Having a bad day? We’ve all been there, but some days really take the cake. Nothing goes right, everyone seems against you and it feels like nothing you do is good enough. It will get better, but you need to get through this moment first. Here are some de-stressing tips for those terrible days that feel like they’ll never end.
Hydrate Your Body
It’s important to drink enough water, especially when you’re stressed or having a horrible day. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that regulates the way the body handles stress. Dehydration can lead to an increase in cortisol levels. This can make it more challenging when facing a troubling situation. Drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily can help combat stress and anxiety.
Indulge in Essential Oils
When you’ve been given bad news, or the future isn’t looking so hot, finding a place to get away and escape can be a priority. Instead of turning to alcohol or other poor choices to forget about your worries, switch gears a bit. Find a quiet place and surround yourself with some calming scents such as lavender, lemon or jasmine. Inhale the scents out of the bottle or use a diffuser for a longer effect.
Take a Shower or Bath
When the walls feel like they’re closing in, take time out for water therapy. A hot shower can rejuvenate your senses and empower your mind. It also gives you a minute or two to mentally regroup. Or try a hot bath to soothe and relax tight muscles and slow racing thoughts. Don’t forget to add a drop of essential oil to the water to rejuvenate the senses.
Just Breathe
Taking some deep breaths can help regulate your breathing and give you an added boost of oxygen. The 4-7-8 breathing technique is one example:
- Open lips slightly, holding the tongue to the roof of the mouth, behind the front teeth, and exhale with a “whooshing” sound.
- Close your lips and inhale through your nose, counting to four.
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
- Exhale with another “whooshing” sound for 8 seconds.
- Repeat with four more full breaths.
You can practice this breathing exercise anywhere, on both bad days and good.
Walk or Exercise
When you’re at the gym, you’re burning off calories, which can keep stress at bay. Plus, no one can bother you there. It’s the one place where you can go to and do the work for yourself, no one else. You’re in control of how far you walk or how many minutes you spend on the elliptical. It can be a great escape, albeit for just a few minutes or hours a day.
Share a Smile
Want to de-stress with very little effort? Smile. It can lift your mood, and you may even turn your day around. And remember, smiles can help others too — they really are contagious.
When you have a horrible, no-good day, it’s up to you to turn things around. Utilizing one or all of these tips can make life’s stressors more manageable. Give them a try and turn your next terrible day into something to smile about.
~Here’s to Your Success!
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