I usually try to keep this blog upbeat, but I’m not an upbeat person all the time. I’m not overly resilient (although I’d like to be!) and I have my share of crappy days where I just feel like everything is going pear shaped. Particularly work-wise. I find it harder than I’d thought to keep up my spirits when working as a freelancer when I have these types of days as there isn’t the social environment of an office to distract me.
If you’re having a day like this (and I’m having one today!) this is how I deal with them and come out the other side feeling positive again.
Wallow
Own your feelings for a few minutes. Yep you feel like crap, a bit worthless, unemployable, a failure. I love a good wallow. Sometimes wallowing is accompanied by whining or wine. Both are acceptable in small doses.
Work out why
Why is today in particular getting you down? For me it’s often that I’ve had a shocking nights sleep and I’m tired and have a headache. I also feel like this when I have a bit of FOMO – like everyone is doing something awesome or getting great opportunities except me. Which is rubbish, but sometimes it still feels like this.
Do something productive
Once I’ve shaken myself out of the pity party, I try and find a positive way to turn around the bad day. Feeling low because I don’t have work published in a certain magazine? Look up the editor and email them a pitch. Or research other similar sites or publications and pitch to them instead. Feeling lonely? Email a few friends and suggest getting together. Missed out on a media event? Ask someone who went directly who organized the event and email them, introducing yourself and asking to be put on their media list for next time.
Do something to feel better
Getting endorphins flowing helps me when I’m feeling down. I go for a walk, take a barre class, do some yoga in the living room. I try to put all of the worries out of my heard and think about absolutely nothing. On days when I’m too exhausted to do anything else, instead of flogging a dead horse I spend some time taking care of myself like getting a pedicure or reading a book for an hour just to calm my mind.
Get busy
You can’t force creativity. On days like this I can’t write anything useful, it’s all a forced incoherent mess. Instead of wasting time staring at a blank screen I do all the “busywork” I’ve been putting off. Paying bills, processing photos, replying to emails. I feel as though I’ve accomplished something and also freed up some time that can be used in the future for other creative projects.
How about you? How do you deal with crappy day blues?
Linking up with Bron.
Great advice, Christine. There are times when writing just doesn’t work for me either – I need to just walk away and do something else until I’m back in the mood.
Thank you Tara! So true. I wrote that post while I was getting a pedicure yesterday after a very unproductive writing session. Felt much better afterwards, so result!
Crappy days are the worst. We all have them and particularly working solo! My advice is pens down and step away from work. Watch some trashy TV, go out for a coffee or do some cooking. X
Yes! I love watching trashy TV too, or baking. I’m sad the Bachelorette is over though – there goes my fave trash TV!
I’ve had more than a few crappy days lately, and I think it’s because I’m trying to do too much, and feel like I’m not doing anything well! I need to step back and reassess my priorities. Great tips Christine 🙂
Sorry you’ve been having some crappy days too – agreed, when I take on too much I start panicking and then get absolutely nothing done. Not a good result!
Some great tips here Christine. My crappy days are almost always related to lack of sleep and I’m usually a bad mood bear most mornings! Toddler tantrums also don’t help lift my mood! Little things help me refocus and feel less crappy – writing a to-do list or simply grabbing a mid-morning coffee or enjoying a cup of tea in the afternoon. A big one for me is just being by the beach. Something about the beach calms me and makes me feel happier. Here’s to less crappier days ahead xx
Yes, I’ll cheers to that Tash! I forgot to mention the kid-related factor – we get a lot of tanties here too that make things difficult.
Excellent ideas and I think wine and keeping busy doing productive things helps a lot; even if it is a bit of housework! If only you could just shut the toddlers in the house and walk around the block some days. If only for 5 minutes….
I love that the first step is wallow! It’s such great advice. Sometimes you just have to sit with those feelings for a minute and they go away. Loved this post. x
I feel you. These are great tips. Sometimes I do my ‘five things’, where I try to find five things I’m grateful for. But sometimes, to be frank, I’m too disillusioned and peeved to do that. Sometimes I phone a friend or go for a walk. Sometimes I go home, watch some crap TV and go to bed with my little dog for company. Sometimes I write it out, and that’s aways good therapy. Sometimes I have a good cry in the shower. And I tell myself, tomorrow is always another day … I’ve had a few crap days lately, so I hope things get better for both of us. x
Great advice. For me I always look to the small things when I have these kinda days. A walk with the dog. A freshly brewed pot of tea. Some great tunes and a good candle. Thanks for sharing and linking up to the rabbit hole xx
Get busy is my go to. Distraction really helps. I will admit I wallow and whinge a little too. That always helps!
All such great ideas. Moving really helps and removing myself and kids from the fours walls always helps. At times its hard to get going and so easy to sit and wallow, but once you’re out walking the world seems a lot brighter. Thanks for joining in on Weekend Rewind. xx