How to cope with a bad day

We all have bad days. No matter what the cause, you have the power to turn it around! Try some of these tips to get your day back on track.

Tags

Overwhelmed

We all have bad days. Whoa Nelly, do we have bad days! A bad night’s sleep starts the day off all wrong, or there’s a problem with the trains making you late for work. Maybe your boss is in a bad mood and it impacts your day too. No matter what the cause, you have the power to turn it around.

Six tips to get your bad day back on track

1. Distraction

Get out of your head, get out of that space, go for a walk, or make a cup of tea. You can put a stressful thought in a star here or check out something that entertains you online like kittens. Take your mind off what is frustrating you.

2. Do good

Helping someone else can boost your mood instantly. Maybe call a friend to find out how they are going, or message to invite someone over for dinner. Perhaps someone you know has been unwell; cook them a lasagne and drop it over.

3. Take stock

What are the good things you’ve done today? Did you make the bed? Check. Did you have a decent breakfast? Check. Went to the gym? Check. Walked to the station? Check.

4. Write it down

Send an email to yourself or get out your notebook and write down what’s bothering you. The act of writing down the situation will feel proactive and communicative and should help calm you down a bit.

5. Reach out

If you’re having a bad day, it can be tempting to shut down and retreat into ourselves. But research shows that contact with other people boosts our mood. So talk to someone and ask them to tell you about their day.

6. Focus on you

Remind yourself of all the good things going on. “At least I…” While sometimes it doesn’t feel great when someone else tries to minimise how you’re feeling, controlling how you see yourself and the things you have in the world can turn your day around.

If you’re struggling and need to speak to one of our SuicideLine Victoria counsellors, we’re here 24/7. Call us on 1300 651 251.

If it is an emergency, call 000.

More from mental health

When is anger a problem?

Anger is a completely normal emotion to experience, but when does anger start to become a problem?

When is anger a problem?

Anger is a completely normal emotion to experience, but when does anger start to become a problem?

What can cause depression?

We may all feel sad or in a down mood at some time in our life, but when you have depression, these feelings last for a long time and can be quite intense. There usually isn’t one single event or factor that can cause depression, but rather a combination of several factors. Here we look at key these factors that can lead to depression.

What are the symptoms of anxiety and what can cause anxiety?

Many of us feel anxious when we have a stressful event or situation coming up, and we are worried about it. This feeling is temporary and usually goes away after the event or situation has ended. Anxiety is when that feeling of anxiousness does not go away and is long term. Find out more about the symptoms of anxiety and what can cause anxiety.

Tips for a self confidence boost

Discover effective self confidence boost tips and examples to overcome self-doubt and achieve your goals. Learn how positive thinking, self-care, and celebrating your accomplishments can help you boost your self-confidence and live your best life.

What is depression?

Depression is an intense feeling of sadness or low mood that lasts for a long time, sometimes weeks, months or years. If you are depressed, it can start to interfere with your personal and work life, your wellbeing, and your physical health. Find out more about the symptoms of depression and how you can get help.

Myths about suicide

Suicide can be a complex and sensitive topic that is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions. To help break the stigma of talking about suicide, we look at some common suicide myths and facts. We hope this will help you reach out to someone in your life who may be overwhelmed and not coping.