count to ten
Patience before reacting
Count to ten is a self-calming technique—pausing to count slowly before reacting to anger or frustration.
The brief delay allows the initial flash of emotion to subside: Just count to ten before you say something you'll regret.
Parents teach it to children; adults remind themselves.
The specific number matters less than the pause itself.
- addCombine into total
- oneLowest positive integer
- enumerateList items individually
- sumAddition's result
- take a breathInhale once deliberately
deep breath · composure · tally · total · number sequence · cool down · cool off · calm down · keep your cool · lose your temper · patience · self-control · stress management · grounding · emotional resilience · breathing exercises · take five · temper
- calming phrasesstay calm, calm down, relax, keep your cool, take it easy
- counting phrasesone two three, on three, countdown
- calmingcalm, calm down, soothe, relax, pacify
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
- anger expressionssee red, seeing red, lose your temper, blow a fuse, blow a gasket
- staying calmcalm, relax, chill, patience, composure
count to tenfly off the handle
Lose temper suddenly
lose one's temper · blow up · lash out · snap · explode
count to tenlose control
Fail to maintain composure
lose it · have a meltdown · throw a tantrum · go ballistic · freak out
count, ten, counts, counted, counting, counter, counters, countless, recount