Things don’t always go smoothly! My reflex is usually to buckle down and fight it. I’ve learned it’s okay to step away when I don’t have the concentration available to do my best.

If I lose at chess online, my reflex is to mash “next game” and keep going. I’ll win next time, then I’ll stop, I swear, mhm, yep. I’m flustered and frustrated, my focus is broken, I’m in a panic spiral. There’s no reason to stay in this state!

Stepping away to reset (pet the dogs, refresh the water, walk in a circle) pays for itself when I sit back down.