Crappy days: we all have ‘em. Some are worse than others, and some times we just feel like having pity parties for ourselves (I know I do). That being said, this post aims to share a few tried and true techniques to simply make a day better. These are a few things that always seem to work for me, and they are quite simple at the heart of it.

Before diving in, I want to share that everyone — EVERYONE — has crappy days. You already know this but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be reminded. I actually started the draft of this post on December 30 and now that almost a month has passed, I can confidently say that the past 30 days or so have been undeniably “crappy” — if I let them be. Personal issues cropped up, we had some difficult weather, sickness within our household, and etc. etc. etc.

Tried and True Techniques: How To Handle A Crappy Day

Physical & Mental:

• One thing that has a 99% success rate is MOVEMENT. If I can squeeze in a walk, a workout, or simply a stretch, it usually helps. If a workout seems like an insurmountable task, I get it. A ten minute walk can do wonders!

• Drink water. Like, CHUG. I do notice a correlation between mood and hydration. It seems like on days that I am under-hydrated, I am a little more irritable.

• Stretching. Sometimes grounding yourself with some simple stretches at the end of the day can be the most wonderful way to wind down. I love gentle pilates and yoga, but honestly sometimes just doing my own thing and sinking into some deep stretches helps boost my mood and makes me feel grateful for being able to move my body.

• Put on an epic playlist that takes you back to a different time. I personally love my 70s and 80s playlist - I have it on an actual iPod in my car so that it is always there and the songs will always be in the same order. It inspires me and takes me back to fun memories.

• Sleep — sometimes just calling it a “crappy day” and heading to bed is the right move. I love taking a magnesium supplement to help get solid rest. I talked all about that on this blog post, and it really does help me feel restored and renewed after a night’s sleep!

Hyperfocus on yourself, and less on others:

• My screen time has increased in 2023 and 2024 and I can 1000% without a doubt say that social media and phones can be toxic if you spend too much time on there. They are designed to keep you coming back, and to keep you staying put. If necessary, put time limits on your apps that get the most use. Stop scrolling. Stop being distracted. Stop comparing. Instead, devote the time you’d be scrolling towards something else: a brisk walk, a workout, a journal entry.

• We know there is power in positive thinking. I do not, however, subscribe to mantras like “NO BAD DAYS” or “POSITIVE VIBES ONLY.” That’s not natural. When I try to force myself to think positively, it’s more like expressing gratitude. Sometimes it is cliche and overdone to “count your blessings…” but really. sometimes it is helpful to simply go outside and look at the stars or admire a plant or even the beauty in your own hand. There is beauty everywhere and sometimes it helps to just marvel at it.

Joyful Company:

• Make plans with someone who brings you genuine joy — someone you can be your true and authentic self with. For me, it is my mom. I know that when I am with her she always sets me straight. She has an ability to simply make things better and she gets it. I tend to appreciate people who are there to listen.

• Now here’s the hard part — sometimes, there isn’t anyone around to listen. That’s when I pull out my handy dandy journal, and my joyful company becomes myself. I pour my entire problem or feeling into words, and it really does help me relinquish a bit of the burden I am carrying. When I am done writing, I feel like I can literally close the page on the day and I have a new sense of permission to not let my problem(s) take up my headspace any longer.

Productivity:

• If you’re like me, overwhelm often translates to stress. I often find that when I am perpetually behind, my motivation slows and my stress can get exponentially worse. When this happens, I make a VERY small, manageable to-do list. If I am behind, sometimes a hard reset is necessary and I’ll keep my to-do list intentionally simple. Sometimes you need to just come home from a long day and do three little things. For example: “tonight I am going to make dinner, fold the laundry, and watch a tv show in bed.” You’ll probably end up doing more things, but if you pick three things that you need/want to do, and focus on those, it will help you get through the night. The rest of your tasks will be ready for you the next day.

• I am a big treat-yo-self fan. You know what my mom used to tell me when I would have a full fledged pity party? She would say, “go ahead. Feel sorry for yourself. Cry. But you only have ___ amount of time. After that, move on.” Sometimes she would say 1 hour, sometimes it would be the whole day. Give yourself some time to feel the funk you’re in, and maybe even treat yourself to a pity party milkshake or takeout hibachi dinner. But after that, move on. Give your crappy feeling an expiration date.

ciao! xo