8 women share exactly what they do to turn around a tough day.

It’s 2020 and our lives seem to be busier and more stressful than ever. Of course, there are the days when, despite the pressure, we do a pretty amazing job, whether that be smashing an early morning gym class, nailing a work presentation or successfully getting the kids out the door on time.

But now and again, there are the really tough days, the ones that almost defeat us. The days that require us to dig a little deeper if we want to turn them around.

That’s when we call upon the things that make us feel good. Things like listening to smoothfm on the drive home and singing along to your all-time feel good tunes at top volume, or running a nice, hot bubble bath the moment you get home from work.

We all have our own ways of doing our best to cope in difficult or stressful circumstances. Here, eight women share their tried and tested tips for what they do.

Jemimah

“Having a bad day is part of life – we can’t have the good without the occasional bad. But when it happens, it’s really important to have solid strategies in place to turn that day around without eating all the chocolate. Whenever I’m having a rough day, I will always make sure I have a highly nutritious meal – a green smoothie or a salad are my go-tos to make sure my body has everything it needs. I also meditate to drop my stress levels, move my body to any half-decent ’90s dance music and have a massage to rest my body as well.. I am always quick to pick up my phone to my amazing friends and let’s be honest, chocolate has been known to help!”

Jemimah recommends nutritious meals, meditation and great music. Amen, sister. Image: Supplied.

Pam

"Exercise always makes me feel better. But sometimes I can work out in the morning and still go on to have a tough day. That's when I call in the big guns - I'll pour myself a glass of wine, make an indulgent dinner (not necessarily something unhealthy, just something I know I'll really enjoy), then call my mum or a friend to let off a bit of steam. Once that call is over, I try to draw a line under whatever has gone wrong that day, to read rather than watch TV, and to get an early night."

Emily

"If I've had a tough day I will always go out of my way to have dinner with my mum. My mum is the best listener and someone that I can trust completely so I always feel automatically safe when I'm with her and all my stresses kind of just leave me every time I'm with her. She's also really good at knowing when I'm having a bad day and knows just what to say in those moments to make me feel better."

Maddie

"If I am having a bad day, where everything feels chaotic, I clean my apartment. It makes my brain feel more calm if my place is tidy and has a couple of nice candles lit. I also like to buy myself a bunch of flowers, or do a high-energy exercise class, like a boot camp - total sensory overload really takes your mind off things."

Maddie lights candles and buys herself flowers. Image: Supplied.

Rikki

"As I work full time in a fast-paced role with high pressure, sometimes it can get the better of me and I go home with my tail in between my legs or seeing an intense shade of red. The best way for me to turn my frown upside down is to have a good whinge to my hubby. He works in a similar role and understands what each day can be like so when I blast his ear off he will nod and comment here and there, forever in my corner, even though at times I can sound completely irrational.

"I guess it's kind of like writing it down in a journal but in person, in his ear, out loud. When I'm done, he gives me a hug and says tomorrow is another day. Do I feel better then? Absolutely! It's like a big weight is lifted off my shoulder just by talking at him about it. He bares the burden with me."

Preeya

"The first thing I do when I've had a tough day is put my phone away. Getting bogged down in messages, emails and social media only makes me feel more stressed and overwhelmed. I deal with anything urgent, then put my phone in airplane mode. Next I'll eat something healthy but filling before relaxing, either in a hot bubble bath or in bed with a book. I try not to watch TV, unless it's an old familiar show like Friends that I can just have on in the background. If I'm still wound up when I need to go to sleep, I'll do some breathing exercises."

Renny

"A dip in the ocean does wonders. I like to draw and also writing out how you are feeling in your notes or on paper to get it out is surprisingly helpful."

Vickie

"When my day starts out a bit sour and worsens as it goes on, I tend to hit the boxing bag to let off a bit of steam or smash myself with a high intensity cardio session like HIIT or Spin. Even 20 minutes can make me feel better. I find with the blood pumping my frame of mind can see things in a different perspective and I realise all is not that bad. Another tool I use is the reflect on all the good things in my life. My wonderful family and friends that are in my life. It makes you realise the bigger picture and that your bad day is really not that bad. We will never get this time back so rather than dwell on the negative day I choose to call or hang with a friend and have a laugh and a giggle. Laughter really is the best medicine. If all else fails there is always tequila!"

Turn around a tough day with the feel-good music you love on smoothfm.

Feature image: Vickie and Jemimah. Supplied.