It may be cheesy, but the truth is that everyone has bad days once in a while.
You know, those times when nothing goes according to plan, everything is topsy-turvey, and you find yourself Googling “Is Mercury in retrograde” just to check if there’s a grand scheme or reason behind the fact that everything you do seems to go awry.
Well, if that’s how you’re feeling, it’s good to know you’re not alone.
Survey data from 2018 shows that the average American has 60 bad days per year. Or, mathematically speaking, most people can expect to feel like nothing is working out for them approximately 15% of the time.
Now, one way to deal with this not-so-great fact of life is to give up, blame Murphy’s Law, and wait things out on the couch, beneath a pile of blankets, with a bucket of chocolate fudge ice cream. But, if wasting time on self-pity isn’t your style, you might as well decide to push reset and start over.
So, whether you’re having a bad day or simply want to make sure you’re prepared for the next lemon life throws at you, here are the best ways to turn things around and enjoy a positive perspective on life.
Identify the Reasons for Your Frustration
One of the best ways to turn a bad day around is to figure out what went wrong in the first place.
Some days, you might find that you’ve overslept, spilled coffee on your favorite shirt before a big work meeting, or just gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Other times, the reasons for having a bad day will be far less recognizable (hello there, sneaky PMS symptoms).
But, no matter whether you’re feeling off due to a poor night’s sleep, having had a disagreement with your partner, or because you’re dealing with too much stress at work, the first step towards starting over is getting to the root of your negative emotions.
For some people, the way to do this will be as easy as to pause and reflect on their days.
Others will have to rely on mindfulness practices like meditation, reflection, and journaling.
And for some, the best way to identify their emotional triggers will be to work with a therapist. A trained professional can not only help you on your journey of self-discovery but also suggest coping mechanisms to make crappy days less so.
Engage Your Parasympathetic Nervous System
Another excellent way to push the reset button on bad days will be to help your body and mind de-stress.
To achieve this effect, the best thing you can do is engage in activities that will activate the parasympathetic nervous system and allow you to relax.
Of course, there are many ways to do this.
Mild exercise, like yoga, is a science-proven method of lowering cortisol levels. So is doing breathwork exercises.
And, if you’re a more active individual or just want to find an easier way to turn stress-relieving activities into a consistent part of your daily routine, it’s not a bad idea to try nature walks (yes, a 20-minute stroll around the local park counts as well), which have been proven to relieve stress.
Try to Reframe the Situation
If you’re still struggling to get through those lousy days, despite practicing mindfulness and doing stress-relieving activities, it might not be a bad idea to try a third method.
So, what does it entail? Not much more than acceptance and a willingness to seek something positive, even in less-than-ideal situations.
First and foremost, if you remind yourself that there will always be situations you can’t control, you’ll allow yourself to realize that what you are in charge of is your reaction to those events.
For example, while you may have zero influence on rush-hour traffic, you can make a decision not to let it ruin your day. Or, going a step further, you can reframe the obstacle of being stuck in your car on the highway and think of it as a precious opportunity to listen to your favorite podcast, play some tunes and sing your heart out, or dream up destinations for your next traffic jam-free vacation.
Don’t Be Afraid to Let Go
Last but not least, if you’re having an epically bad day, and none of these techniques worked to make it better (or you find that you don’t even have the time to give them a try), accept that the best way forward may just be to let go of a few things.
No, I don’t mean simply leaving your kids at school because that would make life so much easier. What I’m referring to is a type of fix that involves identifying low-value tasks and rescheduling/delegating them.
For instance, ask your partner to pick up the dry cleaning. Allow yourself to order takeout instead of cooking a homemade meal that evening. Or, plant your kids in front of the TV if it will give you 45 minutes to finish your big presentation for work.
Remember, accepting that you’re in over your head isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a self-awareness that’s absolutely crucial if you want to retain your sanity and health and maintain good relationships during those inevitable crises all of us face from time to time.
