Kiran Athar
Gloomy, blue days are the worst. Whether it’s because your boss was being a jerk, you’ve fallen out with your partner, or you’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed, it’s easy to get stuck in a funk.
When things like this used to happen to me, I’d give up on the day, lie in bed ruminating, and hope the following day would be better.
But after a few years of doing this, I realized I was wasting so much time “waiting” for good days to come along. I decided to learn a few simple ways to turn around a bad day and take back control.
In this article, I’ll share these 10 tips with you. Let’s jump in:
1) Get your favorite tunes on
Music is powerful…it evokes emotions in us that few other things can do.
So when you’re having a bad day, don’t wallow in silence. Don’t put on depressing music that’ll bring your mood down even more.
Instead, select a few songs that make you wanna DANCE!
That’s right, the next time you’re having a failure of a day, put on something loud and fun. A track you just can’t resist boogying around to.
Turn your living room or bedroom into your own one-man or one-woman disco and *literally* shake away those blues.
Not only will the music be good for your spirit but moving your body will release happy hormones – a double win!
2) Make your favorite meal
I don’t know about you, but food can really uplift me, especially when I’m having a crappy day.
My go-to comfort meals are Mac and Cheese, or spicy homemade wedges (on a really terrible day, I make two trays and devour the whole lot).
I understand that my choices aren’t the healthiest, so you could always go for a cleaner, greener alternative.
Ultimately, feeding yourself with something yummy is a fail-proof way of lifting your mood. Pair it with a good film and your day will instantly brighten!
3) Go out for a walk
Remember how I said that moving your body releases happy hormones? Well, this is related:
Taking a long, nice stroll in nature is a guaranteed way to turn around a bad day.
Even if you can’t get to a pristine beach or a national park, a wander around your local park will do the trick.
I also suggest putting your electronics away. Take this time to move your body, breathe deeply, and focus on the beauty of nature.
Watch kids play on the swing. Buy yourself an ice cream. Read a book on the grass.
The truth is, being in nature is incredibly powerful. It’s proven to reduce stress and anger…and the best part…it’s completely free!
4) Treat yourself to something nice
I wouldn’t advise retail therapy every time you’re having a bad day – it wouldn’t be good for your bank account.
But on those particularly shitty days, why not treat yourself? Buy that coffee maker or sweatshirt you’ve been eyeing up. Load up on your favorite chocolates. Pick 3 items from your Amazon wishlist and order them.
Heck, you can even treat your cat or dog to something nice; seeing them have fun will lift your mood too.
Quite often, we leave things we really want for “a special occasion”…but I say life is too short for that. We shouldn’t be afraid to indulge ourselves on occasion, and a bad day is the perfect time for it.
5) Pamper yourself
But if you do prefer a free (or less expensive) alternative to retail therapy, try a bit of at-home TLC.
Men included – a natural facemask of yogurt and honey, a long bath, and a tidy up of your nails/eyebrows/beard and any other unruly places will certainly turn around your bad day.
I find that doing my nails is incredibly satisfying (since I rarely have time to get to a salon)…it’s a form of mindfulness too, so it allows me to process my emotions and calm down.
Find what makes you calm. Do something nice for your body. Your mind and emotions will thank you for it!
6) Reach out to a good friend
If you’re struggling to pull yourself out of a funk on your own, there’s no harm in enlisting help.
Even if you don’t want to discuss the details of your bad day, just calling up a friend or going for a coffee will serve as a positive distraction.
But one thing to keep in mind; only reach out to positive people. You don’t want to call a Negative Nelly only for them to drone on about their miseries and drag you down further!
7) Watch your favorite movie
Perhaps the sight of Tom Hanks losing his shit over Wilson the volleyball will make you feel better about your bad day?
Or a childhood classic like Matilda to inspire and motivate you?
Whatever your pick, a feel-good movie is the way to go. I turn to Mamma Mia because singing along cheers me up, as do the pretty Greek island vibes and idealistic lifestyle.
Sure, watching a movie won’t change your life, but it could change your day around.
8) Cook or bake a new recipe
Another simple way to turn around a bad day is to achieve a small win. I’ll list a couple more below, but let’s start with trying a new recipe…
The good news is, no matter how bad you are in the kitchen, there are tons of easy-to-follow recipes online.
I know, because even the simple act of boiling an egg is a struggle for me, yet even I’ve managed to make some gorgeous meals by following the instructions to a T.
By the time you’re done, you’ll feel a sense of satisfaction at completing something new. You’ll also hopefully have something yummy to eat too!
9) Do one task that you’ve been putting off
This might sound a bit strange, but it’s worked for me in the past…
If the day has already proven to be miserable, I throw in a few other things that I’ve been putting off (things like cleaning the oven or completing a task at work that drags)…that way I get everything negative over and done within one day!
You might be thinking, “How will that turn around a bad day?”
Well, when I’m eventually done, I feel good knowing that I’ve saved myself from the pain of doing those annoying tasks another day.
It’s also nice to tick something off the list and feel a sense of accomplishment!
10) Tidy up
WAIT – before you scroll past because you hate cleaning or find it boring…hear me out:
Studies have shown that a messy environment can dampen your spirits. Cleaning, however, is a great way to release stress. It can also boost your mood.
And as I mentioned above, it’s another task you can complete and feel good about.
But I get it, if it’s not your thing, it’s not your thing.
In that case, I suggest combining point one on this list with cleaning – get your favorite tunes on, dance while you hoover, and set a timer so it doesn’t become a never-ending task…
You might actually find yourself having a good time!
Remember, only you have the power to turn around a bad day.
And once you get into the habit of doing the things above, you’ll never have to suffer for too long, because you’ll know exactly what your mood calls for!
