We all know what it’s like to have a really bad week – when one awful thing happens after another. It’s the kind of week when your car breaks down, you miss a deadline at work, and then you spill an entire cup of tea over a stack of important papers. (I spill more cups of tea than I’d like to admit. Man, what a mess.)
When you’re having a bad week, it can be difficult to stay positive. It can sometimes feel like the universe is out to get you. But if you’re in the middle of a bad week right now, try not to despair! There are things you can do to make your bad week better:
- Remember that bad events happen randomly – Just because several bad things have happened to you, it doesn’t mean that terrible things will continue to happen. It’s just as likely that something wonderful might happen. You never know!
- Try to recognize the ways in which you’re lucky – Let’s say you fall down and bruise your knee. That’s certainly painful. But instead of getting upset and flustered, try to think about how lucky you are that it wasn’t worse. I mean, isn’t it lucky that you didn’t break a bone? Try to put a positive spin on your misfortune.
- Think about what a good story this will make later – Keep in mind that the bad times will soon be over. And think about how much you’ll enjoy laughing about it with your friends.
- Knock on wood – Research has shown that superstitious behavior (like knocking on wood) can actually make people feel comforted and protected. So go ahead and do it! If might help to make you feel more hopeful and positive about the future.
Shellenbarger, S. (2016, April 26). Having a bad week? Tricks for turning it around. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/having-a-bad-week-tricks-for-turning-it-around-1461690636
