Blog #3 - Zoe

Do you ever have those days where you're having such an awful day, week, well even month where it seems that nothing is going right and you keep making mistakes over and over again, where the smallest things make you snap, cry, or even just have a meltdown? I know I do. Sometimes it's actually huge things that have happened in your life, or even just the tiniest things piling up. Maybe you received bad news about something happening to a family member, maybe you got diagnosed with an illness that will impact the rest of your life. Maybe it's even something else, like failing a test or getting in trouble. These are all things that can cause tension and give bad moods and days. Then there's, of course, stress and different anxieties. I don't know about you, but sometimes when I get too stressed sometimes my mind shuts down and I can't concentrate or remember anything that I'm being told, which is ironic because that just makes me even more stressed! 

Of course, when you're having a bad day, depending on why there are different things to do to try to help make the day a little bit better. Sometimes the best thing to do is to nap. Napping gives your mind and body a chance to rest and recharge. If you have a ton of things to do, this doesn't always work.. If there's a ton of things to do, what I typically do is write out a bullet list of things from most to least important and time frames to do it with short breaks in between those things. One thing my mom always tells me to do when I'm having a bad day is to journal. It doesn't matter what it is that's bothering, she tells me to write. At first, I didn't think it would help very well, but it does! It may not resolve whatever the problem is, or if there even is one, but it does help you get your thoughts in order and there's something therapeutic about putting all your thoughts out on paper. Another thing that is calm and relaxing thing that can help with bad days and stress are hot baths and showers... and with stress in mind, meditation! Meditation is actually probably one of the greatest things ever. Forever I would put it off because I didn't know how or that it would be too time-consuming, but it actually helps me tremendously when I'm upset and/or stressed. Also, simple breathing exercises are good to fit in when you can. 

Now, for those days where all you need is a distraction from everything, I tend to talk to a friend or close family, listen to positive and cheerful music (because sad music can just make everything worse), reading a good book, or watching a movie. For just an awful day, whether receiving bad news or not, a lot of times it feels like nothing can help and different things help different people, but my favorite piece of advice is that if you can, try to take care of your needs as much as possible.. 

I didn't intend for this to become an advice article, but it works!