It's happened to all of us -- we're in the middle of an argument with someone, and we start to wonder: is this really worth arguing about? Is it worth getting worked up over? More often than not, the answer is "no." In fact, there are usually telltale signs. Here are six ways to know that something is not worth arguing about:

1. You're not actually arguing about the same thing.

Oftentimes in an argument, both parties are talking past each other rather than to each other. What one person is hearing is not what the other person is saying. As a result, you're both getting increasingly frustrated because you think the other person just doesn't understand your point of view. If you find yourself in this situation, it might be time to step back and reevaluate whether or not this is something worth arguing about.

2. The issue isn't really that important to you.

We all have a limited amount of energy and emotional resources. So when we're deciding whether or not to engage in an argument, it's important to consider how important the issue at hand really is to us. If it's not that important, then it's probably not worth expending our energy on.

3. You're not going to budge on your position.

Let's face it: sometimes we argue just for the sake of arguing. We know we're never going to change our position, and we also know that the other person isn't going to change theirs either. So why bother? Again, this isn't something worth expending our energy on.

4. The other person isn't budging on their position either.

This ties into the previous point. If neither party is willing to budge, then there's really no point in continuing the argument—it's just going to go in circles until both parties are exhausted.

5. One or both parties are getting emotional.

When tempers start to flare and emotions start running high, it's usually a sign that things have gone too far and that it's no longer productive to continue the argument. It might be tempting to keep going in hopes of winning the argument, but more often than not, this will only end up making things worse rather than better.

6. You're starting to say things you'll regret later.

In the heat of an argument, it can be easy to say things we don't actually mean—things that are hurtful and inflammatory and that we'll only end up regretting later on. Once we've said these things, they can never be taken back—so again, it's usually best to just step away from the situation before things escalate too far.
Arguing can cathartic—but only when it's with someone we care about and when it's over something that actually matters. The next time you find yourself in the middle of an argument, ask yourself if it meets all six of these criteria. If not, chances are good that it's not worth your time, energy, or breath. After all, life's too short to spend time arguing over things that don't really matter .