Bad days. We all get them.
Some times it's tolerable, while other times it can be tantamount to being stuck in a repetitive cycle of never-ending gloom that sends you on a one-way trip to depression hell.
As someone who suffers from social anxiety and chronic depression, I often find myself experiencing days where I'd rather curl up and remain in a foetal position instead of getting up to make an effort to get through even an hour of an average day.
And while being on medication and seeing both a psychiatrist’s and psychologist’s help, I've come to realise that the bad days will never completely go away. What's more is that most of the time, and I think I speak for many people here, they still catch me off guard.
Having said that, I think the challenge doesn't lie in getting over a bad day, but rather in pushing through and doing things you like in spite of feeling the way you do, not because of it (my psychologist would be proud to know that this little gem of his got stuck into my brain).
Anyone who tells you that this is easy, is lying. Because it's not.
On bad days, even the things you love doing most can be insurmountably difficult - sometimes even downright impossible, but that doesn't mean it's not worth trying.
It’s all about taking baby steps.
1.Read a book. As an avid bibliophile, I can tell you that there's no better way to beat a bad day than by picking up a book and finding a nice, quiet spot to read during your lunch hour. Books transport you to a myriad of different and often magical worlds that not only provide you with some relief, but have you immersed into an adventure with characters whose journey you can fully be a part of.
2. Drink a cup of tea. Perhaps a very simple thing to do, but I think that many people underestimate the power of a hot cup of sweet tea (Rooibos for me please) and the comfort it provides. Not helping? Drink more than one cup if you need to.
3. Get away from your desk. Even if it's just for 5 minutes. Your job is not going to run away from you and chances are, your productivity will only improve if you take the time out to give yourself a bit of a break. Also, don't beat yourself up if you're not having a good day. Nobody’s perfect.
4. Do something educational. This one ties in getting away from your desk. Visit the museum, check out your local art gallery or go to any fabulously geeky exhibition showing near to you. Not only will it force you to take your mind off your mood, but it will help you to remember just how fabulous being in a museum is again.
5. Music is your friend. For me, classical music works like an absolute charm. There's nothing more calming than listening to Beethoven or Chopin on a day that has me dragging my feet in despair. If classical music doesn't work for you, listen to your favourite band or your favourite song. Whatever music makes you feel better - listen to it.
6. Phone a friend. Because knowing that you have someone who will listen to you, even if they don't have the words to make you feel better, is the difference between smiling and bawling your eyes out in the bathroom.
7. Visit fabulous and hilarious websites. Here at Women24, nothing gets us through a bad day like a visit to some of our favourite, make-you-laugh-out-loud websites.
We highly recommend the following:
Buzzfeed.com (their gif posts are made of epic funny and win)
Happyplace.com (You should especially check out the article on the most delightfully hostile notes ever left on a car windshield)
Icanhazcheeseburger ( This one's pretty self-explanatory)
Huffington post has a good news section, and some of the stories you'll read on there will not only make you feel better, but will reinforce your belief that there is still a lot of good in this world.
Those are just a few of our tips and recommendations. Hopefully they'll help you as much as they help me.
Of course, if you have any of your own tips to add, please feel free to share them below. The more tips, the better - and hopefully, if my tips don't help, at least one of yours will help someone else.