Everyone encounters things in life that are hard, sad or frustrating. And that is okay. What matters is how we overcome this adversity and become stronger through it. Maybe you are facing something big right now or you struggle with the day-to-day, I hope you will recognize some of my strategies for dealing with adversity in all sizes and shapes.

This is part one of a three part series. Each post deals with a different kind of adversity.

So, what does day-to-day adversity look like?

Everyone knows the feeling: you have a pile of laundry that needs folding, the kitchen sink is full of dishes and you really need to vacuum, but you just don’t want to.

Having a messy or cluttered environment drains your energy and keeps you from doing the things that are really important.

Use these four tips to take control of your environment.

The first thing I do when I have a house full of chores to be done is identify the space that bothers me the most. Most often this is my kitchen or the table.

I start there, because when my house is neat and organized my head is too. And the accomplishment makes it easier to tackle the next thing. Sometimes just clearing off my table results in cleaning my whole house.

Does clearing off your whole table seem overwhelming? Just put one thing away. Starting small often leads to big improvement.

Another way I do this is by taking my laundry off the line, but not folding it yet. Putting the laundry in the basket removes a lot of visual clutter and the task is super simple.

Once I decide what I want to do, it is time to get energized. I love putting on some upbeat music or sing-along songs.

I do my chores, burst out some dance moves along the way and often feel refreshed by the movement and a cleaner house.

If the music doesn’t help, or I am tired from my day, the best thing I can do is rest. Forcing myself to do things that cost energy when that energy is not available just makes me feel worse.

I want to feel like I accomplished something, not like I just came out of a wrestling match that I barely survived.

Having an appointment or a pact with someone always helps me to get things done. Sometimes they don’t even know they are helping me. Knowing someone is coming is motivation enough to get things done.

Last week alone there were two instances in which this worked. Normally my coach helps me to do any chores I didn’t get to. But last Friday I wanted to use our time differently, so I forced myself to fold the laundry (which had been dry since Tuesday) before she came.

We had a good talk and I patted myself on the back for finishing the laundry alone.

On Saturday my mom came and we ate lasagna, which is delicious, but does require a lot of prep. As my mom would come late in the afternoon she told me in advance that I should have the sauce ready when she came.

That spurred me into action. While I was in the kitchen I remembered how much I love cooking. In the end, we had an amazing lasagna that I probably never would have made if she hadn’t come. And the best part: I made extra lasagna to put in the freezer and enjoyed it when I had a bad day.

Everyone is different, so what helps me might not work for you. The only way to find out what works is to try it.

So are you asking that friend over for dinner to do the dishes together after? Or will you put on some headphones and display your best mopping moves?

Let me know what works for you!