We all have tough days. Bills add up, and the kids need shoes or clothes. Dinner has to be cooked. Your boss was a little harder on you today than usual. You are definitely not alone. So how do you manage your life, the responsibilities you have as a parent and not completely lose your mind after having a bad day? Take a deep breath—we have you covered. Keep reading and you’ll be fine.
Exercise
Exercising is another way to cope with a bad day. A half-hour at the gym not only stimulates great blood flow, but it also clears your thoughts—and it makes you even more proactive. Yoga is a great form of exercise that motivates your body while it clears your thoughts. The best part of exercise is that it comes in more than one form. If the gym is really not your thing, consider breathing exercises. So many of them relieve stress, reduce anxiety and, over all, just plain old make you feel better.
Turn Up the Jams
One of the best ways to turn off a bad day is to turn up the music. Happy music makes everyone feel better and will certainly change your mood. Challenge yourself to create a playlist designed for tough days. Think of songs like “Happy” by Pharrell Williams—start with tunes like that and go from there. It's hard enough having a hard day, so change your day by changing the music. Jump around a few times, and I promise you’ll feel better.
A Night Out
Take some time to appreciate you. We can be our own worst critics sometimes, magnifying our shortcomings and our difficult situations. Have you ever had a terrible day you just couldn’t let go of—all you could think about was everything you did wrong and how things gradually just got worse? First things first: Let it go. Second thing is to take a night off. Self-love is not selfish! We all deserve a night off, and if you have a close friend you can take out with you, you can really make it a night. You and I both know you deserve a break.
Cook with your kids
Your job as a parent is never over, so why not take out the frustrations of a bad day by working in the kitchen? When I was younger, some of the best memories I made were between me, my mom and our kitchen. We would craft full course meals and laugh when we made mistakes that no one noticed later at the dinner table. When you’re having a bad day, keep the recipes simple, fun and creative. One great idea for killing two birds with one stone is to punch the dough around for a scratch-made pizza. You get to knock around something and spend time with your kids. You also settle any questions about dinner—so maybe three birds with one stone.
Jessica Samuel lives in Kansas City and is a freelance writer and photographer.