Seven Ways to Improve a Bad Day
This includes techniques to help you cope with a bad day. A few of these might surprise you.
- Take breathing breaks – If you take a few moments here or there during the day to breath in and out slowly, you’ll be able to calm yourself down and gain perspective. If you have some privacy, I would also recommend closing your eyes and visualizing a peaceful place.
- Give yourself a treat - This can be a cookie, a lunch out, a nice walk in a nearby park or even something as simple as using your lunch hour to read. Whatever helps you relax and feel more positive.
- Talk to someone – It’s difficult to overestimate how helpful talking can be. Letting the tension out will help center you and allow you to blow off steam. Don’t take this one to an extreme though. Friends don’t mind a chat session, but no one likes complaining on a daily basis.
- Exercise - This can be a short run, a hard-core work out, or even a quick walk. Let your body work off some of the stress and tension from a hard day. This may also give you time to focus on more positive thoughts, like vacations or weekends.
- Make a list of all the good things that have happened in your day – It’s all too easy to focus on the negative. A list of pleasant moments reminds you there are good things that occur everyday. This little trick has gotten me through more bad days than I care to remember.
- Write another list – In this list, write down the things/people/events that are destroying your day. Then write down any and all ways you may be able to change those things/relationships/or events. Maybe you can change a few, all, or maybe none. It’s better to know than not know in any situation.
- Quit – Here’s the one no one ever speaks about. The horrible “Q” word. No one wants to be a quitter, but let’s look at what quitting really means. Being able to quit something, being in a position to stop doing it completely, that means you’re free. That’s all. It doesn’t make you a bad person, doesn’t mean you are a loser. If your job is absolutely horrible, find another. If your relationship is abusive or just plain bad, leave him or her. Life is all about choices. You make choices everyday, and you can choose to change almost anything about your life.
These are suggestions and techniques I’ve used time and again to get through a bad day, a bad week, and even a bad month.
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User Comments
eddiego65
On September 12, 2008 at 5:29 am
Great advice. Prayer does help also.
Karen Gross
On September 12, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Much wisdom here. Perspective is everything in life. I would agree with eddiego65 that prayer helps a great deal. God doesn’t throw anything our way that He doesn’t equip us to deal with. May I add the suggestion: stop worrying about tomorrow. God already knows exactly what tomorrow will bring you, and He will provide grace as it is needed. I have wasted much time worrying about things that have never happened, and as for the stuff that I am dealing with – I would never have thought to worry about.
Lauren Axelrod
On September 12, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Interesting piece and tips that will benefit all of us. Stress is the leading cause of death in the country right now so everyone should take the time to relax. Don’t take life so seriously.
Well done.
Bozsi Rose
On September 12, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Thanks for the comments! I really appreciate all the feedback.
ThisNachoIsCalledNic
On September 13, 2008 at 1:59 am
Great article, I’m definately refering back to this if I’m down. Thanks for the advice, and I agree that everyone should relax once in a while
dee gold
On September 13, 2008 at 10:41 am
good article
Ancient Aspie
On September 13, 2008 at 10:20 pm
“Quit” isn’t advised nearly often enough. We’re so conditioned to keep going at any cost — don’t give up, finish what you start, on and on. I just did a major quit — something that I’ve given two years of work, and I feel as if a load has dropped off my back. That time and energy can now go to something more worthwhile.
Liane Schmidt
On September 13, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Very nice article, with great tips. You have complete control over how you feel every single day!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
Karen N
On September 14, 2008 at 8:28 am
Very good tips.
I usually wait way too long before I quit something.
Sonny M
On September 18, 2008 at 4:54 pm
We have a choice everyday……enjoy it when we can and deal with it otherwise.
dee gold
On October 3, 2008 at 5:49 am
what can I say? Simply wonderful because there are ways to improve a bad day.Thanks for sharing this.
goodselfme
On November 21, 2008 at 5:04 pm
wonderful uplifting messages in this well done composition.
Jenny Heart
On January 6, 2009 at 9:20 am
Positive thinking is the key. Great piece!
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