How to change your day after you’ve gotten up on the wrong side of the bed

We’ve most likely all been there. We wake up and feel irritated for no good reason. Or maybe a few moments after we wake up, something small but crappy happens. This is seemingly a part of life everyone experiences. Perhaps there are groups of spiritual people who are so centered they don’t experience this. But, for the rest of us, especially in western culture, it would seem like this is normal.

So today, let’s talk about how to change your day AFTER you’ve gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Sometimes it seems like there is no going back and the only thing that will help is going to sleep and waking up again. However, this could mean a day wasted. Instead, why not change it around and make the most of the day. Stare that bad mood in the face and tell it to go away.

Once you are in a better mood, perhaps decide on your perfect day and fill out your this or that form!

Some simple things to do when you want to be in a better mood:

1. Slow down.

Perhaps this seems counterintuitive. However, it has worked for me every time. Often, on days where we start off on the wrong side of the bed, is causes us to rush, which somehow becomes a domino effect. As we rush around, we might spill something, smear our makeup or maybe even put two different shoes on (true story). Purposely slowing down and taking our time might not feel right, but it WILL HELP. Slowing down allows us to catch-up with our thoughts and move at a calm and collected pace.

2. Give love to a pet.

Bianca knows she can be an instant mood booster, not just to me but anyone who sees her. Sometimes when I’m in a bad mood, I take her for a drive or walk through a public park. Seeing other people light up when they see my precious girl immediately lifts my mood.

3. Talk to a friend.

They say misery loves company, but more so, I’m referring to talking to a friend about something completely different. Asking a friend how things are going for them, or talking about something that reminded you of them. Anything to get your mind off your own self and on to something else.

4. Wear your favorite outfit.

This was especially helpful when we were still going into the office. On days where I just wasn’t feeling it, I’d purposely put on my favorite top, pants or shoes. Or maybe even style my hair in a way I liked better. This helped me to feel more confident, comfortable and better in general.

5. Tell a joke.

Okay so this one might seem strange, and it might even seem impossible to come up with something funny when you are in a bad mood. There is one joke which I always use, its super silly about a horse walking into a bar. Again, watching other people laugh (or in my case roll their eyes) helps to put things in perspective and lighten the mood.

6. Find humor.

A second to the one above works especially if you aren’t around others. Simple do a google search for humor, jokes, puns, etc. This helps TREMENDOUSLY. I tend to LOVE puns, and reading them just helps. It often even gets a hearty laugh out of me. Depending on how dark your humor is, this should help to brighten things up.

7. Hydrate.

If you know me in person, you know I’m big on hydration. Not only do I tend to keep water or kombucha with me at all times, I also encourage others to stay hydrated. Drinking water upon waking, and throughout the day physically helps. It also helps to provide a pause before speaking, or have a calming affect while reading or watching a show.

8. Breathe.

Slowing down your breath, becoming aware of your breath and exhaling in a sigh of relief can help to improve your mood. This goes hand in hand with hydrating, because it is a physical indication to your brain that things are okay. It allows for us to slow down and reduces that feeling of rushing that often occurs on bad days.

9. Become aware of the 5 senses.

This seems to be a popular recommendation lately. After dismissing it as silly I finally gave it a try. The idea is that by identifying something you see, taste, smell, feel and hear; you will feel more connected to your surroundings and thus more grounded. It makes sense in theory and has actually worked for me a handful of times.

10. If all else fails, cancel your plans, take the afternoon off and go back to bed.

Even if you take a short nap, this can help provide a restart to your system.

Connect

What are some of the things you do to get in a better mood? How would you add to this list, and have you tried any of the above? If so, comment down below!

P.S. when you know your mood is not stemming from just waking up on the wrong side of the bed and instead it is more related to where you are in your life. A post from awhile back might be of help: What now? This post discusses that dreaded feeling when you know you just aren’t going down the right path and constantly feel like you are in a dead end.