Everyone has a terrible day once in a while. It’s that day when you lose your keys, you feel overwhelmed at work, you spill coffee all over your favorite shirt, and your cat throws up on your white carpet. It’s the kind of day when nothing seems to go right.

When you’re in the middle of a terrible day, it often seems like there’s nothing that can make it better. But actually, there are almost always things that you can do to improve your situation – at least a little bit.

Here are four ways to make a bad day a little bit better.

  1. Remind yourself that your luck will change. Even if everything seems to be going wrong at the moment, remind yourself that it’s only a temporary condition. Your luck will change for the better eventually!
  2. Be good to yourself. We often tend to be our worst critics. So when things go wrong, we often tell ourselves that we’re stupid, clumsy, or incompetent. Try to avoid that kind of thing if you can. Be kind to yourself and cut yourself a little slack.
  3. Give yourself a treat. Is there a little something that you can do to make yourself feel better? Maybe buy yourself a tasty snack, go for a walk around your neighborhood, or take a hot bath? Do something for yourself that will bring you a little enjoyment. (And if you’re not sure what that might be, spend a little time thinking about it. Come up with a list of five activities that bring you pleasure so you’re ready for the next terrible day that comes along!)
  4. Accomplish something. Get something done, even if it’s just a little thing. Neaten up your living room, hang a picture, or mow your front lawn. Accomplishing a task will make you feel better about yourself and the day in general.

 

Boyes, A. (2015, July 27). 5 tips for coping with a really bad day. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-practice/201507/5-tips-coping-really-bad-day