When you are faced with a problem a lot of things happen and if the problem is too challenging or tasking it can lead to confusion and nervousness. Confusion and nervousness lead to anxiety, frustration and in severe cases depression and helplessness. So, here are some time tested tips for solving problems/ life challenges more effectively and efficiently. This holds good for both personal and professional life challenges for individuals and teams.

1. Recognize: there is a problem.

2. Decide: if it is worth solving at the time or there are other more urgent and important problem than this one.

3. Don’t take it personally: (Read: dont take it to your heart).

4. Step out of it: This is a very crucial step and the most important one. Step 3 was just a prelude to this 3rd step. You can do this in two ways.

a. Use your imagination: see the problem from 3rd person point of view. As if its not you who is in problem but maybe your friend.

b. If “a.” (above) us too challenging then try to ask yourself… How would this person X (who you look up to for advice or you consider is a wise person or expert in the subject) deal with this situation and then see what comes to your mind.

c. If “a” and “b” dont help or difficult to do then reach out for help from a person who you can have faith in and who is not affected by your situation. i.e. he/ she can look at your situation from outside.

If none of the above work then take a pillow and goto bed… yes forget that problem for that time and move on to something else.. maybe you are thinking too hard and need a break. Then come back to the problem after the break and apply steps 1,2,3,4 again.