Feeling like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Use these 7 tips to come back from the dark side and make your day better.
Ever wake up and realize that today is just going to be one of those days? We all have days every now and then when it feels like time has gotten away from us, we are overwhelmed with our to do list or something happens and we feel ourselves being pulled towards negativity. Maybe you woke up late or you got frustrated with your spouse or child first thing in the morning. Perhaps you skipped breakfast or someone cut you off in traffic. Use these seven tips to bring yourself back into balance and make your day flow a little better-
Show kindness. While this may be the last thing you feel like doing when you are experiencing a less than ideal day, showing a simple kindness to someone through a smile, sending a nice email or making a quick phone call to say you are thinking about a person can brighten up their day, and yours.
Eat light meals. Eating foods filled with sugar, fat, carbs and salt can make you feel tired, bloated and heavy. Skip the packaged foods and opt for lighter meals and whole food snacks, you’ll feel physically better and more mentally alert throughout the day. When you’re looking for something quick to eat, try dried fruits, baby carrots, an ounce of cheese or a whole food nut bar, like a Kind bar.
Skip the negativity. If you feel like you are having an overall ‘bad day’, dwelling on the negative won’t help it get any better. In this case, ‘laughter is the best medicine’ can help bring you back from the dark side, if you let it. Instead of focusing on the negative in life, look for the positive and funny side, and since you are probably having a difficult time finding humor right about now, check out these laughter inducing reads for some help over at Reader’s Digest for some good old-fashioned joke and story telling.
Take a walk. Sometimes all you need to clear your head and bring the day back into focus is a quick walk outside where you can take in the fresh air, meditate quietly for a few minutes and refresh your inner self. If you feel inclined bring a long a friend or family member to engage you in some good conversation to help lift your spirit.
Read something motivational. If you’re lacking in general motivation, and it’s hurting your productivity at home or work, consider taking a few minutes to read some motivational words by people like Leo Babauta or check out the articles at LifeHack. You could also check out the Productivityist.com by Mike Vardy if your lack of motivation stems from not feeling like you are accomplishing much.
Drink a glass of water. A refreshing glass of cool water can do wonders for your psyche and the rest of your body. Keep a bottle of water or glass full close by and refill it during the day. Keeping your body hydrated will help control urges to snack as well as help you avoid fatigue and headaches, especially in the later afternoon.
Engage in deep breathing. When you are feeling stressed, it is time to take some deep breaths. Whether it is first thing in the morning when you wake up and start thinking about the coming day, or in the car while trying to keep from yelling at a careless driver, anytime is a good time for deep breathing. The American Institute of Stress gives some great tips on fitting deep breathing into your daily routine for maximum stress relief.
All of us are susceptible to having one of those days, where nothing seems to flow or fall into place or you are feeling frustrated with life in general, stressed over your obligations for the day with negativity beginning to rise to the surface. When you feel these emotions coming on, take a few minutes and use one of the methods above, or several, to help ease the stress and bring your day back into balance.
Do you have something in particular you do to combat stress or negativity when you feel it rising? Leave a comment!