How to Break Down a Stressful Problem

Smarter and Harder

Life often presents us with challenges that can feel stressful, daunting, and overwhelming to address.

In many cases, a major problem is only a collection of smaller problems working together.

Problems like these can occur anywhere, such as in your:

- Professional career - Schoolwork - Personal finances - Personal goals - etc

Next time you face a big stressful problem, try to break it down using this four-step strategy.

Figure out the Requirements

What are you trying to achieve? What will it take to get there? Are there any obstacles currently in the way?

Step 1

Name the Steps

Separate out the individual micro-goals that make up your overall goal. Give each small step its own name.

Step 2

Make a Plan

Now that you know your steps, decide how and when you will take on each one. This will be your high-level strategy.

Step 3

Divide and Conquer

From here, all you need is to attack one micro-goal at a time, and watch your problem get smaller and smaller.

Step 4

Swipe up to read an in-depth guide to this problem-solving strategy!