.

Some of them gave me solid advice. Others didn’t feel helpful at all.

Instead of searching all over again, I decided to gather my thoughts right here. That’s why I’m writing this.

I don’t know exactly what you’re going through. But if life feels heavy right now, please remember you’re not the only one.

Everyone you pass on the street has faced hard times. Many are still working through them.

Happiness doesn’t move in a straight path. It twists and loops around.

You may feel hopeless today, but even the hardest moments fall apart when you stay strong and patient.

This post is my way of sharing a little hope with you—and with myself because I need it, too.

You are not just the problems you face. You have more courage and light in you than you can see.

Keep reading to learn 10 things to do when life gets hard. They might help you find your way forward.

1. Take One Tiny Step

When my problems look too big, I pick something small I can do right now.
It could be folding the laundry, answering one email, or brushing my hair.
These little actions help me feel less stuck.
I remind myself that small steps still count.
They add up over time, and they help me feel like I have a little bit of control.

2. Let Myself Feel It

I used to pretend I was fine because I thought it was the strong thing to do.
But pushing away my feelings just made everything worse.
Now I allow myself to cry, write down what hurts, or talk out loud about what I’m feeling.
Giving myself permission to feel doesn’t make me weak.
It helps me heal.

3. Reach Out to Someone

When life gets hard, it’s easy to think no one will understand.
But I’ve learned that isolation only deepens the pain.
I text a friend, call a family member, or message someone I trust.
Just hearing another voice or reading a kind word helps me feel less alone.
Even if they don’t have answers, their presence matters.

4. Make Space to Rest

I used to think I had to push through every problem without stopping.
But exhaustion never fixed anything.
Rest gives me the strength to face hard days.
Sometimes I take a nap, read a comforting book, or sit outside in the quiet.
Rest is not a waste of time.
It’s how I gather energy to keep going.

5. Remind Myself This Is Temporary

When I’m in pain, it feels like it will never end.
But the truth is, nothing stays the same forever.
I’ve gotten through hard times before.
I can get through this one too.
I repeat to myself, “This is only for now.”
It doesn’t erase the struggle, but it does help me keep moving.

6. Do Something Kind for My Body

My body often holds the tension my mind creates.
I try to take care of it when life feels heavy.
I stretch, drink water, or take a slow walk.
Even a warm shower can help me feel a little better.
When I treat my body with care, it reminds me I deserve compassion, even from myself.

7. Avoid Numbing Everything

When things hurt, it’s tempting to scroll my phone for hours or eat junk food until I feel nothing.
I’ve learned these habits only bury the pain for a moment.
Instead, I try to notice what I’m avoiding.
I might write about it or talk to someone who won’t judge me.
Facing what hurts feels scary, but it usually hurts less than ignoring it.

8. Focus on What I Can Control

Some problems are too big for me to fix alone.
I can’t control what others do or how everything turns out.
But I can control how I respond.
I can choose to take care of myself, set boundaries, and decide where to put my energy.
Focusing on my own choices helps me feel less powerless.

9. Keep a Simple Routine

When life falls apart, even getting out of bed can feel impossible.
That’s when I lean on routine.
I set one or two small habits I can keep, no matter how I feel.
Maybe I wake up at the same time or eat breakfast every day.
A simple routine anchors me when everything else feels shaky.

10. Remember to Be Gentle with Myself

I have a habit of blaming myself when things go wrong.
But beating myself up never helps.
So I practice talking to myself like I’d talk to a friend.
I remind myself that it’s okay to struggle.
It’s okay to not have everything figured out.
Being gentle doesn’t mean I’m giving up.
It means I’m giving myself space to heal.

Life will get hard again.
That’s just how it works.
But every time it does, I have these tools to help me through.
You do too.
If you’re in a hard place right now, know that you’re not the only one.
There are things you can do, even if they feel small.
And small things are sometimes exactly what we need to keep going.

If you want to remember this later, you could save this list or write down a few of your own ideas.
When you’re ready, pick one thing to try.
One step.
One gentle action.
That’s enough for today.