For some unknown reason I was in a bad mood yesterday. My family was irritating me. I went to Walmart for a few items and was annoyed I had to go in a different door because of COVID. I was frustrated by a lack of responsibility and caring for others that I saw. Someone drank a bottle of chocolate milk and left it sitting hidden on a shelf so they didn’t have to pay. These things all left me frustrated and annoyed. I considered bagging the rest of the day and just moping. But it was the weekend. I wanted to enjoy my day off. In that moment, I made a decision to feel better. When having a bad day it is easy to just give up and that only makes things worse. It is like a downward spiral. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are some simple steps to salvage a bad day and pivot to a positive outlook.
- Change your scenery. Today I needed to get outside and get a little sun. I decided to put on some essential oils that make me feel calm. I listened to one of my favorite classic songs by the Moody Blues and I sat on the back deck. These might not be your things, but often listening to music, meditating, lighting some candles or a hot bath might all be the change of scenery that can hep you to reset.
- Burn off some steam with a workout. I made the decision when I left Walmart to come home and workout. I hopped on my Peloton and worked up a good sweat. A nice sweat can really help you to recenter and work off some frustration. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a super hard workout, but exercise is known to release endorphins that can elevate your mood. Exercise is also a great way to turn off the mind and it lets you refocus your energy.
- Spend time with someone you love. It can really help you to feel better by just spending time with one of your kids, a spouse, or a friend. It can take your mind off the reason you are in a bad mood. It is especially a great way to get in a few laughs which always helps to improve mood.
- Be grateful. It is always so easy to get upset and forget the good things in life. The act of being purposely grateful can really reset your mood. No matter how bad things seem, there is always something to be grateful for. Maybe it is time alone, or a pretty flower, a special person, or a favorite scent.
- Be aware. It is important to be conscious of the feelings and thoughts that are going on. It is good to acknowledge them and just accept what is going on. Maybe you don’t know why you feel down or annoyed or mad, but usually some soul searching can point you in the right direction.
- Choose to do something that makes your day just a little better. It is hard to turn a bad day into a great day. But what if you just try to do something to make the day a little better? I use this tactic my friend Maria taught me all the time. How can I feel just a little better? That is all I really have to do. Shifting my perspective to a more positive one is all it takes to cancel a bad day most of the time. If it doesn’t work I haven’t lost anything. I still feel better than I did. This is one of my favorite things to do when I am in a bad mood.
We all have bad days sometimes. We also have a choice to continue that bad day and let it spiral downward or to pivot to a more positive attitude. I find this helps so much in life’s daily outlook. This is so important to maintaining good health. Negativity breeds bad health and unhappiness. Try out these tips next time you have a bad day — and remind me to do the same if you see me when I’m a bit off!
