Being around someone you don't like can be physically and mentally draining. It can be especially tough if you are putting in a lot of effort to make the situation bearable. Make some effort to take care of yourself physically and mentally.  Eat a healthy diet. If you give your body the right nutrients, you'll be stronger, mentally and physically. Look for a balance of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and lots of colorful veggies. Get some exercise. Exercise is proven to boost your mood and reduce stress. Before or after dealing with the nasty person, go for a hike or take a dance class. Slow down. It's important to know your limits. Try reducing the number of things you need to accomplish each day. In some cases, you have to be around someone you don't like. That's life. But if you can, take steps to reduce the amount of time that you have to be around that person.  If the person is a relative, give yourself permission to take a break. There's no law that says you have to attend every single family function. Maybe it is a coworker that is bothering you. Try consciously spending less time around that person. Ask your boss if you can shift your schedule to come in earlier and leave earlier. If the problem is severe, talk to Human Resources. You shouldn't have to work next to someone who is legitimately interfering with your work. There are several things you can do to help yourself feel less tension. Consider adding relaxation techniques to your day. You could start with breathing exercises.  When you feel yourself becoming upset, focus on your breath. Breathe in slowly, counting to 5 or 6. Then release your breath, counting as you exhale. Try yoga. Yoga is a great way to clear your mind. Look for a class near your home or work. Learn to meditate. Meditation is shown to reduce stress. Download some guided meditations on your phone. They can be as short as 1-2 minutes. Sometimes it can be really hard to be the bigger person, but it is worth the effort. Your instincts might be to lose your temper or say something nasty to the person you don't like. Resist the urge.  If you lash out, you will likely feel guilty and regret your actions. That will not help you find a constructive way to deal with the situation. By taking the high road, you will be able to gain peace of mind. You will feel better knowing that you were not unkind or unprofessional.

Summary: Take care of yourself. Limit contact. Practice relaxation techniques. Take the high road.


Instead of squeezing your reading time into an already full day, set aside in 2-3 hours of reading like it was an activity or event you need to show up at. By dedicating specific time to reading, you will limit distractions and interferences. You will want to read in a quiet place with no distractions, not a convivial area where you might begin a conversation or get distracted by conversations around you. You might want to go to a library or stay in your house when it is empty. Avoid places that will trigger interruptions or disturbances—you may fall asleep in your bed, you may look for food in a kitchen. Because you will be in one place for several hours, you will want to make sure you are not in pain and will remain comfortable for a long amounts of time.  Pay attention to your posture. Make sure the lighting is good so you will not strain your eyes. Make sure you have lower back support, either from a chair, a pillow, or a rolled-up sweatshirt. It will be very tempting to put down the book and do something else. You must resist these distractions and plan for them ahead of time. Turn off your phone. Stay away from a computer, handheld device, video games, or television. Even food can be a distraction. Make sure you have eaten ahead of time or have a snack on hand so that you will not get up and go somewhere else. If you are reading in a short amount of time, you will need to stay focused. You should read the book during the time of day you feel most alert. For example, do not begin reading right before you typically go to sleep, or you risk falling asleep. You can also try drinking caffeine or drinking cold water.

Summary: Schedule your reading session. Choose a quiet environment. Make yourself comfortable. Avoid distractions. Be awake and alert.


Deep breathing helps to recover lost lung capacity. Begin either in a sitting or standing position. Place your hands on your waist and relax. Inhale as much air as possible. When you reach the maximum capacity of your lungs, hold your breath for 5 seconds. Exhale as much air as possible. Make sure that you exhale slowly and empty the lungs completely or as much as your health level permits. Repeat the procedure 10 times in each set. It is advisable to do 3-4 sets of deep breathing exercises throughout the day. Perform Pursed-lip breathing will help you increase the oxygen intake of your lungs, while decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide. Start by relaxing your entire body. You can do this in a sitting or standing position. Inhale through your nose within a span of 3 seconds. Before you exhale, you need to purse your lips as if you are going to kiss somebody. Exhale through your pursed lips within a span of 6 seconds. Inhale and exhale slowly. Don’t force the air to come in and out the lungs. Repeat the procedure. Pursed-lip breathing is done when the patient has shortness of breath. This breathing exercise should be repeated until shortness of breath is diminished. The diaphragm is the muscle that pushes and pulls air in and out of the lungs. Start by lying down on your back and bend your knees. Place one of your hands on your belly and another hand on your chest. Take a deep breath. Let your belly and lower rib cage rise while making sure that the upper chest cavity won’t move. This is the challenge you need to overcome in diaphragm breathing. Inhaling should take about 3 seconds. Exhale for 6 seconds. You need to purse your lips as well to better control your breathing. Repeat the whole procedure. At first, this exercise might be difficult for you. However, more practice and repetition of this exercise can train the diaphragm and will eventually increase your lung capacity. As time passes by, diaphragm breathing will become easier. Doing huff-cough breathing will help eliminate bacteria and respiratory secretions by triggering the cough reflex. Sit down or elevate the head of the bed if you can’t get up. Relax and prepare yourself. To do the huff-cough exercise:  Step 1: Perform 3 to 5 deep breathing exercise. Combine your breathing with the pursed-lips and diaphragm breathing exercise. Push out air as if you are coughing. When you have done 3-5 cycles of deep breathing, open your mouth but do not exhale yet. You need to hold your breath, tighten your chest and abdomen. Step 2: Force air out from the lungs in a fast manner. If you have done this correctly, you will elicit the cough reflex and loosened secretions stuck within your respiratory tract. If phlegm comes out, spit it out and repeat the whole procedure.
Summary: Practice deep breathing. Do pursed-lip breathing. Try breathing from your diaphragm. Practice huff-cough breathing.