how to turn a bad day around
We all have them. Bad days.
Let’s get real for a second, and talk about those days that you just want to sweep under the rug. We all have them, and we all deal with them differently. I, for one, have never been very good at dealing with these days, but over the years I’ve been lucky enough to spend some time with inspirational, grounded and positive people, who have taught me a thing or two when it comes to manifesting and channeling positivity on days when you need it the most. As with most things, it gets easier if you’ve got the basics right, like sleep, diet, reducing stress and a little bit of sunlight. If you don’t want to take my word for it, have a read of this article over on PERKii’s blog, which is a perfect example of how all the little things you do will help your body feel and perform at it’s best.
I’ve dialed this in over the last 2-3 years, and trust me when I say – this makes a huge difference. However, it doesn’t make you immune to the slumps that come around every once in a while, so I wanted to share a few “quick fixes” that can (most of the time) help improve a day you’d otherwise rather forget.
Stop what you’re doing & re-prioritize
One of the main reasons I’m have a day from hell is because I simply have too much on my plate. If you recognize this, the one thing that I’ve found to help is just to stop for a second and look at what you can realistically achieve in what the day has left to offer. Be realistic. This is the hardest part, but just do it. If you just “can’t”, put yourself in a colleagues or a friends shoes – how would you brief them and what would you ask of them? It wouldn’t be unrealistic, so don’t set the bar too high for yourself either, and focus on one thing at a time.
Eat something
If you’re anything like me, probably at this point you have skimped on nutrition throughout the day. Guess what? Your brain cannot function properly without it, so either continue fumbling through an un-productive brain fog, or you can take a 20 minute break, make a smoothie bowl (like this one) and find new focus.
What you need:
- 1/2 frozen banana, 1/4 cup frozen mango, 1/4 frozen berries
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- Protein powder of your choice
- PERKii Mango & Passion fruit (top up with coconut water need be)
- Handful shredded coconut
- Dragonfruit, passionfruit (or fruit of choice) & muesli for topping
Blend, pour and top with your choice of fruits, gluten free muesli and shredded coconut. Enjoy! And if you really don’t feel like eating, even a cup of tea will help.
Hug it out
Apparently, the ‘perfect’ hug is 11 seconds long, and has proven benefits, including reducing stress and increasing libido. Sometimes just a chat with someone you care about is helpful too. The worst thing to do is bottling it up, so even though it might feel like the last thing on earth that you want to do, it helps.
Move
I bet you knew this one was coming, and I can already hear you say “but I don’t have time”. A Tabata takes all of 7 minutes, and it can be of any form that you like – sprints outside, the cycling machine, kettlebell swings, a resistance band routine, skipping, battle ropes – the list goes on. And yes, it’s THE LAST thing on earth you want to do right now, but you’ll thank me later.
Remember…
A shit day is just a day. Tomorrow is a new one, so don’t beat yourself up about it and start fresh in the morning. What are your best tips to turning a terrible day around? I would love your suggestions, as I’m always keen to try something new.