There are a lot of things that can go wrong at home, ranging from interpersonal dramas to absolutely catastrophic crisis such as a house fire, or a gas leak.

While a lot of our attention is given to these major and dramatic upsets and troubles – and understandably so – the reality is that we are far more likely to have our quality of life gnawed away at by the “small crisis” that happens on a semi-regular basis. Stuff like appliances breaking down, windows getting broken, and so on.

3 Tips to Deal with Unexpected Situations at Home

Here are a few tips for dealing with “little earthquakes” or unexpected events at home, without going mad.

1. Regularly set aside money in a budget category dedicated to “unexpected home expenses”

It’s simply a matter of fact that you will have to spend money in dealing with certain issues at home, from time to time, that you didn’t properly foresee.

One day everything is working alright, and then your washing machine or oven breaks down, and you need to contact an appliance repair company in a hurry, or else you’ll be forced to live like someone from the stone age, for a week or more.

These sorts of unforeseen home expenses can be especially irritating and troublesome. That’s why you should regularly set aside money in a budget category dedicated specifically to “unexpected home expenses,” so that when these expenses do arise, they don’t catch you off guard, and rob you of your monthly fun money.

2. Set aside a small “refuge space” where you can retreat and catch your breath, even when dealing with an issue in another part of the home.

When things go wrong at home, they will frequently go wrong in “common areas” such as the kitchen, living room, or bathroom. Sometimes – although significantly less frequently – issues will develop in bedrooms, home offices, and so on.

If you’re dealing with an issue at home that prevents you from enjoying a warm shower or reclining on the sofa after a long day at work, it’s not difficult to find yourself becoming jaded, bitter, and on edge. Before long, you may end up snapping at your partner or family, and that’s only likely to cause more hurt feelings and trouble.

One of the best things you can do is to set aside a small “refuge space” that you can retreat to, to catch your breath, even when dealing with an issue in another part of the home.

This could, in theory, be just about any room. It’s important that you ensure that it contains features that can really help to destress you in a hurry if needs be.

RELATED: 7 Ways to Use Essential Oils for Self-Care

Plush cushions and an essential oil burner are always good ideas.

3. Maintain good lines of communication with anyone you share the home with, in order to reduce the buildup of friction and drama.

A lot of the “small crisis” that likely to develop at home, will take the form of interpersonal dramas, rather than actual structural damage to the home.

If you’re living with someone, the odds are reasonably high that you actually care about them, and want to get on with them as well as possible. And, since your home is supposed to be a refuge from the normal concerns of everyday life, it can be extremely bad for your sense of well-being to have interpersonal drama brewing in that space.

The primary key to avoiding and diffusing this drama and tension is, generally speaking, to maintain good lines of communication with anyone you share the home with, and to address grievances calmly and politely before they reach boiling point.

Hopefully, these ideas to deal with unforeseen or surprising events (not in a good way!) help you to strategically devise a plan of action for well being and self-care.

Because let’s face it. Ultimately all you do, you do in the name of love!

xoxo Mama