There are days when the air seems to have a whiff of positivity. You make the bus on time, breeze through the traffic, and excitedly skip to wherever you need to be. And then there are times when your alarm doesn’t go off for some reason, and you scramble to get ready just for a million things to go wrong. Thesandwichyou went to put in your mouth drops on the ground and the train you hoped to catch was so overcrowded all you could do was watch it take off into the distance.But it can always getworse, and people on this list are living proof of that. If you’re having a bad day yourself, scroll down to find comfort in knowing that others have it tougher than you, and don’t forget to share the most unfortunate things that turned your day upside down.While you’re at it, be sure to check out a conversation with an expert in positive psychology,Ruth Steggles, andpositive psychology play consultant,Jeff Harry, who kindly agreed to give us a few tips on how to turn a bad day around.This post may includeaffiliate links.
There are days when the air seems to have a whiff of positivity. You make the bus on time, breeze through the traffic, and excitedly skip to wherever you need to be. And then there are times when your alarm doesn’t go off for some reason, and you scramble to get ready just for a million things to go wrong. Thesandwichyou went to put in your mouth drops on the ground and the train you hoped to catch was so overcrowded all you could do was watch it take off into the distance.
But it can always getworse, and people on this list are living proof of that. If you’re having a bad day yourself, scroll down to find comfort in knowing that others have it tougher than you, and don’t forget to share the most unfortunate things that turned your day upside down.
While you’re at it, be sure to check out a conversation with an expert in positive psychology,Ruth Steggles, andpositive psychology play consultant,Jeff Harry, who kindly agreed to give us a few tips on how to turn a bad day around.
This post may includeaffiliate links.
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The mostup-to-date statisticsshow that on average, an American has 4 bad days a month. These add up to 48 days per year that are dedicated to bad moods and unfortunate events.However, this seems to be an improvementsince 2018, when respondents reported having about 60 bad days a year.Interestingly, the 2024 Avocado Green Mattress and Talker Research survey has found thatAmericanscan pinpoint the exact time when it’s going to be a tough day. At precisely 8:36 a.m., they can already tell that their day won’t go as planned.
The mostup-to-date statisticsshow that on average, an American has 4 bad days a month. These add up to 48 days per year that are dedicated to bad moods and unfortunate events.
However, this seems to be an improvementsince 2018, when respondents reported having about 60 bad days a year.
Interestingly, the 2024 Avocado Green Mattress and Talker Research survey has found thatAmericanscan pinpoint the exact time when it’s going to be a tough day. At precisely 8:36 a.m., they can already tell that their day won’t go as planned.
It’s exactly what it looks like. I’m now terminal at 40 years old. Consider this a PSA: go to the damn doctor when you’re in pain. You never know.
A quarter of the time, people feel like there’s no way to turn the downright smile upside down. 48% of respondents even admitted to canceling plans or calling out of work to go back to sleep after waking up and sensing abad day.
Additional reasons for things going south included running out of toilet paper, forgetting the wallet at home, sleeping through the alarm, and forgetting to charge the phone the night before.
I was working and heard someone screaming at the top of his lungs. Went to the bathroom and saw this. The poor guy was taking a dump when this happened.
The survey further revealed that unfortunate events were most likely to strike at the start of the week. 60% of respondents said that Mondays had the highest chance of going into a downright spiral. Work schedules and the back-to-school season were some of the most common contributing factors.To prevent bad days from occurring, respondents try to find time for themselves each day to relax (41%), make time for things they enjoy (37%), and ensure they are well-rested (35%). In fact, 71% of respondents said that sleep can make or break their day, and having enough of it can help to deal with things that may go wrong during it.
The survey further revealed that unfortunate events were most likely to strike at the start of the week. 60% of respondents said that Mondays had the highest chance of going into a downright spiral. Work schedules and the back-to-school season were some of the most common contributing factors.
To prevent bad days from occurring, respondents try to find time for themselves each day to relax (41%), make time for things they enjoy (37%), and ensure they are well-rested (35%). In fact, 71% of respondents said that sleep can make or break their day, and having enough of it can help to deal with things that may go wrong during it.
