11 Things That Help When I'm Having a Bad Day

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Are you having a bad day? I certainly hope not!

But bad days happen to everyone – that’s what I always tell myself.

I’m someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, so there are periods in my life when bad days happen more than I’d like to admit.

Throughout the years, I’ve noticed things that seem to make my bad days worse and things that seem to make them better.

So, today I thought I’d share 11 things that help when I’m having a bad day!

1- Ignoring my phone for a while

When I’m having a bad day, I usually just wanna give my mind a break for a while. So sometimes, I just put my phone away. I’m kind of an introvert, so taking a break from social media and interaction is needed once in a while. When things are going wrong, it’s usually good to focus on yourself until you feel better.

2- Talking to someone

Depending on what kind of bad day I’m having, it usually helps me to talk to someone. Just letting a friend, family member, or significant other know how I’m feeling can sort of lighten my load, I guess. You don’t need to pour out your heart and soul, but telling someone that you’re having a bad day and not doing well can be kind of therapeutic in a way.

3- Doing something that relaxes me

This is a big thing that helps! As someone with anxiety, relaxation is a foreign concept sometimes. So doing something that forces my mind to turn off and my body to relax is an absolute must! For me, I usually turn on my favorite podcast and draw or paint. And if I’m not feeling like creating something, I read. Try to find a hobby that puts your mind on autopilot so you can shut off the negative thoughts for a while!

4- Moving my body

I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way but when I sit still for too long, I can get sort of grumpy and my brain can get foggy. I usually can tell when I need to do some moving around. So, I like to turn on a good podcast (again) and go on a cleaning frenzy. This is another way that I can turn off negative thoughts, get my body moving, and do something productive. All of these things are good for our moods!

5- Crying about it

I know that a lot of people say you shouldn’t dwell on negative emotions or whatever, but sometimes you have to. If you’re having a really bad day and you feel overwhelmed, sometimes you gotta let it out. So, once in a while, I just cry about it. This helps me let go of some crazy negative emotions and feel kind of refreshed. I’m an emotional person and if you are too, sometimes this is necessary!

6- Taking a shower (or bath)

I don’t know what it is, but taking a shower can do so much good for my mental health sometimes. When I feel like I’m in a rut or feeling unmotivated or can’t focus, a shower can be a sort of reset for my mood. I don’t take baths very often, but they can be super relaxing too and I know some people prefer them when they’re having a bad day!

7- Cuddling

Cuddling releases “feel good” hormones. I know that for me, my anxiety can make me feel super on edge when I’m having a bad day. And cuddles always help me feel safe and comforted, which can calm me down. Especially when it’s cuddles coming from one of my doggos – or my significant other, haha! So try hugging a friend, cuddling with your boo, holding your child, or snuggling a pet!

8- Meditation

I’ve mentioned meditation on this blog before because I honestly believe that meditation can cause positive change in some way for literally everyone. For me, and anyone else with mental health struggles, meditation can be super beneficial. I’m not going to go into all of the positive effects of meditation because that’s not what this post is about, haha. I’m just going to say that when I’m having a bad day, meditating helps me quiet my mind and relax – which is something that I need help with often!

You might like: A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation

9- A pamper session

I know this is so cliche, but pampering myself can honestly help me when I’m having a bad day! Painting my nails or using a face mask just makes me feel better about myself for some reason. It doesn’t necessarily turn my day around, but it does boost my mood a little bit. 🙂

10- Remembering this advice

I can’t remember where I first read this advice, but it’s stuck with me ever since. Basically, every problem you face is either something you can work to fix or something that you have no control over. So if something is bothering you, ask yourself: can I do something to change this situation? If you can’t, then learn to accept and deal with it. If you can, then find a way to – whether you can work to do it on your own or you need to ask for help.

It kind of reminds me of the Serenity Prayer, but it’s just something I always think about when I’m super upset over something. And it can give me comfort and help me keep a more rational mind about it!

11- Going to bed early

I don’t really like taking naps. I feel like they interrupt my day too much and sometimes, I wake up feeling groggy and worse than I did before I fell asleep. But sometimes, bad days just don’t seem to get better and all that can help is a fresh start the next day. So, when that’s the situation I’m in, I just go to bed early. Because staying awake with a negative mind doesn’t help me!

You might like: How to Turn Off Your Mind So You Can Sleep