bad day

How To Turn A Bad Day Into A Good Day In 8 Easy Steps

We all know what a bad day feels like. Basically, we start counting down the minutes until it’s over and wad up the remaining potential of the day like a piece of paper we throw into the trash. We sink into our chair and throw ourselves a pity party no one around us wants to join, and then complain about how lonely we feel at our solo sympathy party.

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you cn decide not to be reduced by them.” –Maya Angelou

What I love about the quote from Maya Angelou, is that she reminds us that we have the responsibility not to let our environment or the events around us control our response. In other words, if we are having a bad day, we have the power to turn it around for good!

Here are some ways you can transform a bad day into a good day:

1. Accept your circumstances but change your response.

The first thing we have to do is accept our circumstances. Maybe our day really truly is terrible! Instead of living in denial or complaining about it, accept what’s been dealt. Then change your response from defeat back to control! You CAN control the outcome of your day simply by implementing a positive response no matter what life may throw your way!

2. Call a friend for a pep talk.

We may not have the internal voice that gives us the encouragement we need to transform our day, but that’s what friends are for! Call up a close friend or relative to vent, and then ask him to cheer you on and challenge you to keep a positive outlook for the remainder of the day. You may even benefit from the additional accountability!

3. Hop in the shower.

Water is often a symbol for change. It’s an element that cleanses, purifies and nurtures us. So hop into the steamy space, rinse the negative energies off, and step out a changed (and clean) person!

4. Write out the negatives, and then throw it away!

Sometimes we just need a place to store the junk. This space can be as simple as a piece of paper! Write out every awful thought or feeling, but don’t take them with you. Rip up the paper and throw it away. Now that the emotions are out, you are free from them and capable of moving forward feeling much lighter.

5. Walk away from social media.

A source of contention is often found from spending too much time on social media. Maybe the negativity didn’t originate from scrolling through your newsfeed, but it certainly doesn’t help. Comparisons run rampant, and we think we are the only ones going through a mess. One of the best things you can do to clear your head is to click out of all social media and walk away.

6. Say “no” to something negative and “yes” to something positive!

If you’re having a bad day, it typically begins in the early parts of the day. More than likely you have something scheduled for later on that you begin to dread because: “You’re just not in the mood!” Well, if it’s something you can cancel, do it! Walk away and say no to something that would keep you riding along a negative path, and, instead, choose something positive and say “yes!” Replacing the bad with something good is always favorable. Use your positive “yes” to get yourself back on track for the day!

7. Do something that will make you laugh!

This may sound silly, but one of the ways I tackle a bad day is to find something funny to watch. I have a few comedy shows I turn on, or I scroll through YouTube looking for videos of people falling or kids saying silly things. Make yourself laugh and your day will feel brighter!

8. Find the lesson.

Sometimes no matter what you do, the day still feels crummy in the end. If that’s the case, find the lesson! There’s always lessons to be learned from the trials you face. Look closely and take note. Then your bad day doesn’t seem like such a waste!

Tell us in the comments how do YOU handle the bad days?

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Article Author

Amanda Foust

Amanda Foust

Amanda is a wife, mother, writer, and certified life coach. Pen and paper make her spirit come alive. She spends her creative time reading, decorating, and handwriting fonts. Her world is better with an assortment of chocolate and a stack of books packed and ready for travel. She is a writer for Downs Ups & Teacups. When she's not writing, she's planning outdoor adventures with her husband and two children. She believes life feels best when it's truly lived!
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