What Restarting Your Day Looks Like

"Life isn’t always good, life isn’t always rosy. Life is worth living.” - Nick Vujicic

We all have bad days. Just a few weeks ago I woke up with a splitting headache and no desire to move from the fetal position in my bed. However what I’ve discovered is it’s not the bad days that shape our future, it’s how we respond to them. The difference between someone who’s completely taken out by a tough situation and someone who marches on is their ability to reset and begin anew. Achievers are aware they sometimes wake up on the wrong side of the bed (they don’t pretend it doesn't happen to them) so they can plan ahead. 

Of course, this does not alleviate the suffering that’s associated with emotional and physical pain. If you’re going through extended emotional trauma, or ongoing chronic pain please seek professional help. This guide is meant to assist the generally healthy, happy and productive achiever to hit a higher level of performance.

Before we jump into how to turn around a bad day, let's look at the reasons we could be feeling like crap. Identifying the problem is half the battle, so if you’re feeling like throwing in the towel on today, getting takeout and watching Netflix PLEASE for your own sake delay that impulse for a moment. 

Root causes for bad days:

1. Fatigue - You could just be feeling tired. How much sleep did you get the last three nights? When was the last time you recharged by spending some time and/or money on self care? Catching up on sleep is an easy fix for feeling sluggish and slow. I always find when I’m fatigued I’m unintentionally short with people around me and I don’t take much joy in my work. 
2. Reaction - You could be dealing with emotions you’re not consciously aware of. A shining example of growth in this area is with my wife: she always takes several days to process emotionally charged events, positive OR negative. This long term processing of emotions can mean a bad day at work can take a while for her to process. She has done incredible work and is now aware of her emotional realities and is now well adept at handling bad days. So for you- try asking yourself “What am I processing right now? What happened recently that I could still be reacting too?"
3. Rumination - You could be allowing your thoughts to negatively spiral. Often we say things to ourselves that we would never say to another human. Feelings of not being enough, failure, disappointment, and anxiety can trigger extended negative monologues in our minds. This is debilitating to our work and emotional state. Ask yourself “What has my self talk been saying recently? Am I being kind, patient, and positive towards myself?"

Once you’ve identified what could be causing your pain, now we can move forward towards a solution. I’ll be up front with you with the most effective treatment I’ve found: letting yourself be influenced by other people. I think many people view seeking help as a weakness, but for high achievers who live with passion and purpose, they know they need others. Think of it this way: if you knew you could double the productivity and level of satisfaction you’ll experience in the next 5 years by calling up a friend or loved one when you’re sad and asking them to talk, would you do it? Only a very prideful person would say no to that. 

People would be happier and healthier if they would allow themselves to seek out the influence of others when they felt tired and discouraged. So do yourself a huge favor and reach out to someone and ask them to grab lunch when you’re having a bad day. Be honest with how you’re feeling. I tell you, this simple act could be your superpower that multiplies your results and creates incredible meaning in your life. In the past I can point to several funks that were ended by human connection. It’s a beautiful thing. 

Other tactics to turn around your bad days:

1. Not indulging bad thoughts - This simple approach can save you hours of mental stress and suffering. You see, you and I always have a choice to entertain thoughts that come our way. We can be blindsided by passing thoughts like “Wow, I’m so tired I just want to eat some food and lie down right now.” However, we choose whether or not to allow those thoughts in our minds to continue. It’s our decision if those impulses are allowed to stick around longer than their first appearance. I encourage you to try to be aware of the next time your brain shoots you an undesired thought. Once you recognize it as one you don’t want to continue, snuff it out by actively reminding yourself of better things. Like how passionate you are about your mission and work. 
2. Get up and MOVE - Take a walk around the block to clear your mind and rest your brain. Do a few push ups or other light exercise. Getting the blood flowing can create an uptick in energy. 
3. Get inspired - Watch or read something inspirational, motivating, or meaningful. Get an outside influence on your thoughts. This could look like taking a short break to jam out to your favorite song or rereading your personal mission statement and values. Whatever causes passion and joy to stir in your soul again. 

I hope next time you’re having a bad day you’ll remember these tools to reset. I made a free summary of this blog accessible below. It’s what I’ve got tapped to my wall by my desk for when I feel tired or discouraged and need to spark joy and motivation. Download the PDF here:

Download Here

Remember you are stronger than you know. With the right strategies and preparation much pain can be avoided in your life. Keep going. Keep pushing. The results you’re looking for are right on the other side of belief and hard work. You got this!

Stay awesome,

Joey