Having a bad day happens to most, if not all, of us. The very thought that such days are a part of human existence might help you feel a bit better, but if that is not enough, and in most cases, it is probably not, there are many simple and easy things you can do to help you boost your mood and cope with less-than-perfect moments.
Although how much these things work can vary from one person to another, they are easy to try and thus worthy of attention, considering their potential uplifting effects. Trying the ones you feel most comfortable with can help you discover new ways to improve your mood on a bad day and thus arm you with solutions for the next time it happens.
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Spend time with someone close to you
More often than not, one of the best ways to get back on track is to spend time with someone you love and you’re close to. Seize this opportunity to take your friend or a family member out for a walk as well since being active is known to work as a mood booster. Combine these two solutions, and you should feel better.
If your location doesn’t allow you to meet them in person, a phone call, video call, or even a few text messages can go a long way. It’s true what they say ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’.
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Get moving
As we’ve said above, many health care specialists recommend sports activities not only for supporting your physical health but also for boosting your mental health. As long as you don’t have a condition that limits your ability to engage in sports activities, you could try jogging, swimming, or even gardening or dancing.
Many of us might tend to jump and say that exercising is the last thing you want to do when you have a bad day, yet once you engage in such activities and your level of endorphins rises, you will feel better.
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Take a relaxing bath
Another great way to make yourself feel better on a day that didn’t work the way you planned or wanted is to take a long, bubble bath. Adding some aromatherapy oils, bath salts, or lighting up some scented candles works miracles. No wonder why so many people jump to this solution whenever things go in a different direction than the one hoped for.
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Spend time with pets
If you have a dog, taking him/her out for a walk can also help you disconnect from the things that lowered your mood. In case you have a cat, spending time with him/her while watching something fun is also a good idea.
Animals can help you relieve anxiety, so even if you don’t have a furry friend of your own, you can always ask a friend who has one to allow you to take their dog out and play with them, or you could all go together for an extra uplifting effect.
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Take deep breaths
A simple thing such as deep breathing can help you calm down and get into a better mindset. When you get stressed or anxious, the so-called ‘stress hormone’, cortisol, is released. When practicing deep breathing, the heart rate slows, the level of oxygen that gets into your bloodstream rises, and your whole body relaxes.
Deep breathing will also up your endorphins, which will help you feel better. What’s nice about this option is that you can use it wherever you are, and it will not take long before you enjoy its results.
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Engage in stimulating yet non-stressing intellectual activities
When you have a bad day, what you most probably want is to be able to solve the issue causing it or, if it doesn’t have an immediate solution or any solution, take your mind off it. Playing chess, a round of solitaire or any other game you resonate with can help you focus on something else and stimulate your mind without doing something stressful. Reading a book can also help as getting lost in a new, unimagined world can put your negative thoughts on hold.
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Do a good deed
Sometimes, at the end of a bad day, you might feel like all you can do is sleep or simply stay in bed. Other times, though, the effects are only on a mental level, so if you still have some energy left, doing a good deed will get you some mental energy as well.
Helping somebody in need, such as one of your grandparents, or doing some volunteer work will help you feel better about yourself. Knowing that you improved someone’s life, even if just temporarily, has an uplifting feeling.
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Clean your place
Again, this might not sound like the most enticing way to end a bad day, but it can help you feel much better as it will call for your focus, which will help you pause your negative thoughts. Plus, when you’ve finished tidying your place, you will have a clean room and, hopefully, feel better as well. So, it’s a win-win.
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Listen to your favorite uplifting songs
When you’re emotionally heightened, the last thing you might think could work is some cheery tune. Well, it does work in many cases, and it’s so simple that it is worth a try. At least in my case, listening to some of my favorite uplifting songs works miracles.
You could create such a list and have it ready whenever a bad day hits. Just play it when you are able to do so and go with its positive flow.
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Visit a museum or attend an event
Going back home at the end of the day may not be what some of us have in mind for mood-lifting. If there’s a cultural, sports, or music event you’d like to attend, go for it. It should help you break the routine that can also add to a bad day and focus on something that is new.
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Watch something funny
Even if when you’re feeling down, you might not want to hear about shallow things and silly videos, watching some good comedy series or funny videos can help you get out of your blues and embrace a more positive mindset.
You can try rewatching an episode of your favorite sitcom, scrolling through some funny memes, or listening to a comedy podcast. Just indulge in lighter things. The bad day has already consumed much of your energy, so doing something that won’t drain you of the last energy you have is an inspired thing to do.
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Stay hydrated and have nutrient-rich foods
All nutritionists will tell you that staying hydrated and having a healthy diet will support not only your physical health but also your mental health. When you have a bad day, such healthy approaches are needed more than ever.
Eating healthy foods and drinking enough water should be habits and not just quick fixes we resort to when our bodies reach critical points. If you haven’t revised your eating habits in quite some time, and you can’t say that what you eat is what nutritionists recommend, seize this bad day to make some positive changes in your life.
Staying hydrated and providing your body with essential nutrients support the body in functioning well, and knowing that you’ve done something good for yourself will further make yourself feel better.
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Go out in nature
Several studies have shown that spending time in nature is relaxing and has positive effects. When you have a bad day, taking a walk in the park and enjoying the beautiful surroundings can help you put those negative thoughts on hold. Explore one of your favorite green places and enjoy nature’s beauty.
Seize this day to take a break from your laptop monitor and phone and feed your soul with what nature has to offer.
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If it feels like crying, cry it out
Sometimes, the best way to get around a bad day is to cry it out. If it feels like this is the only way you can release all that tension, then don’t hold back. If screaming helps you get all the negative energy out, then take a pillow, put your face into it and scream as much as you need to enjoy its therapeutic effects.
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Create a list of the good things in your life
More often than not, many people tend to focus only on what’s bad in their lives. If you tend to do that, it will only keep you in a negative mental environment. Even if it can be really difficult to see the bright side of your life when you have a bad day, it is worth trying.
Creating a list of all the good things and special people in your life can work miracles, and doing this is just too easy not to try it.
Each of us has a personal recipe of things that work and things that don’t work when trying to feel better despite the bad things happening. Trying some of the options mentioned above or other methods is the only way to find out what is effective in your case.
Bibliography:
https://urbanbalance.com/benefits-deep-breathing/
https://theeverygirl.com/30-ways-to-make-yourself-feel-better-after-a-shitty-day/
