7 tips for dialing down the toxicity in your life right now

7 tips for dialing down the toxicity in your life right now7 tips for dialing down the toxicity in your life right nowIf you thought that the biggest word of 2018 was extra or woke, were about to rock your world. The real number-one word of the year?Toxic, at least according to theOxford English Dictionary. And whether you use it to describe friendships,the way we treat the environment, or your relationship with the news, it probably crops up in your own life.Knowing that toxicity has become so ever-present that it was recognized by Oxford, we want more than ever to help minimize it for you. Lifes too short to be toxic We reached out to relationship and mental health experts for their advice for keeping things positive - heres what they had to say.1. Take stock of your relationshipsToxicity can easily creep into almost any relationship. If you have a sneaking suspicion that the bad vibes youve been feeling lately are actually rooted in toxicity, you need to evaluate how you relate t o everyone who is closest to you.Licensed professional counselor and coachAnahid Lisa Derbabianrecommends that you consider how mutually respectful, supportive, safe, and positive each of your relationships is. This kind of assessment can help you figure out where the toxicity needs to be tackled.2. Beware of contagious attitudes and emotionsLike laughter and yawning, feelings and moods can be catching - and that can be dangerous.Surrounding yourself with toxic people means you end up toxic,Happy Brain Sciencechief happiness officer Scott Crabtree says. Surrounding yourself with positive people means you end up more positive. Once youve identified the relationships that are especially toxic in your universe, you might consider stepping back from them so youre not absorbing the negative.3. Make a listWhile relationships are a major source of toxicity for many people, they arent theonlysource. Grab a piece of paper and make a list of all of the things and all of the people that may b e bringing you down.A list that identifies the relationships and situations that are toxic for you allows you to make clear choices when faced with those circumstances, rather than reacting automatically, author and heart healing coachSusyn Reevetells us. Start by listing the people and circumstances you are continually complaining about. Remember to include complaints and judgments you continually make about yourself4. Dont be afraid of boundariesThe word boundaries in itself may already be giving you a sinking feeling.Boundaries with the people I love? Boundaries that might keep me from my work or my passions? YikesThink again Once youve identified where things are getting toxic in your life, its time to set your fear of boundaries aside.Strong boundaries ensure that you are the protector of your own personal space and they tell others how to respect those zones, self-care coach andBoundaries With soulmusikauthorCarley Schweetsays. Without boundaries, its easy for toxicity to not only slip into your life, but also to negatively affect you on many levels.Once youve come around to the idea of establishing those boundaries, its time to let practice make perfect.Life coach and licensed therapistLatasha Matthewsencourages you to take as many opportunities as possible to hone this tricky craft. Dont sit back and let negative comments or unreasonable asks pass you by. Instead, set a boundary Everyone has their own personal boundary-setting style, so give yourself the time and space to figure out yours.5. Cut back on social mediaAt this point, youre probably sick of hearing that minimizing your time scrolling the gram is the root of all of your problems, but youre going to have to hear it one more time, because licensed clinical psychologistRamaniDurvasulasays its a great way to minimize toxicity. The comparison game that social media has so many of us playing can breed that toxicity inside your own brain. And how can you fight it on the outside if its running wild internally?6. Practice saying no.Glacier Wellnesshealth and wohlbefinden expert Samantha Morrison calls saying no your best weapon in the fight against toxicity. Arm yourself When you can be your own biggest advocate and confidently excuse yourself from certain commitments or conversations, you begin to take some of the power away from the negative forces that have previously gotten you down.7. Seek out a positive communityBattling toxicity isnt just about eliminating negative influences and cutting the cord on tricky relationships. There are things you can add to your life to dial it back as well. Find a book club, workout group, craft club, or volunteer committee thats all positive. Whatever form it takes, the goal is to surround yourself with people who have achieved something that you are striving for or who are also working toward those same goals, licensed therapistDaniel Olavarriatells us. You will find that the more you surround yourself with positive influences, the less ro om there tends to be for toxicity in your life.This article was originally published on Brit + Co.