5 ways to make a bad day go tolerably well

Some days seem destined to follow a certain theme. Usually, we hope for the days when you catch the train, make the light, and everything goes so smoothly. Unfortunately, there are other days that you spiral into a massive cluster of “whaaaaaaaat the falafel is going onnnnnnnn”. Yes, we’ve all been there… Thoughts race through your head and your outlook turns bleak. Something tells you to stop the downward spiral and yet momentum has already started! The irony is we seem to notice the step-by-step meltdown on sad days, as if every minute is another whiplash. Do we ever have the same thoughts on a bright sunny days, like “oh, great things are happening, lucky me!” We just live the great days and unconsciously make the best of them.

I had a string of inconvenient obstacles come up before the New Year and instead of being sad I honestly didn’t feel like being bummed out. I wanted to stay creative and happy, not stressed out over the loss of something replaceable. Below are the five small actions I thought of to get myself back on track. I’m trying to stay loyal to them. Not as a New Year’s Resolution but merely as a reminder that I’m not into being down in 2016. I better start freeing up my life for great things and not a bad attitude.

So here are 5 ways to make your day go from muck to glass half full.

1. Not because you’ve done something wrong but there is a good chance you might if you keep talking to those people who are suddenly no longer… smart? Funny thing about bad days, they’re temporary. Best not to say something you’ll regret later. Take a quick time out. You need to reset and get your attitude in a better place. This is crucial to making a bad day go better. Your attitude, even when things are (temporarily) bad will make a major difference on how people react to you and free you from a vicious cycle. You already caught the negativity, why allow it to infect every amazing thing that could happen today or tomorrow? So divorce the ornery or be grumpy for the day, your choice!
2. Do something nice for someone and don’t forget your manners! Doing something nice for someone will immediately help you realize there is life happening outside whatever you’re feeling. Helping someone could be as simple as smiling, holding the door, or saying thank you. People are actually doing nice things for each other all the time. You just have to be cognizant of it. See something nice? Pay it forward and get yourself on that positive track. This doesn’t mean you have to be a bubbly. It does mean you have a choice to stay in your rut or start completing little actions that feel better.
3. Figure out what is actually bothering you. If the above two suggestions aren’t making you feel a little better, there is a good chance you are projecting. This happens to me a lot. I think I’m mad about something when really it’s coming from a fear I have been concealing. One thing that can help is to sit down with your thoughts, as uncomfortable as they are, and write down everything that is bothering you. Do it. Then ask yourself if it’s actually worth being upset about. Will this really make a difference in a month and is it better to let things pan out? Be honest or you’re just sabotaging your happy days.
4. Stop thinking about it! This is the hardest suggestion on the list. You must find a way to stop thinking about what is nagging you. The first suggestion is to think of a happy memory. If you can remember sad things, why can’t you fondly remember good days? Relish in the good moments, there are plenty. Another trick that works for me is imagining a room decorated with my favorite things and a pink elephant symbolizing my frustration. Can you visualize the pink elephant? Great, now stop looking at it. For example, in my room there are so many beautiful things that I can set my focus upon, like the rare Faberge egg, an opened bottle of Screaming Eagle, and/or a golden retriever puppy. So, why do you keep staring at the ugly Pepto-pink colored elephant in your room? You know it makes you feel bad. Stop it!
5. Treat yo’self!* Go get that drink after your (real or imaginary) work out. You deserve it! It’s been a long day. You woke up feeling not so great, and got yourself to a point where you feel better, if not much better! And you did so without validation from anyone else. You stopped focusing on what was bothering you and focused your thoughts on feeling normal again, which means contentment. The most ironic thing is it will probably get better the moment you stop thinking about it. So go ahead, you deserve that new [fill in the blank]!

If all else fails, remember the Irish Proverb: “a good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything”.

Be happy! You deserve it, really.

*within reason of the numbers in your bank account.