10 Happy Things To Do When Having A Bad Day

This post was most recently updated on February 26th, 2022

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[This article was originally published in January 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.]

When having a bad day, you need to know what to do to get through the emotional ups and downs and turn the sh*t day in the right direction.

I remember the last time I cried was last month. I cried on my bed before going to sleep. Sometimes I don’t REALLY know why I cry. I rarely cry because I tend to suppress my emotions from time to time or because there are so many things that I could do when I’m having a bad day.

I still don’t know why or what was so messed up inside of me, but everything just felt “off”, and it seemed like everything was going wrong.   

I wish I could tell you that every day of my life is filled with a smile on my face and that I’ve learned to overcome every one of my personal shortcomings. Oh, how I wish I could tell you that!

But telling you that would make me a big fat liar.

The truth is, my days are often filled with a dog who barks non-stop, a To-Do List that’s longer than my arm, and the usual frustrations that come with blogging and living with a mom that often make small issues into big ones.  

I think we all have days when everything just feels “off” right?

Whether it’s because of hormones, not enough sleep, or an unusually difficult season we’re going through, some days the world seems a little cloudy, regardless of the weather outside. Our parents grate on our nerves, our partner hurts our feelings (without even knowing it – poor guy), our normal chores seem oppressive, and the end of the day can’t get here fast enough.

As much as we’d like to avoid those kinds of days – and we really should try to steer clear of them – they come along from time to time, and we just have to push through them or be crushed by them – the choice is ours.

I’ve learned that there are some things I can do to make these BAD days a little easier to survive.

Self-care

When having a bad day, taking care of your mind, body, and soul is so much more IMPORTANT than anything. You can get a mani/pedi, have a facial mask, relaxing bath time while reading your book or favorite drink, and so much more.

Watch Movies

To tell you the truth, romance is not my favorite to go when I’m having a bad day. I prefer something that makes me jump, thrill me, something that wakes up my adrenaline. Horror, action, thriller, science fiction are my kinds of genres. Now I’m currently catching up on some old or new movies that I haven’t watched.

Coffee date with your friends

This one is about the ritual. In my article about coffeeholic gifts, I mentioned that I’m a coffee lover. I always HAVE a cup of coffee every day. I usually have it in the middle of working.

Whenever I’m having a bad day, feel bored at home, or have a small fight with my mom, I will always go out to visit the nearby coffee shop. I go with my friend but usually, I come alone. I’m not sure about others but I enjoy being alone.

Drinking my favorite coffee when I’m having a bad day is BLESS. But I make sure not to drink more than two cups of coffee in a day!

Drink water and have a healthy snack

It’s amazing how dehydrated you can get without even realizing it. When your body is hungry and thirsty, your mind gets foggy and grumpy. Be careful that you don’t sabotage yourself by trying to survive the day empty. Fill up a water bottle and grab some fruits, a handful of nuts, or your favorite healthy snack.

Take a nap

Invest in an eye mask (essential for midday napping) and snuggle yourself under a mound of fluffy covers. Turn on a fan for the gentle, white noise whirring. Close your eyes. Let your mind drift. Cry if you need to.

Read something purely escapist

Whether it’s a romance novel or a book about crime, read something that holds your interest completely. Get lost in the pages and let your stress melt away. I strongly recommend a cup of coffee, or tea, or perhaps, a glass of wine while you read.

Watch the sunset or go star-gazing

As I mentioned above, rather than going to the mall or spending my time inside a building. I prefer going to open places like beaches or zoos. I called them ‘nature places.’

Nature is awe-inspiring, even on the worst of days. Sometimes the best thing to do when you’re feeling extraordinarily down is to remind yourself that this was just another day. Time passes.

Give your brain a break from the constant blue light radiating from your phone, computer, tablet, and television, and go outside. Soak up all the green. Get a good dose of vitamin D. Breathe deeply. Listen to the birds. Pet trees.

The world is bigger than this one day than this one problem. Staying up to watch the sun slip down the sky, venturing out to gaze at the vastness of the stars, or walking around to see various kinds of animals is a beautiful way to reinforce the bigger world out there.

Find some water

“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth… and methodically knocking people’s hats off — then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.” H. Melville

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that sometimes I go to the beaches whenever I have spare time. I don’t swim – simply because I can’t swim (lol). But what I NEED to get through my bad day is just the smell of the sea, the sound of waves, feeling the sand on my barefoot, and the quietness. It’s EXTREMELY amazing! And there are so many beautiful and hidden beaches you can find in Bali!

Make a list

Pandemic teaches me to be more organized day by day. I learn how to prioritize my task and I love making a list. Of anything. And everything.

If I’ve had a really crap day, sometimes making a list of everything that I liked about the day — watch my favorite tv series, read a fascinating article during lunch, I got a compliment on my blog post, my dogs made me laugh — it helps put it all in perspective.

Other fun things to make lists about when you’re feeling blue: dream vacations, dream home, favorite badass male TV characters, books you want to read next, tv series you want to watch tomorrow, places to visit this weekend, your favorite things about yourself, etc.

Tidy your space

This sounds counterintuitive unless you’re one of those people who cleans when they are stressed. I clean up when my space is really really in a mess, tho. I don’t have a big space in my bedroom to place all my things so every corner always seems so packed up!

Still, I keep everything in order because I tend to forget where I put things. I clean up my workspace before working, tidy up some books after reading them, and organize my stationery to make it look ‘presentable.’

But hear me out: having a purpose and moving your body, hands, mind toward that goal will give you some much-needed clarity. It will also keep you from doing something ill-advised, like texting or emailing someone you shouldn’t while in a heightened emotional state. Plus, afterward, you’ll have a tidy space!

If you’re planning to refresh your home office, check my ideas on how to create a cozy home office or some essentials a girl boss should have on her desk.

Remember That Tomorrow is a New Day

Take a deep breath and start counting your blessings. Make a list. You might be surprised by how many reasons you have to rejoice, even when you have a bad day.

Sure, this current situation may have chewed you up and spit you out, but it doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to a life of frustration and overwhelm. Tomorrow is a new day, and it will (hopefully) be a whole lot brighter.

What is something you always do when having a bad day?