once in awhile (maybe more often), we have one of those days.
one that makes us wish we never got up, got dressed, even tried.
here’s my quick 3-step plan for turning that day around . . .
1. declare a do-over.
state your intention out loud.
(okay, you can whisper it if you happen to be in public.)
start again, begin anew.
commence once more in a different way.
a new outlook works wonders.
2. put it on paper.
quickly jot down everything that’s aggravating, annoying, bothering, perplexing you.
(everything. even the loose thread on your sock.)
you’ll feel more in control when it’s all out of your head.
which will consequently cause you less stress.
and free up some of that angst you’re feeling.
3. focus on fun.
do one “have to” item from your list, then move on.
the rest of the yucky stuff will wait until tomorrow.
(one more day is not really going to matter.)
do something else that you enjoy.
and remind yourself why you love being alive.
a change of pace can create new solutions to stale problems.
it can cause hurt feelings to melt away.
it can provide an alternate perspective and revitalize enthusiasm.
try it.
and let me know how it goes.
I love your bold, playful wisdom April! Your words are SO inspiring. As John Holt would say, you’re helping us to live “a life worth living.” Many Thanks!
thank you so much, martine. and, by the way, john holt is one of my heroes! 🙂
Love the straight-forward layout with actionable items!!
thanks, lorin – sometimes easy is just right.
Wow. You are a super wise woman April.
Love this one. I always try and get out of bed in a happy mood.
Can’t wait for your next post. Honestly.
i appreciate your words very much, phillipa. and good idea to wake up happy, to set the mood for the day.
I’m reading this at the start of my day. Let’s hope I don’t need a do over and fun is always the name of the game for me.
fun should be the name of the game, fred! hope your day went well.
Great list of how to get over the *stuff* that happens. Thanks! I will keep this in mind as I’m sure I will need a do over sometime soon. 🙂
thanks for commenting, carol. we all need do-overs at one time or another, don’t we?
Awesome! It can be so easy to focus on the negative and let the whole day be yucky. Declaring a do-over is perfect for changing it around. I love the fun idea as well and I’d add gratitude to the list 🙂
yes, leanne – gratitude puts things in a different light, helps us appreciate what may be right in front of us.
Love it. Quick list and easy to implement!
One thing that helps me turn a day around is music. Sometimes if I feel lagging energy I throw something fun on my jambox. Or before I shoot a video I put on AC/DC and have my own little rock video. That gets your energy up and can turn your day around!
Thanks April
i agree, ryan – music can definitely improve your mood! thanks so much for mentioning it here.
Love this one! Simple and quick. It’s amazing how easy it can be to reset a horrible day.
vivian – sometimes simple and quick really is all we need! thank you for visiting. 🙂
This is perfect. Just practiced this today and it made a huge difference. I love the way you simplified the process of change.
so glad to hear that my suggestions made a difference in your day, akshay! and thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Simple and profound. I’m all for this and am going to make this part of my daily life starting NOW.
great, marie! (and let me know how it goes.) thank you so much for visiting my global studio.
So simple and so powerful- thank you! I will absolutely be using these soon!
i appreciate your kind words, suzi. hope the 3 steps work well for you!
What a beautifully simple yet powerfully inspiring post, April! I LOVE writing it all out – the boogey man isn’t so scary once I see how silly he really is :).
great point, sabrina! thanks for your input.
Love it! Simple steps to get you started on improving your day!
What I do is I try to wake up with a smile everyday and that helps me put my energy in the right place 🙂
waking up with a smile is a great idea, yasmine. that could really influence the outcome of your whole day. i often try to smile at people i pass in public – it seems somewhat unexpected because it really throws many off guard! 🙂
What about having a do-over for my whole week? This has been a rough one. Thanks for the tips April. I’ll try to apply them immediately.
oh, dave – so sorry to hear that you’ve had a difficult week. i’ve been there and i understand. hope my 3 tips help shift things a bit.