GOOD morning. I am emphasizing good because I want today to be a really GOOD day.
Have any of you had a really horrible day lately? You guys know what I’m talking about, when one pretty bad thing happens and then for the rest of the day a bunch more things happen that normally wouldn’t seem as bad but you’re already so upset that they are just like icing on the cake?
Yesterday was definitely that kind of day for me. I think the final straw was when someone stole my strawberry Oikos yogurt. Out of the fridge. Correction – out of my lulu lunch bag that was IN the fridge. Who does that?!?!
Ensue: HANGRY Athena.
RARRRR.
Anyways…
Instead of focusing on the BAD, let’s talk about how to turn a bad day into a good bad day. Because bad days are going to happen. But there ARE ways to make them better!
1. Exercise
Obviously you knew I’d say this. But it’s true. Yesterday I went straight to the gym from work, and although I didn’t have a ton of time to squeeze in a workout between my 8 hour workday and my 5 hours of floor time, I popped my headphones in and went to town. I decided to switch up the order of the workouts in Best Body Bootcamp this week so that I will be able to teach some of the same workouts (this week we’re adding extra sets to the ones we did last week) but in different classes so my peeps get something new. Yesterday I stuck with the 20 minutes of 60/60 HIIT Cardio, then did the lower body superset combo so I could focus on mastering those bosu squats without having to instruct at the same time. My 60/60 ended up looking like this:
Anyways, when I have a bad day it makes me want to exercise more because it’s my happy place. Plus it gets my endorphins going and let’s me blow some steam in a healthy way. Just remember:
2. Appreciate
Bad days MUST happen so that you can appreciate the good ones right? I try to tell myself that anyways. I think it’s perfectly fine to vent and complain and get the negativity out to someone who will listen (because when you’re in a foul mood, everything is bad), but after doing that try to think of something you appreciated before you felt so annoyed. For example, although yesterday was rough I appreciate that it was my last super long 14 hour Monday at the gym. And I appreciate that Friday I got to see an old friend I haven’t seen in a while, and that Sunday I was able to get a complete day of rest. Or think of something you’re looking forward to. I’m really looking forward to Jen’s visit home, starting my new job, moving in with Tim, and my birthday — all within the next month. You get the idea. Also remember that someone else has things way worse than you.
3. Take Some Quiet Time
I rarely get quiet time because I’m so go, go, go. Sometimes when I have a bad day, instead of making a mountain out of a molehill, I withdraw a bit. Yesterday I just put my headphones in and didn’t say much. I drove all the way from work to the Y without being on my cell phone and without the radio. It helped to decompress. And it’s better than doing or saying something that you might end up regretting in the long run.
4. Do Something Nice For Yourself
It doesn’t have to be anything big. Light a candle. Have a piece of chocolate. It can even be something the next day. Today? I splurged on a Dunks coffee, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
5. Learn A Lesson
What can you do differently next time? Stop saying “how could this get any worse” and focus on solutions, not problems. If you messed up, learn from it. Ask yourself if there is an opportunity to grow. If you didn’t mess up, stop blaming yourself for things out of your control. Consider this: Maybe it’s actually a bad day if you don’t learn something new.
“A problem is your chance to do your best.”
What do you guys do to help you through a bad day??
Fitness & Feta 