How to Improve My Temper

A bad temper will not only affect you, it also affects your relationships with others. Having a short fuse gives you a low tolerance for life's everyday stresses, from bad traffic to whining kids. If left unchecked, a bad temper will flare-up and cause a negative reaction in the form of emotional outbursts or physical violence. Dealing with a bad temper through healthy outlets will help you keep your moods under control before they begin harming your relationships and health.

Things You'll Need

• Journal

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Instructions

• 1

  Walk away from the situation, close your eyes and count to 10. According to the Mayo Clinic, the simple act of counting will take your mind out of the frustrating situation, which will keep your temper under control.

• 2

  Talk about your bad temper and negative emotions with a trusted friend, religious leader or mental health professional. All of these outlets will help you vent any frustrations and find the underlying causes for the sour temper.

• 3

  Exercise at least thre -to five days a week, and especially when you are experiencing negative emotions or thoughts. According to the Mayo Clinic, any type of exercise, from a brisk walk to a hard cardio workout, will release chemicals in your brain that will diffuse anger and promote happiness.

• 4

  Find peaceful, calm resolutions for situations that trigger your temper. For instance, stay away from people that upset you or separate two fighting children instead of trying to diffuse the situation.

• 5

  Start a temper journal. Write down any negative thoughts and identify negative people or situations that bring on your sour temper. Getting your feelings down on paper will help you work through these issues and control your reaction in the future.

• 6

  Explore different relaxation techniques. Do yoga, meditate or, according to the Mayo Clinic, find a mantra to repeat each time you begin to feel angry. This phrase will help you remember to keep your temper under control.