“Peace begins with a smile” Mother Theresa
Have you had a bad day recently? Yep, me to!
Is a ‘bad day’ really a bad day or just a bad moment?
Minor events can trigger bad days, whether it’s spilling your coffee on your crisp white shirt, getting a parking ticket, or finding out that your landlord is about to sell the house. Unfortunately we can’t control most things that happen around us but we can control our reactions to the times when life really throws us a curve ball.
We know that everything starts in the mind and that our first choice should be to change our mindset. We can choose whether we laugh or cry, whether we are happy or sad, whether we are positive or negative, whether we feel love or hate. No day sets out to be good or bad. During every second of every day there is an opportunity to make a change. You can change your mindset at any point and change your perspective into what you think is a bad day into a good day.
Along with changing our mindset there are also some other things we can do, so here are 7 things you can do when you need to turn a bad day into a good day.
1. Listen To Your Favourite Song
We all know that listening to music you like can alter your mood and even alleviate depression, so make a playlist of your favourite songs. Try to choose positive, uplifting songs that make you feel good.
Music has always been my passion (I always wanted to be a professional singer) and no matter where I am I always have to put music on. There’s something about it that just lifts my mood and spirit and makes me feel so much better.
Don’t worry about knowing the words to a song or not being such a great dancer – just open your heart, mind (and mouth) and sing those blues away.
2. It’s Time To Laugh
Having a good laugh can change your mood within an instant. It really is one of the best medicines to changing a bad day into a good day.
Find something that amuses you – silly YouTube videos, comedy shows, jokes, a funny friend – it doesn’t matter what it is, it just needs to be something that changes your thought pattern from sad to happy.
Try to surround yourself with as many funny people as possible. These people generally have a happy-go-lucky attitude to life and can tend to see the glass as half full and not half empty.
Being more aware of what makes you laugh puts you in a great position to know what to do when you’re feeling a little down and can help you to stop the negative thoughts in their tracks before they escalate.
3. Practice Deep Breathing
The power of deep breathing has been proven time and time again over the years and as a person who used to suffer with severe anxiety and have panic attacks I really do understand the power of practicing deep breathing for both your physical and mental health.
It has a natural stress-reducing quality that can help you keep at bay the rush of stress hormones that a bad day can bring about. When we are stressed, frustrated, and anxious we are existing in our sympathetic nervous system where everything is heightened and we find ourselves on edge.
One of the things I love to do is to take a few moments and close my eyes. Inhale deeply through the nose for a few seconds, then pause and exhale for another few seconds. This helps to stimulate the nervous system and quietens the stress response.
4. Write It Down
A great way to release stress and anxiety is to write things down. Putting pen to paper really does help you get things off your chest and makes dealing with stress a little easier. Write down the things which are going through your mind and don’t worry about if what you are writing is correct – just write!
I would encourage you to write down the things that make you happy. This could be listening to your favourite music, drinking a coffee, eating chocolate, buying a bunch of peonies, watching your favourite football team! It really doesn’t matter. Whatever brings you even the smallest amount of joy. This helps to shift your perspective and focus on the good and not the bad.
Also, don’t forget to make a list of the things you are grateful for. This also helps to give you a more positive outlook on life and helps you to not dwell on the negatives.
5. Do Some Exercise
This has had a huge impact on my wellbeing. We may not always feel like doing it but we all know that exercise is one of the best ways of improving your mood. Moving the body helps to release endorphins and stimulate blood flow which in turn helps you to feel better.
You don’t have to run a marathon or take part in a triathlon (unless you really want to!) to feel the benefits of exercise. A simple 3-5 minute routine in your home or at work to circulate the blood can make all the difference.
I’ve recently taken up swimming every morning and have noticed a huge difference in my energy levels. It not only makes me feel good (plus lose a bit of weight) but it also really helps to clear my mind and just forget about anything that’s worrying me.
All you need to do is get your heart rate up and get sweating and those positive endorphins will kick that bad mood into touch.
6. Help Someone
This is probably my most favourite thing to do when I’m feeling a bit down. There’s no better way to get a real perspective on life than to help a stranger. Doing something for someone else not only makes you (and them) feel better but it also makes the world a better place.
Being able to focus on someone else’ problem whilst you have your own is definitely not easy but if you can master it you will feel an amazing amount of joy and satisfaction.
I would encourage you to practice a random act of kindness to a total stranger. Don’t look for anything in return. Just do it because you can. You will be amazed at how it will make you feel!
7. Call A Friend
Find someone who you can talk to and who will share your pain. Sometimes you just have to air your grievances with someone who cares and will allow you to let off steam so don’t feel ashamed to call in the reinforcements.
Call a friend who will allow you to have a pity party for a little while but will then help you to turn the conversation into something more uplifting, positive and fun because dwelling on your problem and sadness for to long will not be beneficial to you or them.
As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved and I have found that to be true on so many occasions. I am truly grateful for my friends who allow me to just talk and talk and talk some more – it’s like therapy! Talking with someone who will not only listen but will also help you find a solution to your problems is priceless.
I hope these tips will help you on the days you’re feeling a little fed up and down and don’t forget, if all else fails, get some rest and start again tomorrow!
