5 Ways to Make a Bad Day Better

We all have bad days, and some are much worse than others. A really bad day can be unsettling and cause you to feel very low and obsess over what has gone wrong. Here are 5 ways to help you get through the day, whether it’s good or bad:

1. Don’t be hard on yourself.

It’s easy to beat yourself up when you’ve just found out that you made a mistake. But we all make mistakes, and making them is the one way to really learn about life and what works for you. If you learn from a mistake and embrace it, your day will be better—and so will your life.

2. Get some fresh air.

If you can take a walk or just sit in the sun, go for it. A breath of fresh air can help reduce your anxiety or depression. Sometimes when we are upset, we hold our breath longer than we should, so remember to breathe in and out.

3. Look for something beautiful right where you are.

Sometimes it can be hard to take in the golden light of a sunset or a spectacular view if you feel overwhelmed. If nature isn’t readily accessible, go to a museum or art gallery, the mall or even a parking lot—just to look—to bring a little light into your life.

4. Accept that the day is challenging.

Get some perspective on what’s happening by telling yourself that you’ve had days like this before, and things usually get better. Knowing that the situation is temporary will help you cope with whatever is going on.

5. Call a friend who might need a little cheering up.

Thinking about someone else helps to take your thoughts away from your own troubles, and helping a friend will make you feel better about yourself.

Daily Affirmation Benefits

So, here is some evidence from empirical studies which suggest that positive self-affirmation practices can be beneficial:

  1. Self-affirmations have been shown to decrease health-deteriorating stress(Sherman et al., 2009; Critcher & Dunning, 2015);
  2. Self-affirmations have been used effectively in interventions which led people to increase their physical behavior (Cooke et al., 2014)
  3. They may help us to perceive otherwise ‘threatening’ messages with less resistance, including interventions (Logel & Cohen, 2012);
  4. They can make us less likely to dismiss harmful health messages, responding instead with the intention to change for the better (Harris et al., 2007) and eat more fruit and vegetables (Epton & Harris, 2008);
  5. They have been linked positively to academic achievement, by mitigating GPA decline in students who feel ‘left out’ at college (Layous et al., 2017); and
  6. Self-affirmation has been demonstrated to lower stress and rumination (Koole et al., 1999; Weisenfeld et al., 2001).

Make Room for Happiness

If you fill your world with negativity they’ll be no room for happiness. Don’t let life just happen, take control of it. Make room for happiness by filling your mind with positive happy thoughts. Make it a habit to be aware of what you’re thinking about and keep your thoughts positive.

It’s not easy and it doesn’t just happen, you have to work at it. You have to want to be happy. You must always keep your minds garden fertile with positivity and good thoughts. If you stop thinking about what you’re thinking about, those negative weeds will grow. Just like a garden, you must care for your mind.

Dealing With Day To Day Life

Every day your will power is tested.  There’s always something that can easily derail your positive thoughts. At first it is difficult to maintain a positive outlook and keep your thoughts on track. But just like anything else, repetition creates habits, good or bad.

If you choose to be positive and strive to live a happy life you must always do the things that make you happy and be happy doing the things you need to do. Don’t give up.