Okay, so it’s no secret that some days are better than others. Some days, no matter how much we try, are just kind of blah. Maybe it’s raining, or you woke up late. Maybe you’re just tired of the rat race. Whatever the reason, you’re in a funk. Well, unfortunately, “off days” are just part of life.
If you have those days, you’re perfectly normal. No person, no matter how rich, famous, accomplished or upbeat, can escape an off-day.
But, here’s the secret: since everyone has down days, it’s all in how we respond to those days that is tremendously important — it’s what makes it look like some people never have off days!
There was a time that whenever I felt down or cranky, I blamed myself — surely there was something wrong with me. I erroneously believed that I needed to be happy and upbeat all the time because I wrongly believed that most people were always happy. So what was wrong with me?
Nothing, as it turned out. I discovered that while everyone had blah days, not everyone let it consume them. I was allowing the negative moment/vibe/mood to take control of my entire day. As it turned out, I had options and didn’t even realize it. All along, I had the option to quarantine my bad mood so it didn’t infect my whole existence. What I mean by ‘quarantine” is that I learned how to analyze my mood, I acknowledged that everyone has bad days, and I discovered how to re-align my emotional state so that I could quickly get myself out of the funk.
When you’re having a down day, here are some helpful tips to help lift your mood:
1. Acknowledge the reality. For whatever reason you’re in a funk, face it directly, acknowledge the reality of the mood and try to figure out why you’re having an off day. Woke up late? So what – it happens to everyone. Is it raining and that puts you in a mood? Deal with it — you can’t control the weather and the sun will come out again. Did your friend annoy you? Talk to them about it — unless it was something really horrendous, they’re still your friend and besides, why let that disagreement ruin your day? The key is to take the power back from your bad mood and minimize the effect it has on you.
2. What are your ‘bad days’ teaching you? Analyze what’s bringing you down and try to get a sense for what puts you in a mood and why. While some thing’s and causes may be out of your control, once you know what the root cause is, you’ll have more power over it and in a sense, it loses some of its grip on you. Acknowledging and analyzing doesn’t take as long as you think — but the effort is well worth it.
3. Have gratitude to improve your attitude. A bad mood can cause havoc with our harmony and putting things into perspective is essential When you’re in a funk, count your blessings and examine all the good things you have in your life. Compare your situation to someone else’s — this is not pleasant to think about, but if you’re in a bad mood because you spilled coffee on your favorite shirt, just think about the person in this world who can’t even afford that shirt…or the cup of coffee! Be grateful!
4. Connect with someone who uplifts you. If you don’t have that “go-to” person, find one! We’re social animals at heart and having someone to talk to is key. Our “go to person” isn’t necessarily someone we vent to, but is more someone that lifts us up. Whether it be a friend, family member or a Therapist, connect with them, because sometimes just talking, or hanging out, can really lift your mood.
5. Immersion therapy. Listen to upbeat music. Read a good book or watch a movie. Take a walk in the park. Take a nice hot bath. When we immerse ourselves into something we enjoy, very often, our bad mood melts away. Only you know what brings you real peace and joy, so what ever that may be, give it a try. Personally, when I’m in a funk, I find reading a mystery novel helps to brighten my mood — sometimes I read one while soaking in a hot tub, with uplifting music playing softly in the background.
The lows in life are often times that come with great reflection and soul-searching. It’s at times when we’re in a funk that we do the most self-realization analysis, so there is a benefit to those days. When one gets too comfortable, one becomes complacent and ignores key indicators about life. When you’re feeling down, reflect on why and refresh your outlook on life — use that time to get yourself to the next level.