But even if a bad day is unpreventable, there are ways to turn it around.Ruth Steggles, an expert in positive psychology, suggests stopping and noticing what’s going on around you. “Identifying what is actually upsetting you then allows you to address the root cause. If it is something you can’t change, look for some small thing you can change.”Similarly, positive psychology play consultantJeff Harryadvises to sit with the feeling and let yourself fully experience the bad moment. “If you allow yourself to fully feel the bad moment, then you can let it go. If you don’t allow yourself to feel it, you suppress it, meaning you hold on to it, and then you have more bad moments and suppress those until you have so many you are holding back, which results in not only a bad day, but many bad thoughts about yourself, which can affect your week, year, or your entire life.”
But even if a bad day is unpreventable, there are ways to turn it around.Ruth Steggles, an expert in positive psychology, suggests stopping and noticing what’s going on around you. “Identifying what is actually upsetting you then allows you to address the root cause. If it is something you can’t change, look for some small thing you can change.”
Similarly, positive psychology play consultantJeff Harryadvises to sit with the feeling and let yourself fully experience the bad moment. “If you allow yourself to fully feel the bad moment, then you can let it go. If you don’t allow yourself to feel it, you suppress it, meaning you hold on to it, and then you have more bad moments and suppress those until you have so many you are holding back, which results in not only a bad day, but many bad thoughts about yourself, which can affect your week, year, or your entire life.”
Steggles also recommends having a list of things that a person enjoys doing so they can go back to it when going through a rough patch. Like reading a book, taking a bath, dancing around in the kitchen, or going for a walk. “It is helpful to know your feel-good tool kit,” she says.
Putting on some tunes may be the most simple remedy to a bad day. Listening to favorite songs can help a person to wind down and take their mind off of things for a while. “A music playlist that gradually moves from uncomfortable emotions to comfortable ones can be a healthy coping strategy and facilitate a positive mood change,”saysboard-certified music therapist Megan Hoffer.
When things go south, it might feel instinctive to get away from people. However, research suggests doing the opposite and reaching out to others, especially those who are happy and supportive of us. A friendly conversation, even a short one, can change our mood, lower blood pressure, and make us feel good.
Those who want to help out someone whose day isn’t going as anticipated should acknowledge their feelings but avoid reinforcing them or leaving them be, says Steggles. Therefore, she suggests telling them, “I am sorry you are feeling that way. What will you do to cheer yourself up?” or “I am sorry you feel that way? Is there anything we can do together to help you feel differently?"
“I recommend that you say “you feel” because it isn’t the day that is bad, but their perception of their experience makes it so. I also always try to empower the other person to be responsible for changing things. Taking over and doing things for them may diminish them and make them feel worse,” Steggles explains.
Apparently, the shop hand didn’t know how an electronic e-brake works. Said he parked it in front of the shop, and when he came back out to pull it into the bay, he found it across the parking lot embedded into a wall.
Bought a car one week ago. Picked up paint while on vacation to paint my mom’s house. A teenager working at a paint store didn’t close the can properly. That’s 1 gallon of slightly greenish-gray wall paint on the floor of my new car.
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For more insights on finding joy in unexpected places, why not explore how such moments can transform a dull daywith just a dose of imagination.
He was a much loved member of the family but for a variety of reasons no one else attended. That includes his sister and brother and one of his two daughters who lives not far from the venue.
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Before everyone asks, I cleaned it a few days ago in the dishwasher. I’ll be handwashing it from now on.
I work as the emergency manager for a hospital in New Orleans, and we’re currently bracing for Hurricane Francine to touch down as a category 2. I had to report to the hospital early this morning when I fell down the stairs at my house.The pain is radiating through my knee up to my groin. I was hopping around first and moved to crutches before the physician in the virtual visit told me he wanted me in a wheelchair until we could get X-rays. Thankfully, I just found out it’s only sprained, but they’re putting me in a boot, and I’ll be on crutches for the next couple of weeks before getting into physical therapy.
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