Bad days.. we all have them. Sometimes something bad happens that can make you feel like the world is against you. Everything seems to be going wrong and suddenly you’re carrying all this weight on your shoulders. When this happens, it can sometimes feel easier to just shut down and lay in the misery. But wouldn’t it be better if we instead used that energy into finding things to do when having a bad day that would help us feel even just a bit better?
At the end of the day, I think the goal would be to at least feel some of that weight being lifted from our shoulders, and to find practices we can adapt for the future whenever these bad days arise. Because unfortunately, bad days are inevitable but good things can come from them too.
6 Stress Relieving Activities To Try On The Bad Days
Stop and Take a Breath
As cliché as this might sound, it’s important. Deep breathing does wonders to your body, especially when you’re experiencing high levels of stress. It increases the flow of oxygen to your brain as well as purifies it. It releases tension and regulates your heart beat, leaving you with a nice, calm feeling. Doesn’t that sound like the kind of feeling you would want in this situation? Trust me, it helps.
So give it a shot; take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, then release through your mouth. Repeat at least 5 times, and focus on your breath. Be in the present.
Remember What You Have
Practicing gratitude can be a real game changer. Far too often when things go wrong, we forget about all that’s right. Remind yourself of everything that you have. You are alive, you have people who care. You have shelter, food and love. If you have a dog (or any animal for that matter), right there you have so much to be grateful for. In fact, if you can, go give them a hug. These precious gifts are conditioned with the best type of love out there and I know after hugging my dog, it always makes me feel full.
In times of doubt, you must remind yourself that you have plenty to look ahead at. Even if it’s just one thing, embrace it.
Gather Your Thoughts
Get real with yourself here. Is everything that’s weighing you down right now worth it? Are things really as bad as they seem to be, or are your emotions getting the best of you? This is a good time to reflect on all that’s going wrong. Write it down in a journal if necessary, just get all your thoughts out in the open.
Now take a step back and imagine someone else had these problems.
- Do they still seem as big as they feel?
- How can you fix them?
- What can you take away from the situation as a learning opportunity?
- What actions can you take to relieve some of the weight?
Gather your thoughts, and come up with an action plan to help minimize the weight.
Talk To Someone
Talk to someone who makes you feel comfortable. Maybe for you that’s your partner, your mom, your bestfriend. Whoever it is, open up and tell them how you’ve been feeling. Sometimes the opinions, insights and advice of a close one can give you the sense of clarity to your feelings that you need.
Do Something For YOU
Whether this is going shopping, taking a drive, relaxing in a bath or blasting your favourite tunes, just do you. Find that thing in your life that makes you the happiest, calmest version of yourself, and go do it.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Well I can’t just jump on a plane to Bali and sip daiquiris right now sooo, now what?”. Oh yes, Bali would be nice right now (a daiquiri too), but more realistically, find something you can do in your daily life that will bring your heart bliss. And hold onto it.
Get Outside In Nature
Just like deep breathing, nature is very beneficial. Just this morning I found myself stuck in a negative mindset. I had woken up feeling gloomy and trying to persuade myself to get things done felt difficult. So what did I do? I geared up, full snow pants, winter boots and all, and I took my dog outside to play. The crisp air, the heat of the sun and the joy in my dog’s eyes were enough to help pull me out of my morning slump. Nature is beautiful, and it serves us in so many beautiful ways. Make sure you’re enjoying it as much as you can (even if it’s below zero).
We all have a choice when our day goes sour. We can either curl up, make ourselves small and let those bad moments define us, OR we can find ways to break free from the weights on our shoulders. It’s not easy, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it to be either. Finding things to do when having a bad day, things that best suit you, will help lighten that weight you’re carrying.
Having a bad day doesn’t mean it’s a bad life. 😊
Tiffanie
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