5 Ways to Reset a Bad Day

Have you ever had a day where you woke up in a bad mood and everything went downhill from there? That was me today! I kept making excuses for myself, but ultimately, the circumstances don’t determine my attitude – only I am in charge of my attitude

I knew part of my bad mood was caused by over-tiredness and not allowing enough time to refuel. So I thought hard and came up with one large chore I could simplify this week. Then, instead of cramming the time with additional projects, which is my usual tendency, I instead chose to sit in the sunshine with a book, then take a nap in my bed this afternoon.

Having those 90 minutes to refuel made a huge difference in my attitude! I felt the bad mood melt away until I was ready to face the rest of the afternoon and evening with vigor.

Sometimes, what feels the most productive isn’t.

Sometimes, the most productive thing we can do is rest for a little bit. Rest often enables us to resume work at a good speed, instead of feeling like we’re trudging through murky waters, barely able to keep our heads above the surface.

But sometimes, you just really can’t rest. I get it. When that happens to me, something that helps a ton is giving myself mental breaks whenever possible. Listening to an audio book, the Bible, or a podcast while I drive, shower, fold laundry, cook, or accomplish other needed tasks that keep my hands busy but my brain free helps a lot.

Another thing we can do is stay off social media more often. There’s nothing like looking at someone else’s highlight reel to make us feel bad about our own lives, not to mention that the minutes spent scrolling are taking away from time that could be spent doing something more refreshing!

Also, has someone ever offered a sincere, simple apology to you? Did it feel great to receive it? Likewise, we should readily apologize when needed! If we’ve been snappy with someone, we need to say we’re sorry without excusing bad behavior. A simple, “I’m sorry I was rude this morning. Can you forgive me?” usually does the trick 🙂

In summary, if you’re having a bad day:

1) Cross something off your list without actually doing the task (but do so responsibly – don’t be a no-show!).

2) Spend that extra time doing something you enjoy (check out this post about 9 ways to relax when you only have 15 minutes or less).

3) Listen to audio books, podcasts, or the Bible to reset your brain when your hands are busy but your mind isn’t. (Check out this post for tips about how to simplify your Bible time, then see tips 1&2 of this article for some my favorite music, podcasts, and audio book recommendations.)

4) Stay away from Social Media.

5) Apologize sincerely when needed.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 ESV

Leave a comment and let me know how you reset a bad day!