Bad days happen. They happen to the best of us. We have the best of intentions. We are prepared for the day. We do everything we can, but despite our best efforts, the day goes awry. This happens, and when it does we have to remember it won't last forever.
Instead, we need to remind ourselves we make a ton of choices throughout the day and have the ability to turn our day around, or at least make sure it doesn't permeate our whole week.
Reflect On Your Day and Choices
Sometimes our choices are what make a day go downhill. Sometimes it is others' choices causing us stress, but either way, there are choices you can make which will either stop the snowball or allow it to gain momentum.
Stop and take a moment to re-center yourself and think about the task at hand. If a choice you made is causing stress take a look at what you can do to work backward and make a different choice.
If your stress is a result of others' choices then think about how you can make choices allowing you to take back control.
Stop and take a moment to re-center yourself and think about the task at hand. If a choice you made is causing stress take a look at what you can do to work backward and make a different choice.
If your stress is a result of others' choices then think about how you can make choices allowing you to take back control.
Put Your Day in Perspective
From time to time it is important to remind ourselves our worst moment in a day is not entirely terrible in the grand scheme of life.
I am not here to say your bad day doesn't matter because it most definitely does matter, but what I am trying to say is when we remind ourselves of what is important in our lives we can gain a bit of perspective in moments when the world seems to be crashing down around us.
By taking the time to think about what is going right instead of living in the doldrums of what is going wrong we are in a better headspace to bring ourselves out of the funk of a bad day.
I am not here to say your bad day doesn't matter because it most definitely does matter, but what I am trying to say is when we remind ourselves of what is important in our lives we can gain a bit of perspective in moments when the world seems to be crashing down around us.
By taking the time to think about what is going right instead of living in the doldrums of what is going wrong we are in a better headspace to bring ourselves out of the funk of a bad day.
Do Something for Yourself
When I have a truly terrible day I try to take the time to do something for myself I otherwise wouldn't.
This serves a couple purposes. The first is it lifts my mood, and the second is because it ends the day on a good note. Then when I am lying in bed thinking about my day I end my thought process with the special something I did for myself.
Personally, I eat my feelings, so this something for yourself is a special meal most of the time. I have also taken the time to get a pedicure, treated myself to a mid-week evening movie, or gone to play trivia with friends. All of these things are special to me for different reasons, but all of them help me to stop a bad day in its tracks.
This serves a couple purposes. The first is it lifts my mood, and the second is because it ends the day on a good note. Then when I am lying in bed thinking about my day I end my thought process with the special something I did for myself.
Personally, I eat my feelings, so this something for yourself is a special meal most of the time. I have also taken the time to get a pedicure, treated myself to a mid-week evening movie, or gone to play trivia with friends. All of these things are special to me for different reasons, but all of them help me to stop a bad day in its tracks.
Hit the Reset Button
When a situation is going off the tracks, when possible, try a complete reset. I have used this strategy in and out of the classroom.
One day, while teaching, I was just miserable and told my students, "I need a redo." I walked out of the classroom, stood in the hall for about ten seconds taking a few deep breaths, then walked back in with a smile to begin the day again.
Did it fix everything? Absolutely not! It did give me the opportunity to reset and try again though.
My students were absolutely fascinated, and for the rest of the year, when having a bad day, would ask if they could do a quick reset. I would always oblige them, and it was a game changer for our classroom.
One day, while teaching, I was just miserable and told my students, "I need a redo." I walked out of the classroom, stood in the hall for about ten seconds taking a few deep breaths, then walked back in with a smile to begin the day again.
Did it fix everything? Absolutely not! It did give me the opportunity to reset and try again though.
My students were absolutely fascinated, and for the rest of the year, when having a bad day, would ask if they could do a quick reset. I would always oblige them, and it was a game changer for our classroom.
Work It Out
I am a huge fan of sweating a problem out. When I take an hour to take care of my body and just get sweaty I always gain clarity about a situation.
Some people do their best thinking in the shower, mine it while rowing on an erg.
Some people do their best thinking in the shower, mine it while rowing on an erg.
Get Some Space
When possible, sometimes the best solution to a bad day is walking away from it. I am not advocating you walk out of the school in the middle of the day leaving all your worries behind never to return.
What I am saying is maybe you leave school right after your students and get a little bit of distance from the situation. This isn't always applicable because some problems need immediate attention, but when it is can be a lifesaver.
What I am saying is maybe you leave school right after your students and get a little bit of distance from the situation. This isn't always applicable because some problems need immediate attention, but when it is can be a lifesaver.
Talk It Out
Fresh eyes, or ears, can make a world of difference. I for one, become a bit of a "poor me" individual and fall into the trap of complaining instead of problem-solving. This is a terrible place to be unless you are trying to turn a bad day into a bad week.
By talking it out you put yourself back in control and you bring in others who can help. Honestly, sometimes I talk it out with my dog. She isn't particularly helpful with the advice, but sometimes hearing it out loud brings me clarity.
Blast Your Favorite Song
When a bad day is just a bit of a funk and not an acute stressor there is nothing better than music to bring me out of it.In the car? Crank it up!
At school? Have a single song dance party!
At home? Blast yourself out!
I mean, who can resist singing along and getting a little dance into their favorite songs even when a dark cloud is hanging overhead.
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