How to Turn Your Day Around

Life isn’t always rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes, nothing seems to be working out and things get tough. Sometimes, you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed, and are pissed off for no apparent reason. Sometimes, bad news hit and ruin your day. No matter the reason, we all have bad days, days when it’s a little harder to smile and be positive. Days when we want to stay in bed all day and be miserable.

As tempting as that can be, it’s not always the best solution. Why waste a perfectly good day? Go out there, enjoy your life!

... Easier said than done, right?

I, for one, have an extremely hard time snapping out of a bad mood. I get caught up in a vicious circle and it becomes easier to sulk than to make an effort to be happy. Once (or was it twice? Or...?), I stayed mad all day because of something that had happened first thing in the morning. Come nighttime, I couldn’t even remember why I was mad. I was just stuck in a spiral.

That’s why I’ve come up with a few tricks to snap right out of it. Working out and baking are, in general, pretty good at bringing back happiness, but you can’t always bust out the baking sheets or roll out your yoga mat. Along the years, I’ve figured out a few very simple ways to turn a bad day around. By the time I’m done with this list, I’m usually back to being a normal, social, functioning human being.

1) Watch Youtube Videos
This one can be a little tricky. If you collapse on the bed and mindlessly watch videos of kittens, it might not work as well as it should (although...). Try watching videos of actual human interactions. Your favorite youtubers hanging out, or a fun vlog, or a cleaning routine... Whatever you don’t feel like doing, watch somebody else do it. Seeing them having fun or being super productive will make you want to do the same. Why does it have to be Youtube videos? Because they feature real people doing real things. They portrait reality, and can be very inspiring. And they’re entertaining, so they might get a laugh out of the grumpy cat that you’ve suddenly become.

2) Laugh
Laughing is, obviously, the opposite of a bad mood. If you can get yourself to laugh, you’ll feel a ton better. However, it can be really hard to just... start laughing. If, like me, you tend to surround yourself with people that make you laugh, reaching out to them can be extra beneficial. Allow them to chase your dark clouds away. Also, I have created a pinterest board filled to the brim with funny memes and photos. I always come back to it whenever I’m feeling down. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve looked through this board, it still makes me laugh every time. Check out my pinterest page to have a look!

3) Talk
Not my favorite one. Whenever I feel down, the last thing I feel like doing is engaging in a conversation with someone. But if you make the effort, talking can actually be very beneficial. Whether you are talking to a friend, or a family member, or a random stranger, it doesn’t matter. The importance is to interact in some way. Humans are made to connect with each other, and sometimes we are craving it without even realizing it (yes, even introverts, like me). 

4) Have Some Tea and Meditate
It’s amazing what meditation can do. Even if you’re not very advanced, or if it’s your first time meditating, concentrating on your breath and being still for a while can do loads of good. It clears the mind and puts things in perspective. After a meditation, I always feel calmer and more productive. I’m focused, I feel rested, and I’m ready to face whatever’s out there. And you don’t have to go all yogi style either. Even a few minutes sitting comfortably with your eyes closed can do a world of difference.
In the same line of ideas, I like having some tea whenever I’m feeling down – wait, what am I saying; I like having tea whenever! It brings me an extraordinary sense of peace and is super soothing. Besides, making tea makes me so happy, there’s no way I can stay moody. Try it!

5) Listen to Ridiculously Upbeat Music
Warning: it might be super annoying at first. It’s a horrible clash with the mood you’re in, and it’s annoying. It’s like someone ripping off the covers when you’re still in bed. But the good thing is, after a while it stops being obnoxious and it starts working. I even have a whole playlist of songs that are super upbeat, and I always listen to it whenever I am not having it. This playlist includes songs like Shower by Becky G, Hit It by American Authors, and Knee Deep In My Heart by Shane Filan. Next thing I know, I’m dancing in my pyjamas and I’m thinking that things are not so bad. Plus, it makes you move, which we all know helps boost your mood.

6) Say Positive Affirmations
Granted, positive affirmations are not for everyone. But if you do believe in them, they are an amazing way to get out of a funk. Pick a few affirmations that fit the situation (like “Happiness is within my reach” or “Today can be a great day”) and say them, out loud or in your head, until you fully believe them. Some will say this is lying to yourself, but I disagree; it’s shaping your reality like you want it to be. Good things will start to happen in your day once you’ll start looking for them.

7) Do Something That Scares You
It doesn’t have to be something major, like bungee jumping or tight rope walking. It can be the simplest thing. For example, I used to hate talking on the phone. Having to make a call would almost make me sick. I would be nervous, I would stutter, I would forget what I was calling for... It was bad. However, I realized that making a call that I had been putting off for days would lift such a weight off my shoulders... It would instantly make me feel happy. Not only happy – proud of myself too! Doing scary things releases adrenaline in the body and that is sure to get you smiling again. If that doesn’t make you feel even a tiny bit happier, I don’t know what will.

If none of these end up working, and you’re still having a bad day, well, there’s nothing wrong with having a relaxing day by yourself. As much as we can crave human interactions, we also need some alone time. It’s all about balance.

If you have any other tip on how to turn your day around, please feel free to share them down below, in the comments section!

Much love,
-TM-