{"id":9537,"date":"2012-03-20T22:52:02","date_gmt":"2012-03-21T06:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=9537"},"modified":"2013-09-17T14:29:35","modified_gmt":"2013-09-17T22:29:35","slug":"7-easy-ways-to-improve-a-bad-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/7-easy-ways-to-improve-a-bad-day\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Easy Ways to Improve a Bad Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some days just don\u2019t seem to go right. Maybe you get into an argument with your partner, or end up yelling at the kids. Or perhaps work goes badly — you make a silly mistake, or accidentally delete the file you were working on. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: you end up feeling fed up, stressed out, and unhappy.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to let a few frustrating incidents turn into a thoroughly bad day, too; perhaps you come home from work in a bad mood and end up feeling sulky all evening. But there\u2019s no need to feel miserable all day long.<\/p>\n

Here are seven ways to improve a bad day:<\/p>\n

#1: Do Something Just for You<\/h2>\n

It can be tough to find time for yourself — but on a bad day, it\u2019s important that you get a bit of mental (and probably physical) space. That might mean going out for a coffee, or reading a few chapters of a novel, or playing a video game for an hour, or meditating … whatever works for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In fact, \u201cme time\u201d is a good idea on a regular basis: having the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate makes it easier to brush off any little things that go badly in the course of your day.<\/p>\n

#2: Have Your Favorite Dinner<\/h2>\n

Okay, this one might seem a bit silly or childish … but sometimes that\u2019s just what you need at the end of a long day! Something as simple as your favorite meal can really put a smile back on your face.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Note, I\u2019m not suggesting comfort eating here: sure, stuffing your face with a giant candy bar might make you feel a temporary sugar high, but it\u2019s not going to make you feel any better after that.)<\/p>\n

#3: Go For Some Easy Wins<\/h2>\n

A sense of achievement and progress can do a lot to cancel out a bad day. Maybe you\u2019re frustrated because you don\u2019t seem to be getting anywhere at work, or at home. Instead of tackling a huge big project, look for a few quick and easy wins.<\/p>\n

Make that phone call you\u2019ve been putting off. Book those tickets. Sort out that stack of papers. Deal with those emails. See how many five-minute tasks you can knock off your list. You\u2019ll feel much better once you get them done.<\/strong><\/p>\n

#4: Talk to Someone You Love<\/h2>\n

Whether it\u2019s phoning your mom, going out for dinner with your spouse, or hanging out with your kids, talking to someone who you love can really lift your mood. Don\u2019t spend ages whining about your day to them — instead, ask how they\u2019ve been, or share something positive that\u2019s happened.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s not practical to speak to someone (if you\u2019re not supposed to make personal calls from work, for instance) how about sending a quick email or text to say \u201cI love you\u201d or to let them know you\u2019re thinking of them? Not only will you<\/em> feel better, you might well improve their day too.<\/p>\n

#5: Take a Shower\/Bath<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s definitely something therapeutic about washing: as well as physically cleaning the body, it can be a great way to metaphorically wash away any negative things that have happened during the day.<\/p>\n

Getting a shower in the evening can be a great way to feel refreshed after work. A long, relaxing bath could be a good chance to relax before bed. Plus, a shower\/bath provides a bit of peace and quiet if you live in a busy household!<\/strong><\/p>\n

#6: Find the Silver Lining<\/h2>\n

Whatever\u2019s gone wrong, there\u2019s almost certainly some good to be found in it. Perhaps you made a mistake at work — at least next time, you\u2019ll be more likely to watch out for that particular problem (you might even be able to improve a process or system so that similar mistakes are harder to make in future).<\/p>\n

It can be hard to look on the bright side, but if you make it a habit, you\u2019ll find that it\u2019s easier to recover from things that go badly<\/strong>. Instead of ruining your whole day, they\u2019ll just be a temporary blip.<\/p>\n

#7: Make Yourself Laugh<\/h2>\n

When I\u2019m in a bad mood, one of my sure-fire ways to feel better is to laugh. Web comics, funny videos on YouTube, humorous websites, amusing photos … it\u2019s easy to find something that makes me giggle.<\/p>\n

You might think that if you\u2019re having a lousy day, nothing<\/em> is going to make you laugh. But give it a try: find something that always raises a smile, and you\u2019ll feel better almost immediately.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do you have any tips on improving a bad day? Share your ideas with us in the comments…<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some days, just don\u2019t seem to go right. Maybe you get into an argument with your partner, or end up yelling at the kids. Or perhaps work goes badly — you make a silly mistake, or accidentally delete the file you were working on. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: you end up feeling fed up, stressed out, and unhappy.
\nIt\u2019s easy to let a few frustrating incidents turn into a thoroughly bad day, too; perhaps you come home from work in a bad mood and end up feeling sulky all evening. But there\u2019s no need to feel miserable all day long. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12163,"featured_media":9539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[21,6],"tags":[355,1378,1377,1946,66,4629],"yoast_head":"\n7 Easy Ways to Improve a Bad Day - Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s easy to let a few frustrating incidents turn into a thoroughly bad day, too; perhaps you come home from work in a bad mood and end up feeling sulky all evening. 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