Some great strategies here! I particularly resonate with the mental timeout strategy - it's so easy to get swept away in the heat of the moment, and taking a few minutes to collect your thoughts is a fantastic way to ensure you don't say or react to something you might regret.
I also find keeping a 'repertoire' of appropriate responses is a helpful tactic - having a few go-to phrases or strategies up your sleeve that you can deploy as needed helps to avoid that deer-in-headlights feeling. You can tailor these responses to different situations, and practicing them beforehand ensures you don't have to come up with something on the spot. This could be something like having a couple of stock phrases for when someone is venting their frustrations, or specific questions to defuse a tense situation.
Another trick I use is visualising a calming scene - it's amazing how effective a quick mental vacation can be in disrupting negative thought patterns and bringing your focus back to centre. For me, it's imagining myself lying on a beach, feeling the warm sun on my face. Sounds corny, but it works!
Also, smiling - sometimes just forcing a big smile can help change your mental perspective, especially if you're feeling overwhelmed. It's amazing how often a simple shift in facial expression can improve your mood and outlook!
These strategies, combined with the excellent ones mentioned above, can hopefully give others some ideas on how to keep their cool in pressure cooker situations!
