A flat tire, a disappointing work evaluation, a fight with the husband – bad days take different forms and we’ve had to deal with those awful times. Here are seven strategies I’ve pulled out to take care of bad days.
- Leave the experience at the place where it happened. If it’s flat tire, then have the mechanic handle it, take a cab. If we’re looking at a bad evaluation, work can be improved; remember you’re still employed!
- Clear a closet or a filing cabinet. Creating order in your environment can be calming. By the time the clutter is cleared, you’d have a sense of accomplishment and ready to look for solutions to the cause of the bad day.
- Work on your hobby. I found tremendous comfort in learning another language; my mind would switch to acquiring the different Chinese speaking tones thereby creating that much needed space between myself and the negative experience.
- Great for producing endorphins, the chemicals that create positive feelings. Careful, though, which exercise you choose. Some of us multiply the worries when we have uninterrupted time alone causing more anxious thoughts.
- Write about it. When something is truly upsetting to me, I write it down for relief. Give it a try.
- Keep everything in perspective. If a fight with the husband is the reason for the bad day, it may be time for a serious talk about the real cause of the conflict. Unpaid bills? Teenage son acting up? Engage the family in a dialogue to find a solution.
- The situation could be worse. It pays to remember that ‘life is good,’ and that having a bad day is better than being sick in bed, unable to keep a job or pursue a career.
“We all have bad days, but one thing is true; no cloud is so dark that the sun can’t shine through”. Bad days will happen; they come and go. The good news: we can switch gears and do something about it!
Written by Yoli P. – The Help