We all have bad days from time to time, it is in our human nature. Sometimes certain situations can put us into a bad mood, our expectations are not met or people have done something to upset us. You feel down and it affects your whole day and the people around you. When you are in a bad mood people keep a distance from you and that can make your mood worse because you do not have people around you to offer you the support you need. One bad day can turn into many bad days and before you know it you have wasted an entire week being upset about something when you could have been happy and enjoying life. We all need to remember that life is short and we should not waste it being in a bad mood over the smallest setbacks. These are some of the ideas that I came up with to turn a bad day into a good day, I hope that you enjoy and find them helpful!

Take a minute to smile

When your having a bad day, smiling seems almost impossible. You feel down, discouraged and all you want to do is cry and be alone. It has been proven scientifically that if you take just one minute to smile it will boost your mood instantly. It may only boost your mood a little bit, but it is a start. Once your open your mind to some happiness then you will be able to fell less down and can restart your mood to turn a negative day into a good one. You know what they say, it takes more muscles to make you frown then it does to make you smile.

Be in nature

Being in a bad mood makes focusing really hard. You may feel like your head is clouded by the bad thoughts and you can not focus on other things that you need to think about other tasks you need to get done. Having these thoughts consuming your brain will just make your mood worsen and last longer. Studies show that spending time in nature, weather it be the park or even your backyard clears your head and boosts your mood. Studies have also shown that it is very beneficial to put your bare feet on the grass to centre yourself back to earth. If you feel very stressed and you can not focus try getting out and going for a walk. When you return you will be able to think better and focus on the positives in life rather then what was bringing you down.

Meditate

Meditating is a practice that takes some time to get the hang of as you have to completely clear your head and focus on your breathing. Sometimes when we are upset and having a bad day we are so consumed in our thoughts that we might get a little out of control. If you feel that your mood is not getting better throughout the day take sometime to breath. Box breathing is a great starting point to developing the skill of meditation. Sit cross legged on the floor with your back straight. Take a deep breath in for 5 seconds then hold for 5 seconds, next breathe out for 5 seconds, finally hold again for 5 seconds. Taking a minute to cool down will make you think clearer on the situation that is making you upset allowing you to think more positively about the outcomes and how to make it better.

Make a list

A very important practice that we should all do weather we are having a bad day or not is to make a list of all the things that we are grateful for. When you are feeling down, one of the first things you should do is grab a piece of paper and write all of the good things in your life down. Don’t just say them in your head, write them down on paper so you can visualize it. Your list can include anything, such as your family and friends, your house and  achieving yours goals. Thinking about all the positives will allow you to forget the negatives.