There are days when the air seems to have a whiff of positivity. You make the bus on time, breeze through the traffic, and excitedly skip to wherever you need to be. And then there are times when your alarm doesn’t go off for some reason, and you scramble to get ready just for a million things to go wrong. The sandwich you went to put in your mouth drops on the ground and the train you hoped to catch was so overcrowded all you could do was watch it take off into the distance.
But it can always get worse, and people on this list are living proof of that. If you’re having a bad day yourself, scroll down to find comfort in knowing that others have it tougher than you, and don’t forget to share the most unfortunate things that turned your day upside down.
While you’re at it, be sure to check out a conversation with an expert in positive psychology, Ruth Steggles, and positive psychology play consultant, Jeff Harry, who kindly agreed to give us a few tips on how to turn a bad day around.
Facade Wall Contractors Used A Drill Too Long For The Job
What, No Tie-Down? This Happened Not Even 50 Yards Later
My Wisdom Toot. You’d Think It Would Be Wise Enough To Not Do This Type Of Stuff
The most up-to-date statistics show that on average, an American has 4 bad days a month. These add up to 48 days per year that are dedicated to bad moods and unfortunate events.
However, this seems to be an improvement since 2018, when respondents reported having about 60 bad days a year.
Interestingly, the 2024 Avocado Green Mattress and Talker Research survey has found that Americans can pinpoint the exact time when it’s going to be a tough day. At precisely 8:36 a.m., they can already tell that their day won’t go as planned.
My Stove/Oven Broke And The Display Doesn’t Even Say The Time Anymore
Thought One Of The Bulbs Burned Out In The Backyard
Not What I Expected On A CT Scan Following A Suspected Gallbladder Attack
A quarter of the time, people feel like there’s no way to turn the downright smile upside down. 48% of respondents even admitted to canceling plans or calling out of work to go back to sleep after waking up and sensing a bad day.
The most common causes of a tough day were getting up and feeling sick (35%), followed by poor sleep (31%), and waking up with a headache (29%). Misplacing the keys (26%) and leaving the phone at home (25%) were other top contenders.
Additional reasons for things going south included running out of toilet paper, forgetting the wallet at home, sleeping through the alarm, and forgetting to charge the phone the night before.
On My Way To Start College And My Car Caught Fire With Everything I Own Inside Of It
No one was hurt in the slightest, and I was the only one in the vehicle when it caught fire. Thankfully, I could get everything out of the car before the fire got too bad and we had to back away. The fire department put it out very quickly, so no real damage was caused. Also, a little bit of context: my father was in his car, and I was between him and a truck. I sped up to try and pass the truck and try to close the distance between us. He was guiding me and had some of my things in his car. As I accelerated, I heard a pop, and my car began to slow down, and before I could react, it popped again and entirely died. I threw on my flashers pulled off to the side of the road and began trying to call my dad when the guy in the truck who was in front of me came up and started seeing if I needed help when we noticed the crackling of a fire under my hood. I popped the hood, and we saw the firewall was about to be fully engulfed by flames, so I called 911 while he began pulling all my things out.
Here’s The View From My Front Door, I Would Like To Note That It’s Not Even 4 PM And This Is How Dark It Is Because Of The Fires Nearby My Town
Saw This After Hearing The Loudest Scream Of My Life
I was working and heard someone screaming at the top of his lungs. Went to the bathroom and saw this. The poor guy was taking a dump when this happened.
The survey further revealed that unfortunate events were most likely to strike at the start of the week. 60% of respondents said that Mondays had the highest chance of going into a downright spiral. Work schedules and the back-to-school season were some of the most common contributing factors.
To prevent bad days from occurring, respondents try to find time for themselves each day to relax (41%), make time for things they enjoy (37%), and ensure they are well-rested (35%). In fact, 71% of respondents said that sleep can make or break their day, and having enough of it can help to deal with things that may go wrong during it.
Rearranging Fridge, Watermelon Rolled Out. I Ignored Thinking I’d Grab It In A Second. It Continued To Roll Down The Nearby Staircase
I Guess My Sunscreen Wasn’t Water-Resistant
My Entire Neighborhood Is Submerged In Flood Water With Raw Sewage In It
But even if a bad day is unpreventable, there are ways to turn it around. Ruth Steggles, an expert in positive psychology, suggests stopping and noticing what’s going on around you. “Identifying what is actually upsetting you then allows you to address the root cause. If it is something you can’t change, look for some small thing you can change.”
Similarly, positive psychology play consultant Jeff Harry advises to sit with the feeling and let yourself fully experience the bad moment. “If you allow yourself to fully feel the bad moment, then you can let it go. If you don’t allow yourself to feel it, you suppress it, meaning you hold on to it, and then you have more bad moments and suppress those until you have so many you are holding back, which results in not only a bad day, but many bad thoughts about yourself, which can affect your week, year, or your entire life.”
