Have you experienced a day when you feel that instead of watching A Series of Unfortunate Events you are actually experiencing it? You, me, or anyone who has that kind of experience would simply wish to skip the day and move on to the next in a blink of an eye. No one is spared from having a bad day, including you and me. But, you can do something to make a bad day better by getting over it.
10 Ways for You to Make a Bad Day Better
While it’s true that you may never find a quick solution to the issue, problem, or circumstance that may give you a bad day, you can try these 10 ways to make a bad day better. They are simple and easy to follow and execute.
1. Eat something nutritious and delicious for breakfast
The foods you eat can significantly affect who you are and how you feel. Harvard Health Publishing has reported that the food you eat can affect your gut environment. Your gut produces 90% of serotonin, which is the primary hormone that makes you happy and stabilizes your mood. Foods that contain additives and chemicals can negatively affect your gut and serotonin level. Whereas, nutritious foods that appeal to your taste can bring positive effects and make a bad day better for you.
According to research, what people feel in the morning can affect their mood and productivity throughout the day. When you are having a rough day, eating the nutritious foods that you enjoy can somehow ease the feeling of discomfort that you have. You need to make sure that the food you eat can energize you.
2. Think about the many things that you are grateful for
When having an unpleasant day, you can think about the many wonderful people and things that you have come to know. You can start listing the things that you are grateful for and start feeling good. Be grateful that you are alive today because you still have plenty of chances to experience wonderful things that you will be grateful about. You have the support of people who love you. There is nothing you cannot do and achieve – you have the capability and power. Be thankful that you have discovered these things at a much earlier time than the others.
Remain optimistic, and the positive energy will flow through your body and ease your troubled mind. Before you know it, the bad day may not seem that bad at all. Your positivity overshadows the things that made your day unpleasant.
3. End the blame game
It is always easy to blame yourself or other people when something goes wrong. You need to stop doing that. It drains your vigor and invites negative energy. Blaming someone, including yourself, will not change anything. You can no longer take back what has been done unless you have a time machine that allows you to go back in time and change things. However, there’s still no guarantee that it will solve everything. Expect that there will be repercussions in every action that you take. Unfortunately, no one can predict what may happen after that.
You need to calm yourself and feel better first. Only then you can a bad day better. Let go of the resentment and regret so you can move forward. Instead of blaming anyone, try to look at things from different angles and think outside the box. Look around you, and the answer may just be within your reach.
4. Try mindful breathing meditation
Mindfulness is being present at the exact moment without thinking about the past or the future. You must focus your mind on the things that are happening to you at the present moment. You must forget about the issues in the past or worries about the future. Just relax and calm your mind and think of nothing else. Mindful breathing is an important, powerful practice in mindfulness meditation. The idea is to keep your focus on your breathing and nothing else. You need to feel the air filling your lungs and exhaling it.
It is simple and easy to do mindful breathing. The first thing you must do is find a place where nothing can distract you. If you are new to mindful breathing, you can be easily distracted when you do it in a noisy place. You need to breathe slowly. Take a deep breath through your nostrils for 3 seconds and hold it for 2 seconds. Slowly exhale for 4 seconds through your mouth. Do this breathing routine for 5 to 7 minutes. Focus on each breath while doing this.
It is understandable for your mind to wander when it gets distracted by your bodily sensations or sudden thoughts. When you get distracted, you need to slowly return your focus to your breathing again. Try to keep your mind and body in a relaxed mode, feel your breath, bring your wandering mind back to the present moment, and gently end your session. You may also consider signing up for a meditation class to relieve stress and fatigue. You can surely make a bad day better by gaining your inner peace once you meditate.
5. Break free from your routine and try something new
You need to break free from your routine and try your hands on something that you have never done before. It is fine not to succeed on your first try, and you should not let it weigh on you. Discover and do new things freely and without inhibitions.
Your goal is to find something that sparks interest and can make you try it out. You may want to try mixing the right blend for your aromatherapy oil and might even find a market for it. You may discover something that may give you an extra source of income in the process.
6. Unplug, do things manually for a while and simplify your life
Living off the grid for a while maybe too much for you, although you can also try it sometimes. People of this era have become dependent on the internet, modern gadgets, and other things that make life easier to live and more comfortable. To change something about the everyday aspects of your life and hope to turn it around, try to do things manually like in the old days. Doing things manually can give you a good workout to make a bad day better.
