Problem: Article: Large quantities of soda typically keep you highly caffeinated. Even though the levels of caffeine in coffee are higher, if you have a serious soda habit you’re probably drinking a lot of caffeine. Think carefully about how you’re going to deal with the effects of reduced caffeine. You’re going to feel more tired and less alert than usual, and this could last weeks as your body adjusts. Serious caffeine withdrawal will typically involve a headache. Because your body has been so used to the elevated levels of caffeine, it’s going to take it a while for it to readjust to functioning normally without the high levels of caffeine. Try using over-the-counter headache remedies containing acetaminophen, which do not contain caffeine. Drinking plain water is a healthier choice to keep you feeling full.  It can also help combat the caffeine headaches and become your drink of choice, rather than soda. Chances are, without caffeine you are going to feel much sleepier than usual. Go to bed earlier to get more sleep and nap when you can. These extended periods of sleep can help you get through the withdrawal and alleviate the headaches.
Summary: Be prepared for lower levels of caffeine. Deal with the caffeine headache. Stay hydrated. Sleep when you need to.

Problem: Article: One of the more annoying aspects of playing online is having to hear inactive microphones picking up background noise. Doing the same with your microphone is a good way to get your account muted in-game as well as reported for harassment if the behavior continues in subsequent matches. Even though a fair amount of players will insult or belittle you while you play online, ignoring them is a much better course of action than responding. You can typically press the "Back" button in the middle-left side of your controller to bring up a list of in-game players, at which point you can select players' names and press A to mute them. Though some rules--such as refraining from harming team mates--are universal, most games have online-specific etiquette that you'll have to learn as you play. One way to get a jump-start on this information is by browsing the game's community forums or by observing other players' gameplay. For example: while not explicitly stated in the game, healing yourself during a player-versus-player fight in Dark Souls is widely regarded as a dishonorable thing to do. Online gaming can be an inherently lonely process, but if you're a part of a team, you should take actions that benefit the team as a whole, not just yourself.  If you're not prepared to "play the objective", consider playing a game type that doesn't emphasize teamwork. An example of this concept might be leaving powerful equipment, weapons, or vehicles for another team mate if you know you aren't well-equipped to handle them. If you're playing a game without a team dynamic, ignore this step. If your character is simply standing around in an ongoing multiplayer game while you're doing something else, you become a liability for your team. If you aren't completely committed to the notion of playing a round in your game, consider waiting to jump into a match until you're ready. Quitting early both lets your team down and marks your account as a poor sportsmanship profile, meaning that if you do it often enough, you won't get invited to matches. Complaining that a game was unfair or that the results of a match aren't right doesn't change anything, and it can hurt the experience for other players. There will be times where the outcome actually isn't fair, of course, but try to remember that the same goes for instances in which you were on a team that unfairly won. People on Xbox LIVE also tend to dislike complaints about poor Internet connections (e.g., "lag"). More than anything else, your best course of action while playing online is to respect the people with whom you're playing.
Summary: Don't plug in your microphone if you're not using it. Refrain from trash-talking other players. Learn the game's online community guidelines. Play with your team's well-being in mind. Attend the game you're playing. Finish your match. Accept game outcomes. Be kind.

Problem: Article: Slowly inhale and exhale to signal your body to relax, and to restore equilibrium if you are feeling out of sorts and tense. This also gives you a few extra moments to evaluate the situation and how you will choose to respond.  Practice regular meditation to learn how to control your emotions and calm yourself down when you need to. Try inhaling for 5 seconds, holding it for 5 seconds, and then exhaling over 5 seconds. This is a general standard rhythm, but experiment to see what timing works best for you. Taking a step away from the situation allows you to remove yourself from the situation if you are worried that your immediate reaction won’t be one of patience. This will help you to feel more level-headed to face the next few moments.  When you step away, try slowly counting to 10 or taking deep breaths to help you to be able to return more quickly. You could also try yelling your frustrations into a pillow when you have stepped away. Maintain supervision of the children even when you need to step away. Use a baby monitor or ask another adult to look over them. Singing can make losing your patience or temper much more difficult, as it can easily diffuse the situation into laughter instead. You can still say what you need to, however it will be much better received, and you won’t feel as though you have lost your patience as much. The singing may come as a surprise to the kids, which will make them more likely to pay attention to what you are saying. Try to keep having a connection and understanding at the forefront of your mind. Avoid lecturing them, and be reflective rather than reactive.  Listen to the children before you speak, and talk with them rather than at them. Simply saying “kids, I’m losing my patience,” can also help, as it openly communicates with the kids how you are feeling and lets them respond to it. The cycling nature of mantras is soothing and serene, which can definitely help in situations where you feel that you might lose your patience. Mantras can also help for you to put the situation in perspective.  For a patience boost, try “This too will pass, and I can stand it.”  To add perspective, try “I love my kids more than I love my . . .” and include whatever the situation is about such as plates, a wall, or the garden. Take a moment to evaluate the situation from the child’s point of view. This will help you to work out what their intentions are, and how to react in a way that they will understand. The more you practice this, the easier it will become to understand the child’s perspective in the future. This means that you will lose your patience less in future situations.
Summary:
Take a few deep breaths. Step away for a moment if possible. Sing what you want to say. Talk it out with the kids. Repeat a mantra. Put yourself in the kid’s shoes.