Shitty day? How to get it together and bounce back.

A week ago I woke up too late and didn’t have time to shower, so I had to go to class with day-two dirty hair. Because I was in such a rush I totally forgot my French homework on my dining room table and an hour later, my Starbucks order was so bitterly black that no amount of cream or sugar could save it. Work that day was hectic, my $219.56 water bill came in, my mom called to say that my 12-year-old cocker spaniel might have lung cancer, and I weighed three pounds more than I did the day before. (How is that even anatomically possible?)

There’s literally nothing worse than a shitty day.

Although the majority of our little “problems” might be insignificant in the grand scheme of life, I think we can all agree that some days just suck more than others. We let the bad stuff bring us down, and lose sight of the bigger, better, more beautiful picture. But, now that I’m 20 years wise, I’ve compiled a good list of things that are pretty much guaranteed to make you smile, even on your worst day. I’m no expert or anything, but next time you’re feeling like absolute shit, try them out. It could make all the difference:

1)    Make yourself a big cup of sugary-sweet tea.

I swear, tea is my miracle drink. Make it however you like – I prefer English Breakfast with a tablespoon of sugar and a splash of 2% milk. I’ve been drinking tea since I was about eight, so trust me on this one. A steaming mug full of the stuff brings me back to cold snow days in high school when I would snuggle up with a blanket, read a good book and constantly check my cell phone to see if my then-boyfriend had texted back. Tea not your thing? How about hot chocolate? Anything that inspires nostalgic memories of your happy place will do the trick.

2)    Laugh hysterically.

Ok, this is easier said than done when you’re in a really terrible mood, but laughing is the quickest way to perk you back up when you’re feeling especially down. And I’m not talking about a shy little giggle laugh. I’m talking about the obnoxiously loud, oh-shit-I-think-I-just-peed-a-little laugh. So, how do you get there? Personally, I’m a sucker for Vines. When I’m feeling sad I check out @TheFunnyVines on Twitter. It’s an instant mood-booster. If you’re not into Vine, a casual stroll through Buzzfeed will probably do the same.

3)    Shave it all off.

Alright. I know that when you’re in a bad mood, the last thing you want to do is take the extra 20+ minutes in the shower to shave every square inch of your body. It’s annoying, it’s time-consuming, and during the winter, it’s pretty pointless. However, I’m a big believer that a freshly shaved leg (or armpit, or vagina, or arm – if you’re into that) can completely change a girl’s whole outlook on life. Am I right? There’s nothing quite like silky skin to make you feel like a feminine sexpot, ready to take on the world, one hairless body part at a time.

4)    Take a stroll through Facebook. 

We all know that the only reason anybody has a Facebook anymore is to stalk, stalk, and well, stalk. Nothing puts my privileged life into perspective quite like a quick glance through my FB timeline. In reality, I have maybe 15 to 20 Facebook friends who I truly know/care about. So, if my PR-major math is right, that leaves me with about 947 profiles that I can secretly stalk, completely (almost completely) guilt-free. You know that girl who was a sophomore when you were a senior? The one who can’t wait for her baby-daddy to bust out of jail? Yes. That’s not you, that’s not your life, and that’s definitely not your drama. (Or if it is, either ditch the douche bag or stop talking about his pending court dates on social media.)

5)    When all else fails.

If your bladder’s bursting with English Breakfast, your stomach’s aching from laughter, your body’s on the verge of full-out razor burn revolt, and you’ve clicked through one (or 350) too many profile pictures, but you’re STILL feeling like your life won’t ever be fun again, then my methods have failed you. But luckily, we still live in a world where puppies exist.

And there you are. Tea, Vine, a shave, Facebook and puppies – have I covered it all? Comment below with your suggestions for how to improve a shitty day!

Featured image via Unsplash