It starts with spilling your coffee, then you lock your keys in the car, and now you are late for work. It’s not even 9 a.m. and you have already told yourself that you are having a bad day. At this point, it would almost take a miracle for you to see this day any other way.

Sound familiar?

The negative thought pattern that gets created when a few things go wrong can blister into a long-term, self-fulfilling prophecy if you aren’t careful. It can be very difficult to break that cycle. Left unbroken, it can leave you feeling depressed and overwhelmingly unhappy for days.

So, how to get over a bad day?

Recognize the Thoughts

It’s easy to take a series of unfortunate events as signs of a bad day. And once you give in to that thought, you have effectively taken away any alternative and your day will surely be bad.

It can take some work, but try making a conscious effort to recognize the tone of your thoughts. Are you thinking in negative terms?

There are physical cues that can go along with this as well. For a minute, consider what your body is doing.

Are your shoulders tensed? Are your brows furrowed? Is your jaw clenched?

These are all physical manifestations of the tension that negativity breeds. If you recognize these signs, stop yourself and force those muscles to relax. You will feel an immediate difference.

Consider Your Feelings

Negative thoughts trigger negative emotions. Anger, frustration, irritation, anxiety, and sadness can consume you when you are thinking negatively. Those feelings have a way of pushing happiness and satisfaction to the back-burner, leaving you an anxious, angry wreck.

Ask yourself what you are feeling.

Identifying your emotions gives you control over them rather than letting them have control over you. Once you have identified what you are feeling, you can start taking actions.

Identify Your Behavior

If you have already decided you are having a bad day, then you are likely to be anticipating all the other things that could go wrong.

How can this affect your behavior?

Quite possibly, you’ll be walking in an aggressive manner, responding defensively to those around you, and becoming inordinately irritated with everything you encounter. If ever you find yourself behaving in such way, stop.

Take a deep breath and recognize your thoughts. Think about your feelings and make an effort to change them. For sure, your behavior will follow.

Even just forcing a smile and saying something nice to someone can have positive effects. Purposefully changing your approach to those around you and making a direct effort to be positive can reverse your negative thinking and cycle. Additionally, acts of kindness toward others can release endorphins, which can help you regain a positive outlook.

Reset

Take a deep breath and give yourself a do-over. Get a fresh cup of coffee or tea and find the positive things in your environment. Smile even if no one is looking and move forward. If you need to, remind yourself that a couple of bad moments do not make up a day. By letting them color your entire day or week, you have given them too much power.

See Also: Happiness Techniques From Around The World That Can Change Your Life

When All Else Fails, Talk

Sometimes we just need to vent. If you are having a hard time putting yourself back into a positive space, try talking to someone. A friend or a family member that you trust will likely understand how you are feeling.

Bad days happen to all of us. They are fairly normal experiences for most people. The problem is that many of us get sucked into a negative way of thinking, which can be hard to escape from. Following the suggestions above can help you avoid getting stuck in that depressive cycle.

See Also: 4 Ways To Overcome Depression Naturally

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Our appearance says a lot about us, whether we like it or not. There’s more to it than just having a great face. How we appear to others is a reflection of our energy, goals, and intentions.

So, the question is this:

Is your appearance sending the right message?

Our Face Value

Humans are expressive and emotional creatures. We communicate through words and emotions.

Our words may hide our true feelings, but it’s nearly impossible for facial expressions to do the same. Our eyes, cheeks, mouth, brow bones, and even our ears can send signals to other people about what we are really thinking and feeling.

• Micro expressions are a key part of human interaction and communication. We pick up on others’ facial cues instinctively.
• The tone of our voice and our body language can be key indicators of our character before we even open our mouth.
• True respect is earned, but politeness is required.

Because of this unique and nuanced way of communication, we developed the habit of making snap judgments about other people’s character just based on their faces.

• Remember that the people you interact with will spend much more time looking at your face than looking at your clothes.
• Your fashion style can be just as important as your facial features, so find a style and grooming routine that will make you feel comfortable and confident.
• Don’t forget to take care of your skin, particularly your face.

It’s not about appearing great, so make sure to focus on appearing confident and healthy.

Personal Branding

People can pick first impressions before we even know it. Whether it’s a job interview or a passing glance on the street, we can leave lasting impressions on people and not even realize it.

While it’s unreasonable to be primped and perfect at all times, good impressions can be made even on our worst days. Here’s how:

• Don’t be afraid to speak in a clear, strong voice.
• Present yourself as you’d like to be remembered.
• And bonus – don’t overdo your hair.

Today, a lot of first impressions happen before two people even meet. Thanks to the internet, social media sites, and our collective lack of interest in privacy settings, it’s likely that the people you haven’t even met have a good idea of what kind of person you are.

• A tasteful profile picture online goes a long way, especially on professional networking sites like LinkedIn.
• Key aspects of anonymity online are melting away, so be careful what you post and where you post it.
• Curating your social media accounts to fit your interests is a good first step to working on a personal brand.

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind for our online lives is to not post anything we wouldn’t want our boss to see.

See Also: How Building Your Personal Brand Can Affect Your Job Prospects

Good Impressions Start From Within

With all of those things, please remember that beauty is only skin deep. No matter how much we groom ourselves, no amount of skincare products can disguise low self-esteem or a bad attitude. Being personable, kind, and mindful of others can get you much further than having a smooth face and great clothes.

• Trends come and go. To make a positive impression try to adopt a timeless style.
• Anyone can have a beautiful smile if it’s sincere. Having good teeth isn’t required to brighten someone’s day with a grin.
• Having compassion for ourselves and our own mistakes can help us be more compassionate to others.

See Also: 10 Ways to Make a Good First Impression

Take a look at this infographic to learn more about first impressions, personal branding, and how to put your best face forward in any situation.

Infographic, courtesy of buypolished.com

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