Dealing with Off Days
We all have them and we all hate them, but sometimes there’s nothing you can do to avoid having an off day. Whether it’s because you’re stressed about something, exhausted or just having a tough time, off days happen to everyone. But they don’t have to be a bad thing. Today we’ll be diving into how you can prepare to have an off day, how to deal with one that you don’t see coming, and how to keep moving after you’ve had one.
Ever feel like you know you’re going to be exhausted tomorrow?
You’re definitely not the only one. Everyone has tough days where they’ve run a marathon (either metaphorically or physically) and they know they’re going to need the next day to recover from it - that’s okay. There’s plenty you can do to make sure you still meet deadlines, stay on top of your work, and don’t miss anything important even when you’re having an off day.
Try to get some more sleep - whether that’s going to bed earlier the night before because you know you’ve had a long day, or trying to get a little extra sleep in the morning, having some extra shut-eye time can do wonders to help set you on the right path back to feeling like your best self.
Prioritise - unfortunately, the world doesn’t take a break just because you need to which means you need to make sure you’ve prioritised whatever things still need doing despite you having an off day. I suggest making a short list of 3 non-negotiable things that you’ll get done and, no, it doesn’t matter how long they take you as long as they’re done (bonus: getting things done on off days can also help set you back on track!)
Be kind to yourself - if you know you’re exhausted and have nothing left in the tank then don’t try to force more energy than you can the next day. I love the idea that even if you give 40%, if that 40% is all you have to give, then you gave 100%. Watch some tv if you can stay home for a bit during the day, get out for a walk in the park (weather permitting), and take care of yourself.
Been blindsided by exhaustion?
Getting caught off guard by exhaustion is certainly something I’ve experienced before and found frustrating, especially when I know I have a lot to do but just cannot fathom doing any of it. Learning how to work through this and remain disciplined is one of the best skills you can gain and definitely worth taking some time to work out what works best for you. For me, the following points tend to help me through a tough day.
Getting some exercise in - whether that’s in the form of a quick run or spin class, forcing myself to get up, out, and moving in the morning is something I find really helpful to give me a bit of a boost. Even if it’s not in the morning and I just hit an afternoon slump, getting out of the house and getting moving helps me redirect myself for the of day.
Eating well - the last thing I need on a day like this is to spend all day eating chocolate and not eating proper meals (although there are certainly times where eating a tonne of chocolate is 100% called for) so I always try to make sure that I eat a solid 3 meals that are nutritional and packed with protein.
Planning - whilst this definitely isn’t for everyone, I find that scheduling out my days (especially on off days when I’m trying to prioritise work and take care of myself) really helpful to make sure that I’m putting enough time into the right places.
Journalling - you can never be sure whether you’ve got pent up exhaustion, anger, or any other emotions hiding so I like to sit down with my journal and make sure to empty my brain on days like this, giving myself a blank slate and a fresh start to work with for the rest of my day.
Watching TV - even if it’s not TV, just taking the time to do something that’s mindless like colouring, painting your nails, watching TV, or reading, can be really relaxing on a day where you’re just trying to chill out and reset.
Realignment after an Off Day
And now comes the time to get back into the swing of things and move on with your week. It’s worth saying that you don’t have to be able to turn yourself around in under 24 hours. If you need a couple of days to reset and put yourself back on track to get on with your life then that’s okay too. The important thing is to make sure you’re taking time to relax and reset, and then move forward with a plan to tackle the rest of your day/week/month/year. The tips I’ve listed above can be applied beyond the day that you’re having and towards helping you move forward. Prioritising work the next day so you don’t get overwhelmed, or making sure to take some time to relax at the end of the day by reading a book. Whatever it is that helps you, make sure you do it.
Next week we’re finally getting into the Holiday Season content! I’m a firm believer (unfortunately) that Christmas festivities don’t start until December, debate amongst yourselves in the comments about whether they start after Halloween or on December 1. In honour of the new month and the festive season, we’ve got a full line up of newsletters, mini articles and articles that are a mix of general and member-exclusive lined up in the next week, so don’t forget to sign up for our newsletters and your membership…
Have a lovely week and until I see you next, keep refining.
Mia