Bad days happen to all of us — it’s just a fact of life. Sometimes truly sucky things happen and some days, we just wake up feeling like everything from our boss to the toaster is conspiring against us. However, just because you’re feeling the burn doesn’t mean you have to let it get the better of you. Here are some ways to turn around almost any bad day.
- Keep your perspective. Okay, not to sound like your mom or anything, but most bad moods can be attributed to things so small that they’re not even real. Hello, hormonal meltdowns! Everything is relative, so yes, not having a plus-one to your friend’s wedding is a bummer, but on the other hand, you have the means to make it the destination wedding in the first place.
- Shake it off… literally. Perhaps this one should be done before you leave the house. Research has proven that jumping around with wild abandon — or, you know, doing any kind of physical activity — releases feel-good endorphins. If anything, maybe you’ll feel so silly that you’ll just snap out of it.
- Chew some gum. Chewing gum has been found to reduce anxiety and improve mood, so it’s worth a shot. Just don’t start chewing the gum until after you’re done jumping around. It can also apparently boost your alertness, which is great if part of your bad mood is related to that pile of work you’ve been putting off for the past week.
- Have an orgasm. Getting it on (with someone or yourself) can improve the mood dramatically. This isn’t always the most convenient fix if you’re at work or something, but maybe in the morning when you’re feeling glum? Research says all types of orgasms calm people down, plain and simple.
- Do some spring cleaning. Sometimes our mood gets a little low when we’re stressed and feel overwhelmed. Not everything can be tackled at once, but sometimes handling some clutter in our immediate environment can change the vibe and make it seem a little less chaotic. Organizing can create calm, and it can also be enough a distraction that we zone out a little. Rearranging stuff has also been proven to make us feel better, so get moving.
- Be nice to someone else. When you’re feeling grumpy, it’s not always the most appealing to put on the charm and be friendly, but the truth is that it can help. You don’t have to go rescue a puppy or anything, but even just sending someone a nice text can be enough to boost your mood. According to one study, even just thinking about all the nice things you’ve done for someone else can make you feel happier.
- Have a cuddle with something soft. Cuddling with someone has been shown to release feel-good endorphins, but snuggling solo with a comfy blanket can also make you feel better. Science says soft things just make us feel happier.
- Let it all out. An all-out rage isn’t going to help you if it just amps you up and raises your blood pressure, but a little bit of venting to a trustworthy pal can actually help boost your mood. Talking it out lowers tension and makes us feel like we’re solving a problem even if we don’t reach a real solution.
- Set a small goal and make it happen. So maybe your to-do list is growing longer by the minute and your mood level is sinking with it. To reframe it, try accomplishing something small. It can be returning a phone call or winning a round of whatever game you have on your phone. Small accomplishments are still accomplishments, you know.
