Bad days are an inevitable part of life, affecting us all at one time or another. Even as a mental health professional, I have my fair share of tough days. How we respond to these challenging moments can significantly impact our well-being. For me, self-care is paramount. Whether it’s indulging in a soothing bath, getting an early night’s rest, or confiding in a trusted friend or partner, these practices can provide comfort and perspective. It’s crucial to acknowledge that everyone experiences tough times and seeking support is not a sign of weakness, but rather a vital step towards maintaining mental wellness.
Reach out to a trusted friend
Bad days happen to us all. Yes, I have bad days too. What do you do to help yourself when you have a bad day? I try to do some self-care. Perhaps a bath and going to bed early. I like to find a good friend to process what has happened during the day. Sometimes it can be a good girlfriend and sometimes my spouse. It helps if you can identify one trusted person to share your downs with and it is a good step for your mental health. We are all human. Relationships are reciprocal. If you listen to a friend, perhaps they will listen to you when needed. Some people don’t feel comfortable reaching out to anyone. They feel as though they will be a burden, or they are too down to bother anyone. If you do not have anyone in your life who you feel can be a support for you perhaps seek out professional counseling to help with this.
Get to the root of what’s bothering you
Try to identify why you had a bad day. What triggered it? Did someone say something that upset you? Was “everything” going wrong that morning? I talk a lot about shifting to positive thinking. As helpful as this is, I do understand it is hard to do and takes time and practice. If someone said something to upset you, think about what may be going on with that person. Perhaps their issues caused them to say something hurtful to you. If you think you may have misinterpreted what was said ask for clarification. Perhaps you took it the wrong way? We can not read minds or assume what someone meant to say that was said. Check it out before you get upset. If it was a mean comment, tell yourself you won’t let it get to you.
You can choose to reset your day
If one bad thing happened in the morning it doesn’t mean the rest of the day will be bad. If you had a flat tire and were able to fix it, even though you ran late, it doesn’t have to ruin the rest of the day. If you tell yourself, “what just happened ruined my day” then you will continue to have a bad day. If you re-frame this and tell yourself, “well, that was bad but I am not going to let it ruin the rest of my day” it is a lot more probable your day will be more positive going forward.
Remember – This too shall pass
Sometimes we just can’t get out of the negativity or sadness that comes over us. Remember, emotions come and go. Do your best to take care of yourself and move into a better day. If it is depression and it persists you may need to seek professional help to manage it. If you are grieving or having another situation causing you negative emotions remember, it is a process to work through these emotions and situations. Remember to be kind and caring to yourself. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out to them as you would like to be reached out to.
However your day started today try to go forward with a smile and a kind word to yourself. Smiling actually boosts the neurotransmitters in our brains that help us feel better.
Have a good day!
In Kindness,
MM