5 Ways to Climb Out of Your Head When You are Having a Bad Day
Do you have those days? You know the ones where you wake up and just feel like things are out of kilter, a little off balance, not quite where you want to be? Even if you have never experienced depression or anxiety (which I have done in my past and that is no picnic), you are a human being and you will have days where the sunshine isn’t smiling down on your thoughts. What tends to happen on these days, is that because you start out with an attitude of IT SUCKS, you will find that things happen that really do suck. It is like you have a big sign on your head saying “make bad stuff come my way today – just press go”.
What I think really happens is that because you are stuck in that mindset, you start to see the sucky things as larger, you stop noticing the fabulous moments and you take everything to heart and catastrophise it. The old saying of it is not events that cause us stress but the way we respond to those events, is a very true one.
I had one of those days recently and was wandering around the house in my misery, clutching it to myself like a raggedy blanket. I stayed in my pyjamas longer than usual because my son is home sick (that is what I told myself), I got annoyed that he was home when he could really be at school because he is not THAT sick and how the hell will I get everything done today! I got overwhelmed by a minor work issue which would not normally bring me to tears, I got more and more upset about money problems. I wallowed. I moped. Then I thought you know what? I do not want to spend my time this way (it had really only been 2 hours!) and I decided to take  my top 5 steps to climb out of your head when you are having a bad day. Here they are. Just in case you are having a crappy day too.
5 Ways to Climb Out of Your Head When You are Having a Bad Day
- Get dressed – seriously just don’t hang around in your pyjamas. Yes I advocate these days on a regular basis, when you are in a good place and having a slow day on a weekend with your family or a pamper day at home. But on these bad days just don’t do it. Get dressed and ready for the day.
- Write something – this is a powerful way to work stuff out and let it go. Write a blog post (that is what this post is doing for me today), a journal entry, a poem, a note. Write down how you are feeling, or why you don’t want to feel like this, or some ideas about what to do. Even better write something to help another human being who may have the same problem and share it with someone.
- Feel it out – get into the emotions – cry, shout, talk it out loud. Feel the emotions and lean into them and then let them go. Allow them, notice them and understand where they are coming from and then sit them in your lap and get on with your day.
- Talk to someone- email, message, share in your facebook group, or call someone. Tell them how you feel, why you feel like this and ask for their shoulder. A problem shared really is a problem halved. Do the same for them the next time they are having a bad day too. It helps put things into perspective.
- Go outside and breath deep – there is nothing like fresh air, a walk, picking some flowers, seeing the sunshine, hearing the birds and breathing. Sit outside and spend 15 minutes doing deep breathing cycles. Breathe from your stomach, count your breaths and try to clear your cluttered mind. Notice the sights, smells, sounds around you. Focus only on the moment and drown out your sad sorry mind which is trying to make you stay stuck in your head.
Finding some calm, putting things into perspective, sharing how you feel and staying mindful will help you over these days, but if all else fails have a cup of tea, grab a block of chocolate, put a sad movie on and have a REALLY good wallow. And then get up and take these steps when you are ready and move on.
Do you have those days and what do you find helps?
Helen
xx
talking to someone really helps – preferably over a cup of tea; a long walk with the dog also!
definitely, both brilliant helps x
Thanks for the list. It is a goody, and thanks for your honesty.
Great post Helen – one that we all could do with bookmarking and using it when the time inevitably pops up… x
thank you so much, hope it is useful Courtyard Creations Upcycled Furniture x
you are welcome and hope it is useful Sue Harverson x
thank you thank you…i was meant to read this TODAY! Most definitely having one of those days and i’m about to go on HOLIDAY! I needed to read this today. xx
comp entry – I can get in really low moods sometimes and I do find getting dressed and ready for the day helps a lot! The worst thing is when you feel so low you feel like you can’t even do that!
comp entry – Â #5 -‘Go Outside & breathe Deep” Â It’s amazing how much a pick me up this is for me. Â Nature therapy make a huge difference.
Comp entry but yes! Had to show this to hubby who gets frustrated when I actively ‘feel it out’ (usually to him)!
comp entry – like most people I have those days sometimes, I love what you wrote and have taken note of your points above – am also going to share it with some friends of mine who will also find it useful 🙂
I like it!
Where is this place ?
Vince it’s just a picture I have. Not sure!
Comp Entry
Great tips! Especially number 5. I love to sit outside and listen to the birds, or even visit the chickens and have a chat! 🙂
Brilliantly worded and wise advice 🙂 x
thank you Rachel I hope it is useful to people x
Breathing deep really works! 5 deep breaths outside make such a difference:-)
I would definately agree with that – working from home and sitting at my PC all day, it’s possible to stay in my PJ’s for a little ‘longer than necessary’ shall we say. . . Sometimes, just the action of getting dressed helps if its not a good morning for me.
indeed! Very important to make an effort 🙂
absolutely makes a difference
Oh I really needed this yesterday
hope today is a beter day
Yep….mending all the broken things sitting in my spare room…next is the mending. Walking the walk…
Carin Shiell x
wishing you good things U0001f496
I find getting in the garden/allotment works best for me. I can just be me with the plants and birds and insects x
yes! outdoors is so good for you