20 Strategies for Handling Challenges

Life is going to hit you hard. The question is, what will you do when it does?

I’ve been there, stuck in a cycle of bad habits I thought I’d never break. I was overweight, unproductive, and felt like I was drifting without a purpose. Challenges felt like walls I could never climb. But I learned that you don't need superhuman strength to overcome them. You just need a few good strategies and the willingness to take one small step at a time.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, I get it. This isn't a lecture. It's a conversation from someone who has been in the trenches and found a way out. Here are 20 strategies that helped me, and I hope they can help you too.

First Steps: Facing the Challenge Head-On

1. Face the Problem. Don’t run from it. Don’t ignore it. Look your challenge right in the eye. You can’t fix something if you pretend it doesn’t exist. Naming the problem is the first step toward solving it.

2. Focus on What You Control. So much in life is out of our hands. You can’t control the economy, the weather, or what other people do. But you can control your response. Your attitude. Your actions. Put your energy there.

3. Break It Down. A huge challenge can feel paralyzing. "Get healthy" is too big. "Lose 110 pounds" felt impossible to me at first. But "go for a 10-minute walk today" or "drink a glass of water instead of soda"? That I could do. Break your big goal into tiny, manageable pieces.

4. Take the Very Next Step. Don’t worry about step 50. Just focus on step one. What is the absolute smallest thing you can do right now to move forward? Do that. Then worry about step two tomorrow.

5. Celebrate Small Wins. When I started my weight loss journey, I celebrated losing the first pound. I celebrated a week of sticking to my food plan. These small victories build momentum. They prove to you that you can do it. They are the fuel that keeps you going.

Building Momentum: Small Actions, Big Results

6. Create a Simple Routine. You don’t need a complicated, military-style schedule. Just a few simple anchors for your day can make a huge difference. For me, it’s starting my day with prayer and a glass of water. This small routine sets a positive tone before the chaos of the day begins.

7. Change Your Environment. Your surroundings have a huge impact on your habits. When I was addicted to gaming, I couldn’t stop because the console was always right there in my room. The simple act of moving it to another room created just enough friction to help me break the cycle. Make your good habits easy and your bad habits hard.

8. Get Some Sleep. We often treat sleep as a luxury, but it’s a necessity. You can’t face your challenges effectively when you’re exhausted. Prioritize getting enough rest. It’s not lazy. It’s strategic.

9. Move Your Body. You don’t need to run a marathon. Just go for a walk. Do some stretching. Put on some music and dance in your living room. Moving your body changes your brain chemistry and helps you think more clearly.

10. Fuel Your Body. When I was binge eating, I was filling myself with junk that made me feel sluggish and depressed. Shifting to real, whole foods gave me the energy I needed to not just lose weight but to tackle other areas of my life. What you eat directly affects your mood and energy.

11. Get Outside. A few minutes of fresh air and sunlight can completely change your perspective. When you feel stuck, step outside. Look at the sky. Feel the breeze. It helps you remember there’s a big world out there beyond your current problem.

Strengthening Your Foundation: Mind, Body, and Spirit

12. Talk to Someone You Trust. Don’t carry your burdens alone. A problem shared is a problem halved. Talk to a close friend, a family member, or your priest. Just saying things out loud can rob them of their power.

13. Ask for Help. This is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom. We aren’t meant to do life alone. Whether you need practical help or just emotional support, have the courage to ask for it.

14. Limit Negative Inputs. If the news makes you anxious, turn it off. If social media makes you feel bad about your life, log off. Be protective of your mind. You wouldn't eat poison, so don't feed your mind a steady diet of negativity and comparison.

15. Practice Daily Gratitude. Every day, find three things you are thankful for. They can be small. A good cup of coffee. A sunny day. A kind word from a stranger. Gratitude shifts your focus from what’s wrong in your life to what’s right.

16. Turn to Prayer. For me, my Orthodox Christian faith is my rock. When I feel overwhelmed, I find a quiet moment to talk to God. It's not about asking for a magic solution. It's about surrendering my worries, finding peace in His presence, and remembering that I’m not in control, but He is. This relationship gives my struggles a purpose and my life a direction.

Shifting Your Perspective: Finding Purpose in the Struggle

17. Look for the Lesson. Every challenge carries a lesson. It might be a lesson in patience, in strength, in humility, or in faith. Ask yourself: What is this situation trying to teach me?

18. Help Someone Else. When you’re stuck in your own head, the best way out is to serve someone else. It can be a small act of kindness. Call a friend who is struggling. Help a neighbor with their groceries. Focusing on others puts your own problems into perspective.

19. Remember Your "Why". Why are you fighting this battle? For your family? For your health? For your future? For your relationship with God? When you feel like giving up, reconnect with your deeper purpose. It will give you the strength to keep going.

20. Give Yourself Grace. You will mess up. You will have bad days. You will fall back into old habits. That’s okay. You are human. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is progress. Don't beat yourself up. Just get back up and take the next right step.

Handling challenges isn't about being invincible. It’s about being resilient. It's about learning, growing, and leaning on your faith and the people around you. It's about taking it one day, one step, one prayer at a time.

So, let me ask you: What’s one small strategy from this list you can try today?