Let’s talk about bad days. Aren’t they the worst?
Some days, you wake up and you just have that bad day feeling.
Other days, you wake up all fine and dandy but the bad day sneaks up on you.
Either way, it’s no fun at all. And bad days can be difficult to shake off. Today, I’m sharing five simple things you can do to turn a bad day around.
5 Things You Can Do {in 10 Minutes Or Less} to Turn a Bad Day Around
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Hug
Hugs are good for the soul.
But, if I’m being honest here, sometimes my kids are so crabby and so whiny that I don’t really want to hug them.
The thing is, when you do hug them, it almost always gets better.
A hug is a break in the moment. It is an easy way to show that you love someone even when they aren’t acting very likable.
In our house, a hug can help to turn around a bad day. So, the next time you are stuck in a bad day, ask yourself if you or one of your children could benefit from a hug. I am willing to bet the answer will be yes.
Laugh
Laughter releases endorphins, just like hugs! The problem is, when you are stuck in a bad day, it can be hard to find the laughter.
That’s why it can be helpful to have a goofy code word or phrase. The more ridiculous, the better.
In our house, that code phrase is BIG BOB. You have to say it in this silly way that is hard to describe in words.
I’m not sure where Big Bob came from, exactly. I don’t know who he is, or what he looks like. I only know that my youngest two started talking about him about two years ago. They say his name almost daily and it’s always in the goofy manner described above.
When someone is whining, or in the middle of an epic tantrum, I can sometimes stop it in its tracks by summoning the goofiest voice I can muster and shouting,
Biiiiiiiiiiig BOB!!!!!
If I do it correctly, I can turn those tears to giggles.
If you do not have a goofy phrase, this no whining button can do the trick. I have it hidden in a kitchen cabinet and it never fails to elicit laughter when p
Dance
I’m not one of those moms who took years of dance as a child.
In fact, I only took one year of Irish Step back in the 80s. My teacher, with her thick Irish brogue, scared the hell out of me. The dance studio was in a neighboring city, above a bar. When my class was over, the teacher would kick us out and I’d have to wait in the bar with my classmates, where inebriated old Irish men would buy us Sprites until our parents picked us up. They scared the hell out of me too.
Let’s just say it wasn’t the best introduction to the world of dance.
I’m telling you this because I want you to know that I’m not a skilled dancer, and yet I believe dancing is good for the soul.
Our family tradition of afternoon kitchen dancing was born out of witching hour desperation. It was a survival strategy that turned into a treasured tradition. If you are having a bad day, I dare you to turn on your favorite song and dance like crazy in your kitchen. Believe me, you’ll feel better.
Get Outside
Nature is good for you. There have been heaps of studies that show the benefits of nature for both children and adults.
If you are in need of some nature inspiration, check out these posts:
Even Linda loves a good read aloud!
Read a Book
Reading together, preferably snuggled up under a blanket, is a wonderful way to reset the day and reconnect with each other. It provides a moment of calm in the middle of a crabby day. Sometimes, when everyone is crabby in my house, I declare it to be mandatory silent reading time. We pour over our favorite books, silently, beside each other. This gives us some time to regroup and recharge, plus a few minutes of quiet!
If you are looking for some read aloud ideas, be sure to check out our {Virtual} Family Book Club posts. We read heaps and heaps of fantastic books every month!
Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: How do YOU turn a bad day around? Share here!
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