Bad stuff happens. There's just no way to avoid it. One of the easiest ways to survive in an increasingly difficult world is to not let these things (both big and small) affect you too much. Here are a few tips that will help you find new ways to  let things roll off your back -- or as we like to call it, giving bad stuff the big brush off.

Breathe

No, seriously it’s just that simple. If you get some bad news, before you react in any way, the first thing you should do is take 5 big, deep breaths. Not only does the infusion of oxygen help your body calm down naturally, but it also gives you time to think and not just react. Your first feelings about something negative are going to be filled with emotion, a veritable hot take. You need time to process and therefore modulate your reaction and your feelings. This way you won’t say anything you regret and you won’t react in a way that will get in you in more trouble or make you feel worse.

Don’t Get Too High or Too Low

We’re emotional animals (some of us more than others) and it can be very difficult to keep those emotions in check. But learning to do so -- even by curtailing your excitement about positive things -- can go a long way towards helping to deal with the natural highs and lows of life. We don’t want you to walk through life catatonic but trying to be a bit more even keeled will help you maintain that status quo even when things are not going your way.

Change the Subject

You know when you’re talking to someone and you just don’t want to hear what they have to say? Well, that’s a key time to talk about something else. It often works as the other person just starts rolling with this new topic. You can do the same thing to you mind. If you’re feeling depressed or anxious about something it may just mean you need to think about something else. That can be easier said than done, but by focusing on something that demands a lot of attention (but is not negative) can do the trick. Some examples: Reading, doing a crossword, watching a documentary or visiting a museum.

Get Your Sweat On

Nothing clears the mind like a good workout. Not only will it do wonders for your health and fitness but focusing on exercise will alleviate other worries (see above). Endurance exercises like cycling and running have the added advantage of putting the mind in a meditative state thanks to the repetition of movement. Try it. At the very least you'll get a good workout in.

Have a Laugh

Hard to do when things seem pretty bad, but a cathartic laugh is just what the doctor ordered. If it doesn’t come naturally (good fun with good friends, say), try the hard stuff. We’re talking about stand-up comedy. A few clicks on Netflix and you can be streaming a pro like Louis CK, Chelsea Peretti, or John Mulaney, guaranteed to make you at least smile for a few minutes.