12 deep questions to ask yourself when you feel annoyance

  1. What is the cause of my annoyance?
  2. What is making me annoyed?
  3. What belief am I holding on to that might make me feel annoyed or frustrated?
  4. Might this situation be irritating because I am feeling that someone else is taking up too much space or is trying to dominate the conversation?
  5. Might this situation be frustrating because I am not feeling challenged enough?
  6. Is there something that I am doing or not doing that is causing my annoyance?
  7. Is it possible that this person or circumstance is really teaching me something about myself and my ability to handle life's challenges?
  8. Is it possible that I'm feeling challenged but not knowing it because of my filter, or a lens, of annoyance and frustration?
  9. Is it because of some particular action or event?
  10. Do I need to deal with my restlessness and not let it control me?
  11. Do I need to be "bothered" today?
  12. Am I really annoyed?

11 tips on how to deal with annoyance

  1. Write down a list of all the things you can do when you're feeling annoyed, including positive thoughts or relaxation activities.
  2. Use deep breathing to calm down.
  3. Try to focus on what you need instead of being frustrated with someone else’s behavior. It’s not fun to be frustrated and it's hard to be around someone who is that way as well. You may want to remind yourself that the person irritating you may have a reason for their behavior; they may not be as happy about something as you are, they may be dealing with anxiety, they may suffer from depression, or they could just be having a bad day.
  4. Think about how you might address the problem differently next time.
  5. Practice patience and tolerance in the moment of annoyance.
  6. Make a list of the things you like about yourself and the things about people that annoy you, or vice versa, or what they may have in common with people who have annoyed you in the past.
  7. Let go of the need to control everything.
  8. Identify your triggers and avoid them.
  9. Get out of the environment that's making you uneasy or go outside for fresh air and sunlight. You could also try switching tasks.
  10. Focus on the positive aspects of your life.
  11. Express and release anger.

How annoyance affects you

There are many reasons for feeling annoyance. One way we can feel annoyed is when people do not listen to what we say to them or when they say something that can be interpreted as a personal attack on somebody. Another is when someone says something that would be offensive or insulting to anyone regardless of their faith, creed, or ethnicity. I felt annoyance when I found out that my friend was looking at private photos of me and she wasn't invited.