Bad Days 101
Self-care ideas to help you get through the rough times, using more than just funny work memes.
Writing a blog post about bad days and how to fix them with self-care led to some highly educational research.
Among this very-involved investigation, Google™ results for, “How to make your day better” returned several items, including the following:
- Memes about work
- Funny memes about work
- Popular work memes
Building a business isn’t easy, and we all have bad days. The trick is to not let a bad day ruin your momentum! A lot of us laugh at memes to get us through the day, because sometimes days are just rough. But what are we trying to get away from when we get on social media or start searching the internet for stuff to make us laugh? Is there a better way to get through the tougher times?
Here’s our list of ideas for self-care when you’re having a bad day (week, month, or year).
1. Do Something
Sometimes, a lack of inspiration is the culprit. We get hung up on the idea that every single thing we do has to be the most exciting and amazing thing we’ve ever done; and if it’s not, then it’s not worth our time. Reality is, sometimes, we just have to get-it-done. Do the boring thing. It’ll get you one step closer to your goal, and start to get you back on track. Here are some other ideas for when you just aren’t quite ready to get that boring thing done:
- Move. Be active. Force yourself to get up and do something, even if it’s just 25 jumping jacks or a walk around the block. Movement will get your blood pumping, get your brain thinking clearer, and sometimes it’s all you need to snap out of it.
- Check something small off your to-do list. Need to make a call you know will be quick? Need to make a few copies of something? Have a couple emails you know will just take a few minutes? Check that “low-hanging fruit” off your list—you’ll feel better almost immediately.
- Make your bed, do the dishes. These things seem mundane, but they will make your brain just even the tiniest bit happier and organized.
- Start a new book! Maybe you just need inspiration from someone else! Books are a great way to get yourself out of a funk. Want to read but are too overwhelmed by your TBR pile? Check out our post on TBR Pile Envy: How to read more and get your “must reads” down to a manageable stack.
2. Take Care of Yourself
Practicing self-care (physically and mentally) is a vital factor in your overall productivity level. Here are some ideas for how you can take care of yourself on a bad day (or any day!).
- Drink more water. We are made of 80-something percent water. Our bodies need it, our brains need it. Feeling fuzzy-minded? Grab some H20.
- Talk to someone inspiring; a mentor, your mom, a best friend. Mentors (and Moms!) are here to encourage and motivate you, when you need it most. They can help you set goals for yourself you might not have thought about, and help you set up a timeline to get you there. But, even just talking to a close friend or relative can allow you to step outside yourself and gain some perspective on whatever might be bothering you.
- Go green—not the recycling kind (although, that’s good for other reasons!). Getting outside and surrounding yourself with greenery is said to do a whole lot more than give you a breath of fresh air. It’s said to boost your immune system for days or even weeks!
3. Be Positive
A big part of self-care is positivity. Try turning your own bad day around from the inside out!
- Put things into perspective. Are you upset because 15 things didn’t go well today, or because one thing didn’t go as planned? Are you having a bad year or just a bad ten minutes because you need a stapler and you’re out of staples and now you have to go to the store? Will the issue at-hand matter in a day? A week? A year? Try and put yourself in the mindset that nothing is ever completely ruined.
- Say something kind about someone else (and mean it). Not only will you give them a self-esteem boost, it’s good for your own health, too. Being kind to others is said to reduce stress and anxiety, help you live longer, and even prevent illness. Do good, feel good!
- Smile at someone you don’t know. You might find they smile back!
The truth is, not every day is going to be rainbows and unicorns. Lucky for you, you now have a toolkit in your back pocket! We’re not saying this list will fix everything, but it just might help you get back on track a teensy bit faster than if you keep scrolling through social media.
Remember, it’s up to you to get out there and build your life!
Let us know how one (or several!) of these ideas help you! Comment below!
