Some days are far better than others. Remember the book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? I’ve had my fair share of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. Yes, I admit to being dramatic, but there are also legitimate days where your mind, body, and soul feel like a stale fart. I reminisce of a past bad day and would love to share 6 ways to help yourself through a crappy day:

Yesterday morning I woke up feeling defeated. My body was sore, and I felt sad and empty as soon as I woke up. I try to avoid these days at all costs, but they seem to arrive with an unstoppable relentlessness.

My eyes saw the bright summer sun, green leaves, and friendly blue skies, yet my mind felt so heavy. My body felt lethargic and sore. I wanted so badly to go outside, but I couldn’t get myself out there.

I cried a bunch of times. I wondered if it was partly due to PMS or due to my withered out mentality. Every day I’ve risen and tried to cleanse my mind of negative chatter that hasn’t benefited my life in shape or form. I suppose that maybe I was a bit worn out from trying to be more positive in my everyday life. 

Negativity was my former default setting. Reprogramming my mind with Susie Sunshine’s doctrine has proven to be a tad bit challenging. But her teachings are worth it to me. Negativity has only kept me wading in a stale, stagnant, and smelly bog.

I’m aiming to surf in a serene crystal clear ocean with the sun warming my entire body.

So what can one do when your whole being is feeling stuck in a pit of never-ending quicksand? I’ve thought of a few options to explore with you that have helped me. 

Here are 6 ways to help yourself through a crappy day! 

1. Brush your teeth

Being in a state of lowered feelings can make the smallest of tasks seem overwhelmingly daunting. However, bad breath won’t help you achieve anything aside from grossing out the people you live with or perhaps making your dog or cat uncomfortable.

Yesterday morning the thought of brushing my teeth made me cringe a tiny bit. But the thought of my morning breath wafting back at me while breathing through my sluggish yoga session made me cringe even more. I’m not sure if anyone has ever regretted brushing their teeth (aside from brushing too close to coffee drinking or other food consumption).

Try to hose those bad boys down with some minty tasting fluoride. At least then, you can be miserable without the sinister offense of bad breath! Yay! 

2. Cry if needed 

I didn’t have to chase any waterfalls yesterday. I probably made TLC proud. I didn’t have to go chasing because they naturally flowed from my eyes. It’s okay to cry. If you need to cry, let those waterfalls flow freely.

Get out an ugly cry, smear that mascara, or lack thereof. Maybe ruffle your hair to make the scene more dramatic. Whichever way you cry, it’s okay. 

6 Ways to help yourself through a crappy day, halfway there …

3. Attempt Physical Activity

My almost laughable attempt at yoga yesterday morning was short. However, I did feel a little better knowing that I at least tried. Maybe you’ll get going at a workout, get lost in it, and have an awesome endorphin fueled sweat session. Or perhaps you’ll end up rolling around the floor as I did in depressed baby.

Whatever happens, give yourself the credit you deserve for trying!

Rather than lying in your bed staring into space, if you at least attempted some form of physical activity, go you! Much like every yoga session can feel different; the same goes for our mental states.

So if you feel like you’re posted up under Oscar the Grouch one day, any efforts that you make to ease that is completely bada$$ on your part! And, if you can’t manage to attempt anything, that’s fine too.

You are still a glorious human, composed of stardust and worthy of everything and anything you desire!! 

4. Spend time with a comforting loved one 

Do you have at least one person in mind who you feel completely comfortable around and lifts your spirits just by being in their presence? If you do, visit them. My grandmother happens to be this person for me. Her aura is so uplifting for me.

If you’re lucky enough to have one person like this in your life, consider a visit with them. If you don’t have one person like this in your life, perhaps you could browse through online forums, visit an animal shelter, or chat online with a kindred spirit.

Or, if being alone is what you need, that’s quite alright.

I find that being in a comforting presence for a little bit releases some of those pesky negative feelings.

My grandma told me to think of bothersome thoughts, tie them to an imaginary balloon, and let them go. 

5. Watch, or, listen to things that make you smile 

I’m noticing that I’m not immune to these types of days. I’m also entirely too stubborn, but I can think of shows, movies, and silly songs that always make me smile as much as I don’t want to. I realize that doesn’t make any sense.

However, it’s hard for me to remain sad while watching The Office, Mr. Bean, or Step Brothers. It’s also hard for me to stay in a sullen and sulking mood while listening to the Kidz Bop version of Hotline Bling by Drake (other Kidz Bop versions are equally as amusing if not more. Search at your own risk).

I may try to stay in my downward spiral because I think NIN are awesome, and I’m stubborn, but deep down, certain things always bring an inner smile. I’m sure you have forms of media that cast some light on your dark shadows.

Use those outlets to help remind you of lighter feelings such as smiling and laughter. 

6. Try to help yourself

I understand the feeling of staying in a dark place because it feels comforting in some sick and twisted way. Defaulting to a negative mindset can become an unhappy hamster wheel that one can stay on for as long as they avoid change.

I didn’t realize how much power I did, in fact, have for a very long time. I also didn’t know that it was me, myself, and I who was making certain things harder for myself.

So I’m asking you to try. Whatever you can think of that may help you fight your demons more effectively, please try it. You have to try it for you first and foremost. You have to become your biggest cheerleader.

The way you are right now doesn’t have to remain unchanged.

Outside change is inevitable, and internal change is wholly possible.

But you have to make bettering yourself a top priority and commitment in order for it to work.

You also need patience, and I can’t stress the patience emphasis enough. I am very impatient, and that messes with me on my positivity highway.

Be patient, willing to work for what you want while also giving yourself that golden star or ticket.

If you chose to wallow in your dark side time after time and don’t try to help yourself, things will be harder.

You owe it to yourself to recognize if you are part of the problem in holding yourself back.

Don’t play the blame game. Reclaim your power, get in the driver’s seat and ride the hell out of your curvy little Porsche.

Others can help you, yes, but in the end, you have all the control.

Use yourself to the best of your ability. 

I’d love to hear if any of these 6 ways to help yourself through a crappy day are beneficial to any of you!

I hope that at least one of these methods can help all you wondrous star children find your way back to a starlit path rather than a dingy space dungeon!