How to Make a Bad Day Good

Via iwastesosmuchtime.com

 We all have bad days. You know the kind I'm talking about. You wake up late. You can't find an outfit you like. You just KNOW work is going to be insane. You would SO much rather be doing something else. You spill your coffee/tea/soda. You pack a lunch and leave it on the counter. And that one thing you swore you wouldn't forget? Yep, you forgot it. Let's face it - those are some of the worst days. We find ourselves in a bad mood for no particular reason, and everything seems to go wrong.

I'm a firm believer in the idea that there's no such thing as "good days" or "bad days" - YOU make the day what you want it to be. Granted, some days will be good days easier than others will be, and some days are bad days easier than others - but your attitude decides what type of day it is, ultimately!

So how do you go about turning a bad day into a good day? This is what I've found works for me - maybe it'll help you.

>> Smile

I know, you're rolling your eyes - this is so cliché! But it's true. Smiling at people makes them more receptive to you, which makes them friendlier to you - and having people smile at you makes your day a bit brighter. Take it a step further and compliment a stranger. Tell someone they have gorgeous hair, or you love their shoes. Make their day a little brighter (because you totally know that when someone compliments you randomly, you LOVE it).

 >> Find the positives

I remember the day I took this photo. This may not seem like much but this was something that made my day. It was last summer, and I was having a pretty bad day at work. People were being demanding, it was hot, I was cranky...ick. I was working as a medical courier at the time and as I walked down the loading dock at one of the local hospitals, I spotted these two birds nestled together in a fenced area right off the loading dock. Although both turned to look at me, neither of them moved as I stood less than three feet away and used my phone to take a picture. I ran in and out of the hospital via the loading dock multiple times that day, and the birds stayed there for several hours, cuddled together. Eventually I came by and they were gone. I chose to see this pair of birds as a positive thing in a negative day - and it made my whole day so much brighter, and even now the memory makes me smile. Try to find the positives and see how it makes you feel.

>> Give yourself a pep talk

Take a moment to take a walk and give yourself the kind of lecture a coach gives a team in the locker room before the big game (at least, like they do on TV - I've never been that kind of athlete. Or any kind of athlete, really). "You have the ability to make today an awesome day. Today is going to be excellent, starting now." Better yet, get that mindset going as soon as you wake up.

>> Recharge your batteries

Sometimes you have to take a moment. I'm an introvert, and when I get stressed out it often helps me to just go find a corner to hide in for a few minutes - when that's not possible, I pop my headphones in and try to zone out. This really helps on a day when I'm not tolerating people well. Take a deep breath, relax, and know that everything is going to be awesome.

>> Indulge

Chocolate. It makes everything better. I'm not saying you should gorge, but have a couple pieces of (high quality) chocolate. Close your eyes. Savor it. It makes you happy. Smart people in white lab coats say so. 

>> Visualize

Nervous about something? Take a second to close your eyes and imagine yourself going in there and OWNING it. It applies to a presentation, meeting new people, trying on an outfit you're not sure of - tons of things!

>> Focus on the end

When nothing else works - remind yourself that this is temporary. It'll only last a short time more, then you'll be done with it. You will never have to repeat this day again.

What do you do to make a bad day better? Tell me in the comments!

By the way, I'm currently part of a giveaway over on The Domestic Geek - if you haven't already entered, you should!