Financial Blog

We all have bad days. Whether it’s a confrontation with your boss or a misunderstanding with a colleague, a rough day could pull your productivity down to the ground. You might be sitting on your desk thinking “How could this day get any worse?” You lose focus, you sink your head to your desk, and worse, you start lagging behind your tasks.

Read more: 5 Worst Money Mistakes that Millennials Make

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Yes, even the most positive person in the planet is not immune to the stress and pressure of work. No matter how much you love your job, there’s going to be days where you just want to go home and curl up on your bed. The worst part, if you don’t act on this quickly, you’ll find yourself turning a crummy day into a crummy week.

For some, this might be a been-there-done-that scenario. But for people who are looking for a ray of sunshine after the rain, here are ways to recover from a bad working day.

The easiest way to get a ray of sunshine is to—literally—get some. First, stop sulking, get up from your desk and take a walk outside. Now if company policy prevents you from leaving the office, you can always get a little quiet time in the pantry or the cafeteria.

If you’re in Makati or BGC, take a walk to the nearest park or café, enjoy the greens, and take a sip of your favorite latte. Getting some air to destress isn’t superstition either. Research shows that getting fresh air while surrounded by nature has tremendous effects in revitalizing energy. Breathe deep and let it free your mind from all the negativity. Trust me, a few minutes of peace can go a long way in getting you back to the right mindset.

Bottling up your feelings is never a good thing, but let’s face it, you can’t just tell someone that you want to pull their hair out–especially if it’s your boss. Try this: write down what you’re feeling in a piece of paper. Don’t hold back, include profanities if you have to (just don’t forget to shred it after).

If the situation calls for it, you can even call a trusted friend or talk to office ally. Rant until your chest clears. Sometimes letting it all out helps reduce the tension you feel inside. After all, it’s better to let it out while you still have control. Snapping and unleashing in the office can get you in a world of trouble.

Stop for a moment and think of something that makes you happy. Is it eating your favorite chocolate? Going shopping? Whatever it is, it wouldn’t hurt doing it once in a while especially if you’re going through a rough day in the office. You don’t have to torment yourself when you can’t handle it anymore, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up. Take a sip of your favorite drink in the pantry or visit the mall after work hours! Doing something for yourself gives you a hint of color when everything seems to be dark.

Work can suck sometimes, and that’s just the reality of it. After evaluating what happened, do whatever it takes to rid yourself of negative emotions before you go home. Stop over your favorite bar, watch a movie, or go shopping if you have to. Most importantly, you should establish a clear end-of-work routine. In other words, you should understand when work hours end—stop checking your email, talking about work, and worrying about stuff that happened in the office.

Sitting all day in a cold area could be a huge stress factor as well. If you’re an active person, chances are you might know this already: hitting the gym after a hard day’s work is actually a great stress reliever. Studies also prove that a good 30-minute workout not only makes you healthier, it also helps stimulate your body, making you a lighter and happier person at the same time.

If your company offers free gym membership, then great! It’s just a matter of slipping into that gym attire. If you can’t get hands on a free membership, you can always start that free membership trial on the nearest fitness center.

Saving your vacation leaves? Try a Friday night staycation instead. Book a stay at one of the nicest hotels in the city and enjoy the peaceful ambience of the city skyline. Whether it’s taking a dip in the pool or staying in bed all night, a quick escape from reality is the best way to relax your senses after a stressful week. Eventually, you’ll wake up feeling great because you’ve managed to recover from a bad working day.