We've all been in them. You know those days when you just feel crappy, being optimistic feels like a chore, nothing seems to be going right, you slept through your alarm, having a bad hair day, got back a test you were sure you aced (but didn't, not even close), you name it. You're just plain grumpy We've all been there. Now I won't say things like, "Look at the bright side!" or "Find the silver lining!" or even "Everything happens for a reason!" because on some days, thinking about those things is just plain hard.
BUT - there are always, always, always things you can do to get out of that funk! Or, at the least, feel loads better and have a better day.
1. Make a happy playlist
My go-to for anything has always been music, and this is certainly no exception. Music is universal - we all connect to music, we all interpret music, we all celebrate, sing, dance to, mourn with, cry, laugh, and share music. So when you're in one of those bad day ruts, put together a playlist of every song that has ever made you happy, that brings you back to a happy place or a happy time or reminds you of someone you love to be with or reminds you of a funny moment shared with a friend. Anything with a fun, fast rhythm and catchy beat - Play it loud, sing out loud, have no reservations! It will work wonders.
2. Clean for 15 minutes
Doing something that makes you feel accomplished can really make a world of a difference. A quick clean-up keeps you focused on a task where you have a goal in mind. Set a timer for yourselves and focus on just one room. After you're done with your quick cleanup, the difference between a "cluttered bedroom," for example, and a clean living space not only makes you want to give yourself a pat on the back for actually getting up and doing a task that, let's face it, most of us don't usually want to get up and do on a daily basis, but it also feels better to be in.
3. Play with a pet
This is one remedy that will always help - at least for the time being. Animals are completely and totally unbaised -pets have nothing to give but unconditional love. Pets aren't meant to sit alone in a house all day - play with them! Show them some love. Play fetch with a dog, go grab a laser pointer and watch a cat or kitten go crazy (trust me, they love it!). Happiness is contagious, and this goes for animals too.
4. Exercise
This is a big one. The psychological benefits of exercise have been proven to be extremely powerful. Exercise reduces anxiety, stress, and tension - it is a natural antidepressant. Getting exercise does release endorphins in your brain, your body's natural "happy drug"! The term Runner's High has been coined for a reason. It, too, gives you a sense of accomplishment, and it's one of the greatest ways to get out any suppressed feelings. Got a lot of built up anger? Sign up for a kickboxing class. Just stressed from studying? Take a quick, 15 minute jog around your neighborhood. I can guarantee after a good workout, you'll really notice your stress level is substantially lower!
5. Take a shower
As silly as it sounds, this can be incredibly therapeutic! And it doesn't have to be a shower , go all out - take a bubble bath! You know the feeling after you take a shower, being clean makes you feel instantly better, clean, refreshed, as if you've cleansed yourself of all the dirt, grime, and negativity of a long day.
6. Be around people who make you truly happy
It's really hard to be unhappy when you're surrounded by people who you love, who love you, and who can truly make you laugh. Be with your friends/family, be silly; just being around them will help you forget the 'bad' that had previously filled your day.
7. Write
Writing is one of the oldest remedies in the book. Take 10 minutes to just write about everything that's bothering you, all the stresses in your life at that moment. Write it, study it, and then forget it. When you're stressed, more often than not you try not to face it - you ignore it until it builds up and becomes too much for us mere mortals to handle, and ignoring it just makes us feel worse. Writing will encourage you to face what is bringing you down and making you feel blue. Sometimes writing it all out helps us really see all the things we didn't realize was making us feel so bad in the first place. After writing it, you can tear it up, put it away, scrunch it all up and swoosh it right through the hoop [that is, your trash can] and be done with it. One really great tool here is an awesome site called www.futureme.org. On this website, you can write an email to yourself and choose the date for when you'd like it to be sent to you (your future self). You can choose for it to be sent a week from now, a month, a year, even 5 years from today. List all of the things that are weighing you down at that very moment, and send it to yourself in the future. You know that in 6 months time, or even in a year, none of the things that plague you now will be simple memories that you might even be able to smile at upon reading them later.
8. Put some makeup on!
Alright, I know this one might apply more to the woman out there, but I know that when I look good, I feel good. Play dress up. Get dolled up, but for you and no one else, even if it's for no occasion at all.
9. Take a nap
Powernaps really, really can work wonders. Napping doesn't necessarily equate to laziness - it can actually increase energy and productivity! We as college students need these especially (why do preschoolers get all the perks?! We deserve naptime too!) Humans have circadian rhythms that naturally make us feel sleepy in the afternoon, and so taking naps during this time leave us vulnerable to fall into deep (slow-wave) sleep, leaving us groggy. This is why the most optimal times for naps are in the mornings and just after lunchtime. This also means avoiding caffeine (which isn't too great for our bodies to begin with) and foods loaded with sugars and fats, which discourage good sleep. Alternatively, indulge in foods high in calcium and proteins, which promote good sleep. An effective powernap is 20 minutes - this improves muscle memory and clears the mind of built-up information, which helps improve your memory throughout the day. If you have more ample time to spend napping, 50 to 90 minutes is perfect - not only does this recharge your body, but it also allows you to fall into REM sleep as well as slow-wave sleep, and gives your body the charging time and opportunity to release the growth hormones that repair muscles and bones from a workout the previous day, for example. Either way, you'll wake up feeling abundantly better!
10. Eat your favorite food
And by favorite food - I'm being a little biased - I sort of mean to say chocolate (my favorite food hehe). Chocolate has SO many wonderful health benefits. Because it is derived from plants, it has the same benefits as dark vegetables. It is a natural antidepressant, and is choc-full (pun intended!) of antioxidants, which protect the body from the potential harmful effects of aging. Chocolate also contains elements that relax blood pressure (=less stress!), and it stimulates endorphin production in your brain making you feel good. Plus, it's delicious!
11. Thank
Think about everything you're grateful for. Focusing on everything POSITIVE that happened to you today! Make a list, say it out loud, sing it out loud, whatever you'd like. There is no such thing as a purely awful, rotten, terrible day. Yes, perhaps some things went wrong today, but did you see a good friend? Did you have a good breakfast? Did you get a phone call from someone you haven't heard from in a while? Did someone tell you they loved you? Move all of your focus to these little things; even if you're in the worst of moods, there is always something to celebrate.
