Maybe it’s Monday morning after a long weekend. Maybe you didn’t wake up on time or your laundry’s not finished. Or that task on the top of your to-do list didn’t get done. Maybe your inbox is full, that meeting is soon, and when you go to start your car, you realize you’re out of gas.

And maybe you just breathe. Take things one step at a time. And do your best.

Those really are the three things that I think can help get you through any stressful situation. Whether it’s work related or life related, if you’re able to keep yourself steady and your mind focused, there’s not much you won’t be able to handle.

Here are just a few more tips I’ve found help when troubleshooting.

Keep A Level Head

Stress will not help you solve a problem. In fact, I’ve found that it often makes solving problems even harder. Keep a level head, take a deep breath and view the situation as it really is. What are the realities? What are the restraints? What can you do in that moment to level set and – as the great Olivia Pope says – handle it?

Take Things One Step At A Time

When something is going wrong, it can be overwhelming to even know where to start. I find it helpful to get counsel from a trusted colleague or mentor and determine what the immediate action item is. In the end, you can only do one thing at a time, and it’s better to start at the bottom then to never start at all. So evaluate what needs to get done, and take things from there.

Do Your Best

In the end, that’s all you can do! If you’ve made a mistake, own up to it. Then move on. If you’re trying your best and keeping a level head, I promise you will get by. And if not, there is always happy hour.