Quick Ways to Turn a Bad Day Around

Tap to Read ➤ Sheetal Mandora

Having a bad day is quite common. Some may claim that such days occur more often than necessary. It really doesn't take much to turn a bad around as there are many things you can do to bring sanity back.

There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them. ~ Lawrence Welk

Many of us have looked back at certain days and wished it had never come. And at times, there are situations where anything and everything we do cannot and will not make things right.

It can either be the stress at work, the responsibilities at school or home, deadlines that have to be met, chores which need to be completed, argument with a loved one or a friend, not getting the right cup of coffee, or getting stuck in traffic; it only takes a minor thing to trigger things in motion.

So in times like these, it is very important to know that not every day will be like this, and that there are ways to stop it from becoming worse.

Simple Tricks to a Happier You

The argument stays that even though taking some time away from the things that are bothering us may be helpful, however, the issues are still going to be there once we return.

But think about it for a second - what if, by constantly thinking about the issues, we are creating or amplifying the ones that weren't even there in the first place? At times, the best thing we can do is take ourselves out of the equation and keep what's bothering us on the back burner.

Friends to Your Rescue No matter what life throws at us, our friends are always there to listen, support, encourage, and guide us through it all.

Their unconditional support gives us strength and their honest opinions boost our self-esteem. These trustworthy friends never judge us or leave us alone in times of need. So on a day when nothing seems to be working out, we can count on their help and advice with our eyes closed.

Take Random Pictures There are times when all you want to do is 'be alone'. But empty mind is devil's workshop. So to keep yourself busy and pass your time, pick up your camera, go out and take random pictures of your surroundings.

Once you feel you have good number of pictures, upload them on your laptop; or you can take printouts of best ones and make an album. Next time if you have a bad day, you can look at these pictures and the good times will come flooding back or you may get inspired to click a few more.

Relax a Little If peace and quiet is what you need to make things right again, do that. Sometimes, when things come crashing down, all you can do is sit back and let that moment pass you by.

Sit with a book you've wanted to read for a while now, go take a walk to calm yourself down, or do some breathing exercises. In order to come out of any situation, it is necessary to take a few steps back and return with a fresh outlook.

Organize a Weekend Party At times you may be upset about something or can't seem to concentrate on the task at hand. So to cheer you up take a little time to plan a spontaneous party for the weekend.

By making plans for the weekend, you will have distracted yourself; even if it is for a little while. This way, along with handling the task at hand, on a whole, you will be excited about the coming weekend. So call all your close friends for the party and get out of that sullen mood.

Take a Long Lunch It is true that no matter what we think or do, certain stressful situations won't automatically go away; we have to deal with them one way or the other.

In such cases, a temporary fix might come in handy. Grab your coworker or a friend and have lunch outside the office. This way, you will have some time to think about how you can handle the situation that's hampering your day. Take care though that you do not run into trouble at work.

Pamper Yourself More often than not, working long hours is the reason behind all the stress and frustration we have in life. So how do we rectify it? We cannot shorten the hours or quit work altogether.

A smart thing to do here is to give yourself a chance to relax by getting pampered at the salon. Now this idea doesn't just apply to women, but men as well. The whole idea is to relieve your body of all the toxins and rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul.

Watch Your Favorite Movie If you've had a bad day at work, school, or at home, and are looking for a quick pick-me-up, watching your favorite TV show or movie can really help.

Once you're done with all the work, make a bowl of popcorn or some other snack and unwind in front of the TV. Of course, do not let this turn into a habit or else you'll find yourself rushing to the couch every time you have a long, tough day. So choose this idea as the last resort.

Do a Little Dance Did you know that music can induce the production of serotonin (that makes you feel happy), alter your brain waves, reduce stress, motivate you, and elevate your mood even after you've stopped listening to it.

Now if you add a little bit of dance to this, you've got yourself a flawless plan; plus, you can listen to music whenever and wherever you like. A bad day doesn't come announcing itself. But you can be prepared for it with your awesome playlist.

Write Everything Down Penning down your thoughts about the things, people, or situations that are bothering you can really help.

Sometimes, all you can do in order to feel better is to get everything out of your chest. It's not easy to find a sympathetic ear to lash out. So what's the next best option? Writing out all the things. So whenever you're feeling down, write everything that is bugging you and free yourself from all that frustration and bitterness.

Play with Your Kids After a long day at work, all we want to do is eat and retire for the day. However, studies show that playing with kids can help reduce stress.

Of course, a tough day will reduce your desire to play and engage with them, but if a little effort is given, this will not only distract you from your issues, but will also help you bond with your kids. Plus, you feel a lot better about returning to work and your responsibilities as you had some downtime.

Go for a Run Doing cardio exercises can help increase your endorphin levels, which give you a feeling of being happy.

Also, you can relieve the feelings of anxiety, depression, and anger, and in turn, boost your self-esteem and stimulate blood flow. If you can't go to the gym or find time for a quick run, do some exercises that can be done at your desk. Trust me, it helps.

Do a Good Deed Doing a good deed for someone else is a reward in itself. When you perform a selfless act, you not only feel good about yourself, but also gain a clear conscience.

A random act of kindness goes a long way. So go out there and plant some seeds in the park or in your garden, feed a homeless person, or help an old lady with her grocery bags. Live a little through other people's joy.

Of course, these are just temporary fixes that can help us make the day a little less stressful. However, you may not be able to take the day off every time you feel things aren't going your way. Find a way to keep yourself relaxed in tensed situations and find solutions rather than escapes. Life is definitely not fair, but we can make it enjoyable with a little bit of effort from our side.