How to Deal with Negative People: 8 Strategies

Some people love to dwell in negativity and never seem to be serious about getting out of the negative loop they’re in.

So, how do you deal with negative people who don’t want to change?

There are different approaches you can take when it comes to dealing with negative people, but before we jump into how you can handle these negative situations let’s answer these questions…

What are the Signs of a Negative Person?

Someone who is constantly negative has many of these qualities:

• The eternal pessimist, never seeing the positives in life.
• They see the negative even in positive situations.
• Negative people aren’t typically grateful for what they have in life.
• Complains frequently and enjoys talking about bad situations.
• Constantly worrying about everything, even things that are tiny.
• Aren’t interested in changing their situation. Instead of finding solutions to fix a problem, they’ll just focus on complaining without taking any action.
• Negative people dwell on the past without focusing on tomorrow being better.
• Even when there is a win in life, the focus goes back to things that are wrong.

Related: 15 Traits of a Toxic Person & How To Deal with Them 

How Does a Negative Person Affect You?

Negative people can affect so many areas of your life, so you really need to be careful that you don’t let their negativity rub off on you.

Here are some different ways that a negative person can affect your life:

• They bring you down when you’re around them. It can almost feel like they’re sucking the energy out of you.
• Negativity is contagious (just as positivity is), so if you frequently hang around someone who’s constantly negative you may soon find yourself to be the same.
• Toxic, negative emotions can lead to serious health problems, such as impairing your immune system and increasing your blood pressure, stress and anxiety, which can ultimately lead to serious health problems such as stroke and heart disease.
• If you spend too much time with negative people, you may feel less motivated to work on meaningful things in your life, such as reaching goals, personal development or important work projects.

How to deal with the negative people in your life - 8 strategies you can try. #negativepeople Share on X

How to Deal with Negative People: 8 Strategies To Try

1. Figure Out Who the Negative People are in Your Life

Take a look at the signs of a negative person above and determine if there are people in your life who act like this.

Knowing who is truly negative and makes you feel bad, can help you determine how much time you want to spend with them.

If someone in your life makes it difficult for you to be positive while around them, this is a definite sign to limit contact with this person.

2. Try to Avoid Negative People (When Possible)

This can be hard if it’s your boss or a family member but you can still try and limit how much time you spend around them if that’s an option.

If it’s your boss or a co-worker, stick to a strict agenda and only discuss items related to your meeting. Avoid listening to complaining around the water cooler.

When it comes to a family member, especially around special occasions, just show up positive and if they keep talking negative just call out the positive and then chat with someone else if you can.

3. Never Ask the General Question “How Are You?”

This may seem insensitive, but hear me out.

Instead of calling someone and saying, “Hey, how are you?” you can ask things you think they might respond more positively to. Such as:

• OMG, did you see that new Netflix show released this week?
• What are you doing this weekend?
• What was that meal you made the other day that tasted heavenly? I want the recipe!

By not asking how they are, you’re not forcing them to talk in a negative tone. You can still show interest but with different conversational tactics.

4. Try Positive Reinforcement

When you are in the company of a negative person, do your best to be positive. Yes, this can feel challenging, but give it a try.

• Be kind
• Share what you think is good about a situation
• Communicate how you can help solve a problem

5. Listen & Empathize

There is a good chance that the negative person in your life is going through a tough time. If this person is close to you, listen to how they are feeling.

If you suspect that something really serious is going on, do your best to understand why they are being negative, but ask how you can help them.

6. Know That You Aren’t Responsible For Fixing Their Problems

Depending on the type of person you are, you may take on a lot of stress from that negative person in your life and this can be extremely overwhelming.

You need to make sure that you protect yourself from feeling responsible for how someone else is living their life.

At some point, you may have already tried different tactics, such as positive reinforcement and reminding them how good they have it, but if they’re not willing to change how they live their lives, this is not on you to fix the situation.

You can only do so much and you have to think about your own wellbeing.

7. Set Boundaries

If someone in your life doesn’t respect your space and brings negativity to the party, when it’s your special occasion, communicate that their negativity is not acceptable in this environment.

You can do this by ignoring the negative comments or just nicely reminding them to think positive since it’s your (birthday, Christmas party, etc).

Related: How to Say No without Feeling Guilty

8. Question Your Relationship

If you find yourself in a relationship with someone who is getting you down all the time, think about ending this relationship.

This can be difficult, but ultimately much easier than dealing with constant negative energy in your life.

This is especially important if you have tried everything else and the person isn’t willing to help themselves. This might seem harsh, but your overall wellbeing and happiness are what’s important.

How to Deal with Negative People: Conclusion

The people you spend the most time with have a massive impact on all aspects of your life. If someone is constantly positive, is motivating and supportive, this will impact how you feel and how you connect to the world.

On the other hand, if someone is negative all the time, it could be detrimental to how you view yourself and how you project that self-confidence to others.

You don’t have to let negative people control the way you live life and get in the way of your happiness.

How Do You Deal with Negative People in Your Life?

Share in the comments below.

More Reading on How to Deal with Negative People & Situations:

• How to Say No without Feeling Guilty
• How to Love Yourself & Get Rid of Negative Thoughts
• 5 Tips to Stop Ruminating Thoughts