8 Small Ways to Turn a Bad Day Around
We’ve all had those days when nothing seems to go quite right. You wake up feeling a bit flat, can’t seem to get motivated and find yourself getting frustrated over the smallest things. Whilst you can’t always change what’s happening around you, there are little things you can do to shift your mood, get yourself out of a rut and make the day feel a little better. Here are eight simple ideas to try.
HOW TO TURN A BAD DAY AROUND
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have days when I just can’t seem to get going. I’m not necessarily upset about anything in particular, but I feel a bit fed up, unmotivated and generally not quite myself. Everything seems like an effort and even the things I usually enjoy don’t seem quite as appealing.
It’s tempting to write the day off, stay in the same place and hope tomorrow is better. But I’ve found that sometimes a few small changes can make quite a difference. You don’t need to do anything particularly exciting or make a big effort. It’s often just about breaking out of your usual routine, doing something a little differently and giving yourself a fresh start.
Here are eight simple things you could try the next time you’re having one of those days.
1. Get outside for a little fresh air
One of the first things I’d suggest is getting outside. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But when you’re feeling a bit fed up or stuck in a rut, a change of scenery can do you good.
Put on your shoes and coat and head out for a walk, even if it’s only for ten or fifteen minutes. You don’t need to go anywhere special or turn it into a big exercise session. Just get some fresh air, enjoy a change of surroundings and give yourself a little breathing space.
I find walking particularly helpful when I’ve got lots going around in my head. There’s something about getting outside, moving your body and looking at something other than the four walls of your home that can help you feel a little more positive.
2. Put on some music you love
Music is one of those little things that can change your mood without you having to do very much at all.
Put on some of your favourite songs, make yourself a playlist or listen to something you haven’t heard for ages. Perhaps choose something upbeat that makes you want to sing along, or something that brings back happy memories.
I think we sometimes underestimate how much the little things around us affect how we feel. A bit of music playing in the background can make an ordinary afternoon feel a little less ordinary.
And if you fancy having a little dance around the kitchen while you’re making a cup of tea, even better!
3. Tidy one little corner of your home
I’m not suggesting you start decluttering the entire house when you’re already having a bad day! But I do think there’s something quite satisfying about sorting out one small area and making your surroundings feel a little nicer.
It could be clearing the kitchen worktop, tidying your bedside table, putting away the laundry that’s been sitting in the basket or making your bed.
Choose something that will take no more than ten minutes. You’ll have a little sense of achievement, and you’ll have one less thing niggling away at you.
Sometimes having a bit more order around us helps us feel a bit more organised in ourselves, too.
4. Do something just because you enjoy it
When life gets busy, it’s surprisingly easy to go through the day doing things because they need doing. There’s always another job, another responsibility or something else that needs your attention.
But when did you last do something simply because you enjoyed it?
Make yourself a nice cup of tea and sit down with a book. Spend a little time in the garden, have a long soak in the bath, browse a favourite shop or watch something that makes you laugh.
It doesn’t have to be productive, useful or particularly worthwhile. You don’t need to justify spending a little time doing something just for yourself.
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that life isn’t just about getting through our to-do lists.
5. Get one thing done that’s been hanging over you
You know those little jobs that sit at the back of your mind? The email you need to reply to, the appointment you need to make or the paperwork you’ve been meaning to sort out?
Sometimes these little unfinished tasks take up more headspace than we realise.
Rather than looking at everything you need to do, choose just one thing and get it out of the way. Set yourself a ten-minute timer if that helps, and then stop when you’ve finished.
I always think there’s something quite lovely about crossing something off a to-do list. It doesn’t have to be a big achievement. Sometimes just getting one small thing done is enough to make you feel a little more capable and in control.
6. Change your surroundings
If you’ve been sitting in the same room all day, doing the same things and following the same routine, perhaps it’s time to mix things up a little.
Move somewhere different to read or work, take your lunch outside, open the windows, rearrange a few cushions or pop out somewhere you’ve not been for a while.
You could even take yourself out for a coffee or visit a local garden centre or favourite shop.
It doesn’t have to cost anything or involve lots of planning. Sometimes we just need a change of scenery and something different to look at.
A little novelty can make an ordinary day feel a bit more interesting.
7. Have a chat with someone
When you’re feeling a bit low or fed up, it’s easy to retreat into yourself and spend the day getting on with things without speaking to anyone.
But a little connection with someone else can make such a difference.
Send a message to a friend, give someone a call or arrange to meet up for a walk. You don’t have to have a deep conversation or explain why you’re feeling a bit off. Sometimes it’s lovely just to have a chat about everyday things, share a bit of news or have a laugh.
If you’re not feeling particularly sociable, that’s OK, too. Even a little message to someone you haven’t spoken to for a while can help you feel a bit more connected.
8. Give yourself permission to start again
This is probably one of the most important things to remember. Just because you’ve had a rubbish morning doesn’t mean the whole day has to be written off.
Perhaps you’ve been unproductive, got irritated about something, spent too much time worrying or simply haven’t felt like doing very much. It happens.
Rather than dwelling on how the day has gone so far, give yourself a little reset. Have a shower, put on some fresh clothes, make yourself something nice to eat or sit down for ten minutes with a cup of tea.
Think about what would make the rest of the day feel a little better. It might be getting outside, doing something you enjoy or simply deciding to take things a little more slowly.
You don’t have to wait until tomorrow, Monday morning or the beginning of a new month to make a fresh start. You can start again whenever you need to.
Over to you…
I think it’s important to remember that we’re not going to feel our best every single day. Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes we just have days when we feel a little flat, tired or fed up.
You don’t need to turn every bad day into a productive one, find a positive in everything or put pressure on yourself to feel better straightaway. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is take a step back, slow down and give yourself a bit of breathing space.
But if you do feel like a little change would help, try one or two of these ideas. You might be surprised by how much difference a small change can make.
I’d love to know what you do when you’re having a bad day. Do you head out for a walk, put on some music, get stuck into a little job or have another way of lifting your mood? Share your ideas in the comments below.