How to avoid listening to everyones problems and negativity all day long.?

Question

Help....Everywhere I turn I have to hear people gripe about how horrible their life is. How sad they are and blah blah blah. I go from home listening to my brothers problems, to work hearing my supervisor's problems ( have to share an office with her) to listening to my fiances mom about how herlife is so depressing and how her situation is so hard. (trust me, its not) I know people have issues, but come on, why cant people realize they are NOT the only people in the world and its NOT all about them the whole time! Then I have to hear my fiance's brothers girlfriend complain and talk about everyone and how she is upste because we are getting married and they arent engaged yet. Ugh, its so miserable.

It is really starting to bring me down and all of this negative energy is realy starting to have a negative impact on my life. It should start to improve since my fiance and I are moving into our own apartment together within the next month. But seriously, how can I not let this stuff affect me? How can I keep all of the negative energy out of my life and make these people stop griping towards me every single day? I dont have a day taht goes by within the last year where I dont have to deal with someone crying or cursing me out while they vent. I jsut cant do this anymore. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

an I-pod and a pair of dark sunglasses...When people start to talk to you just smile real big and bob your head.

It works for me.

Answer 2

I understand what you mean... i feel like that all the time... I give my advice and move on... Try to change the subject and make positive environment. Try changing things around. It's your life... You don't like this stuff you need to change it... Don't answer the phone... Come home late and go straight to bed... Push these negative people out of your life and find more positive one. Find more positive people and bring them around... This will quickly change the environment. I find it easier for me to kick people out of my life and find more positive people to bring in. That's because I'm a single college student. If these people can come to you and complain... COMPLAIN back!!! Tell them that your not in for listening to there issues... You know there issues and if you wanted to hear it over and over again you would record it and listen to it all the time..

Personally, I would take a day off.... Go out... Take yourself out and do something that benefits you and makes you feel good... Take yourself to that restaurant you've been wanting to go to... Buy yourself a nice drink and relax...  There's no advice that I can really give you cuz I don't know your life but this is what I would do.  

Answer 3

So when did you decide to be everyone's listening post?  Nowhere is it written that you actually have to *listen* to these whiners and complainers!

At work, you can politely tell them that sorry, you really have to concentrate on what you are doing (your job) and can maybe talk to them later. (Then, never let "later" occur!)

For other than work, answer with one word answers, then quickly change the subject to something happy or cheerful.  Talk to them about your wedding, your plans, your new apartment, your fiance.  Drown out their negativity with happy, cheerful talk about your life.

Do NOT continue to be a doormat!! If anybody cursed at me, I would tell them that I will not listen to that, nor be talked to like that.  Put your foot down, do not take anyone's c**p.  If somebody starts crying, hand them a kleenex, then go to the bathroom and stay there for 5 minutes or so while they calm down.  Do not just sit there and let them dump all their whining on you.

Stand up for yourself.  No one will respect you until you respect yourself, and that means not letting everyone dump on you!!

Answer 4

Use it to and tell yourself life could be worse. These problems are getting worse as the economy takes a dive. Everyone has problems some people just always talk about them. Even the news brings you down. Just spend some alone time with yourself and do something that picks your spirit up. Try to not let them suck you into the problems they have.