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We’re sure you’ve heard the saying that you shouldn’t go to bed angry, but sometimes sleep -- or food -- can be the perfect cure for crankiness. Without going to separate rooms to just stew in your anger, decide whether you want to talk it out right there and then, or if it would be better to book a time to discuss the issue. That’s right -- as in an appointment. Think about it: If he pisses you off right before you leave for work and your only time to discuss it is later that night, the eruption tends to be smaller because you’ve had a few hours to cool off.

Using the same idea, the next time you’re about to brawl, say something calm, like, “Hey, this is really upsetting to me. I need to decompress a bit and think things out. Let’s meet on the couch in 3 hours.” In that time, do what you need to think things through: Write in a journal, blog, take a walk, go to the gym. Leaving the house isn’t the worst thing either. Just make sure you don’t call your mom or a friend. Keep in mind that you'll ultimately move on from this argument, but it’s harder for your best friend to forgive and forget.

-- The Nest Editors

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