Go back to basics and make your life simple. You may want to start adopting the minimalist lifestyle. Sometimes, having too many gadgets, appliances, clothes, and other things around the house can create clutter that disturbs your inner peace. Try to create a space without anything that may distract you. In no time, you will begin to notice that your mind and body begin to feel relaxed and less disturbed.
Stay away from the different social media platforms to focus on the things you need to prioritize. You can try to unleash the inner artist in you and paint your room or draw something on your sketch pad or canvas. You may even choose to have your hair done or change your hairstyle.
7. Use tennis balls to relieve leg muscle stress and do some simple exercises
Stress is one of the most common reasons for having a bad day. However, you can, still, make a bad day better. There’s a huge possibility that your stress may be due to muscle tension. It is sometimes inevitable to walk for long hours and long distances when going to work and while working. Foot or leg pain can become a common occurrence and can bring extreme discomfort. If you have foot pain, even moving around your house can be painful. Leg muscle tension can easily turn a pleasant day into an awful one.
You need to get a chair first and sit on it. To alleviate the foot or leg pain, place a tennis ball on a hard, even surface. Start rolling the ball under your barefoot. You can do this exercise anywhere and anytime. It is effective in relieving muscle tension, and it is easy to do. You may also want to include some easy and simple exercises to work up a sweat. How about boxing? You can throw some punches on a punching bag and at the same time release the pent-up emotions or frustrations that may be the culprit for your bad day. However, you need to set a time limit.
8. Spare some time to cuddle with your pet
You can play with your pet if you want but cuddling is the best method of relieving anxiety and help you get over a bad day. Animals, especially the cute ones, can help ease anxiety and fatigue. I have a cat and we simply love cuddling together whenever I feel down, and the effect has always been instant. I feel much better and begin to think clearly and draw up a plan to solve my problem. Moreover, if you’re having bad days consecutively, planning a staycation with your dog is a great way to make a bad day better.
If you have no pet around the house, you may volunteer to look after a friend’s furry pet for a few hours. You may choose to go to an animal shelter and adopt one or just play with some furry animals for a while.
9. Let your emotions show, and then set them free
You can set your emotions free when you allow yourself to feel them. Cry when you need to, it is surprisingly cleansing. Let your sadness get washed away by your tears. Get angry but don’t hurt yourself. Shout if you must or wear boxing gloves and hit the punching bag. When you have released everything out, you will feel lighter and clear-headed.
10. Try aromatherapy and include it as part of your self-care
When things go rough and unnerving, it is an absolute must to practice self-care. You should never seek comfort by eating junk food, go drinking until you pass out, or doing dangerous things for the thrill of it. In the end, you will only feel much worse when you engage in activities that put your health in danger. Instead, you should drink lots of water and provide nourishment to your body by eating nutritious foods that you love. Taking a brief walk can also help you ease your foul mood and make a bad day better. You can also choose to stay at home and try aromatherapy.
Give yourself and break and create a relaxing atmosphere where you can let go of worrisome things. Aromatherapy can help you feel better as it is also a great way to relax at home. Choose the scent of essential oil that you love and can help create a relaxing surrounding. I love the calming scent of lavender essential oil. I usually put a few drops of it in my warm bathwater before immersing my body in the bathtub. You can also transform your bathroom into an instant spa. You may also play some music to create a perfect relaxing setting.
You can also put a few drops of essential oil on your washcloth. You can use a diffuser when you want to try aromatherapy in your bedroom and help you fall asleep. You may also dab a few drops of your favorite scent on your neck and inhale it to calm your nerves. Aromatherapy is one of the best methods among the 10 ways to get over a bad day.
Make a Bad Day Better with These Methods
Whatever it is that you feel, it exists for a reason. Having a bad day is not a big deal, but to make a bad day better is surely a big deal for you. Emotions must be felt and not shun. Denying them of their existence is similar to refuting who you are.
Emotions are part of you, and you need to acknowledge them. If you try to drive them away, you will only tire yourself. If you try to suppress them or bury them, they will try to escape and grow stronger than before until they consume every part of you. There’s no telling when you will be able to reclaim yourself and get up. Acknowledge your negative emotions, and then set them free.
These 10 ways to get over a bad day will make a bad day better for you and can help you and someone you know who needs them. Keep them handy and share them with others who may be going through some rough times.
