How to Make a Bad Day Better in 5 Minutes

We’ve all been there- a manic day trying to juggle everything, pulling your hair out as nothing seems to go right, from traffic to deadlines to screaming kids to you name it! Going on holiday to a magical place like New Zealand really helped to bring perspective- I finally took time to learn and remind myself of some simple, yet powerful ways to calm the mind.

So here’s the really cool part: what can you do in 5 minutes to find a sense of Zen? 

Northland, New Zealand

1.    Meditate. All you need is a smartphone, headphones and a chair. I picked up this routine when my leg was broken and I was stuck on the sofa. I was stunned by how easy and accessible it was and you can really feel the difference after a 5 or 10 minute session! Check out the app Calm (Apple store App of the year in 2017)- guided sessions ranging from minutes to longer catering for all levels!

2.    Rest. Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT vege-ing out in front of the TV for 5 minutes! The right type of rest can be more restorative to our brains and enhance productivity. What we need is “active rest”- engaging in an activity that challenges and takes your mind off things, such as drawing, exercise, playing a piece of music etc.  Check out Dr Alex Pang’s work if you are interested to find out more here.

3.    Read- don’t underestimate the power of a quote or a poem to inspire. A quote may only take a minute to read and a few minutes more to reflect upon. I also love reading quotes and talking about the famous people behind them to my son. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, be sure to check out my booklet of quotes for children here.

The power of reading

4. Connect with a friend or loved one- connectivity defines our society these days, but what does it mean to really connect? To me- it’s more than just giving a “like” on social media, it’s reaching out to send a personal email, to call, or best of all- physical contact like giving a hug, which has been scientifically proven to change moods for the better. 

5. Relive one happy moment of your day. Check it out: research shows that talking or thinking about a positive experience enables the brain to relive and reinforce the positivity. I also picked up a great daily habit up from a parent friend you might like to try- talk about your children’s highlights of the day with them, my kids’ little faces light up without fail when it’s their turns at dinner to share!

6. Look outside the window- we are so used to staring at screens that we forget to take our eyes off for hours at a time. Looking at things further away is a stretching exercise for your eyes that helps refocus.

These are just a few tips that I’ve found helpful. Email me with any others that work for you- I’ll need as much help as I can coming back to reality, with lots to do ahead of my picture book launch in November!

Jane