This morning, I woke up before my alarm to study for my quiz in an irrelevant class, worked out beside what seemed to be an Olympic gymnast, and almost ate concrete, all while nursing a newly emerged cold. I spent the rest of my day in a funk, dwelling on those sorry moments that seemed to define the path of the rest of my day, but was it really a bad day or was it just a bad five minutes that I milked all day?
We all have those days that start off wrong and that never seem to end. OK, so maybe the barista messed up your coffee order or you wore your leggings backwards to three classes and a biology lab (true story), but that doesn't mean that your entire day is ruined. Here are some things that I need to hear on my bad days and that maybe you do, too.
1. People love you, so find them.
Surround yourself with others who value your state of mind more than even you do. Sometimes, it's important to need others and to allow them to make you laugh or to let you cry, whatever your medicine is. When I surround myself with friends and family who tell me how much they love me and every one of my flaws, I already begin to feel better.
2. You're a bad*ss.
Take a minute and really think about yourself and all of the wonderful things that you have done. Maybe you went to the gym, said "hi" to that pretty face in your chemistry class, or maybe you just wore jeans for a full 12 hours instead of sweats. Celebrate the mini victories.
3. Of course, you can! Can what? Literally anything.
If you feel like you need that Netflix break or jam session to Demi Lovato's new hit single, then do it. Don't ask your roommate if you have time because time is often the least of your worries. "Me time" isn't a bad thing, so take some for you.
4. Look at things from a new perspective.
Instead of dwelling on embarrassing moments, laugh them off and count it as a quote-board worthy story for next week. If someone gives you a nasty look, don't return it, just realize that maybe they're having a bad five minutes.
5. Turn your phone off.
You don't need to see how many likes you have on your last Instagram post or whether or not that cute boy from class texted you first. Staring at a screen all day can be exhausting, so sometimes all that you really need to do is unplug.
6. Look at the world around you.
Your day may not be beautiful, but your world is. I go to Furman, where the classes are hard and life is even harder, but every time when I leave the world's worst 8 a.m. class, I am amazed by the beauty of my campus.
7. You don't have to have it all figured out.
Everything will eventually fall into place, so don't try to force it. You will find your major, summer job, and formal date in time. Honestly, I don't even know what I'm eating for dinner tonight, much less the rest of my life.
8. Channel your inner Kanye West.
Love yourself as much as Kanye West loves Kanye West and find your inner confidence. You know that you deserve it.
9. Take a nap.
Just go back to bed and start the day over. Sometimes you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and the best thing to do is roll over and try again.
10. Always remember: "You is kind, you is smart, and you is important."
Next time that you're having a bad day, just ask yourself what you are letting define your day and attitude. Is it really a bad day or did one embarrassing moment put you in a bad mood that you let stay for the day? I believe that you are in control of your attitude each day, so laugh at yourself, brush it off, and be happy.