Microwaved A Smucker’s Uncrustable (Premade Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich) For 15 Seconds And Got A 2nd Degree Burn. This Is About 5 Days After It Happened
My Legs After Mowing My Lawn While It Was Still Wet
The Semi Truck Got Nailed By A Freight Train. My House Is On The Other Side Of Those Train Tracks
Steggles also recommends having a list of things that a person enjoys doing so they can go back to it when going through a rough patch. Like reading a book, taking a bath, dancing around in the kitchen, or going for a walk. “It is helpful to know your feel-good tool kit,” she says.
Let’s Get A Roomba They Said, You Will Have Less Cleaning They Said
Flashback To When My Dog Chewed A Hamster-Sized Hole In The Drywall. The Last Photo Is Him With The Drywall Dust On His Nose Caught Red-Handed
Found Out The Hard Way That Apparently I’m Very Allergic To Fire Ants
Was getting the mail without shoes on, felt a sting, and immediately swatted it off. Fast forward 5 minutes later, and I’m completely naked in my house, scratching like I’ve never scratched before. Then I noticed my palms and fingertips were now blue, followed by hives from the top of my neck down to my toes.
Putting on some tunes may be the most simple remedy to a bad day. Listening to favorite songs can help a person to wind down and take their mind off of things for a while. “A music playlist that gradually moves from uncomfortable emotions to comfortable ones can be a healthy coping strategy and facilitate a positive mood change,” says board-certified music therapist Megan Hoffer.
Someone Threw A Brick Off An Overpass. I Was The Lucky Winner
Came To My Car Window Smashed This Morning. I Don’t Know Any Tomas And I’m Not In Debt To Anyone
Bought My First Car, Got Hit Within Less Than 12 Hours
When things go south, it might feel instinctive to get away from people. However, research suggests doing the opposite and reaching out to others, especially those who are happy and supportive of us. A friendly conversation, even a short one, can change our mood, lower blood pressure, and make us feel good.
Bedroom Ceiling Collapsed
Someone Reversed Their Boat Trailer Into My Rental
This Dental Estimate My Partner Received Was Just To Make Him Pain-Free. This Is After Insurance Too. The Dental Industry Is Absolutely Insane
Those who want to help out someone whose day isn’t going as anticipated should acknowledge their feelings but avoid reinforcing them or leaving them be, says Steggles. Therefore, she suggests telling them, “I am sorry you are feeling that way. What will you do to cheer yourself up?” or “I am sorry you feel that way? Is there anything we can do together to help you feel differently?”
Can’t Get Back Inside Because She Threw A Hissy Fit And Opened The Stove Bottom Drawer, Which Is Keeping The Door From Opening
Welp
I Came Back From Vacation, And Ants Built Their Colony In My Laptop. Those Crumbs Were All Eggs, And The Inside Of The Laptop Was Full Of Them. The Computer Wouldn’t Turn On
“I recommend that you say “you feel” because it isn’t the day that is bad, but their perception of their experience makes it so. I also always try to empower the other person to be responsible for changing things. Taking over and doing things for them may diminish them and make them feel worse,” Steggles explains.
The Store Manager Was Furious At Me (The Customer)
Got Rudely Awaken By The Sound Of Everything In My Kitchen Cupboards Crashing To The Floor
Couldn’t Hit 88 Mph As The Storm Hit
Lastly, she concludes by saying, “Mindfulness is the key to not being dragged into the drama of a bad day. It involves identifying the problem, noticing how you feel, and then choosing what you want to do. If that is what you want, there is nothing wrong with having a bad day.”
Got Woken Up, Naked In My Bed, By Four Police Officers Executing A Search Warrant For Someone Who Hasn’t Lived At My Address In Years
Water In My Parents’ Garage From Hurricane Helene. It’s Going To Get Worse. Luckily, The Entire First Floor Of Their House Is A Garage. It Was About 10 Inches When This Was Taken
A Sea Lion Took A Bite Out Of My Salmon While It Was Being Reeled In
Forgot To Close The Window Before Getting A Carwash
I Slipped In The Shower And Went Face-First Into The Knobs. Now My Lips Look Like This
Dropped Off My Car To Get My Brakes Changed. Got These Pictures Texted To Me Instead
Apparently, the shop hand didn’t know how an electronic e-brake works. Said he parked it in front of the shop, and when he came back out to pull it into the bay, he found it across the parking lot embedded into a wall.
I Am 46. How Bad Must I Look To People?
My Fiancé And I Bought Our First Home A Month Ago. Not Living In The Place Yet, But Today We Found Our Front Window Shattered
Took Out My Earbuds And The Tip Said “No Thanks, I’m Good”
We Grew A Half Acre Of Carrots That All Turned Out Like This (15,000 Lbs)
Was So Looking Forward To Making A Pie
The Paint Store Guy Didn’t Close The Can Properly
Bought a car one week ago. Picked up paint while on vacation to paint my mom’s house. A teenager working at a paint store didn’t close the can properly. That’s 1 gallon of slightly greenish-gray wall paint on the floor of my new car.
This Was Not How I Expected To Spend My Wednesday
2 Hours Into A 7-Hour Road Trip
Guy Found A Novel Way To Break Into My Store
Just Got My PS5 Recently. Had To Evacuate My House A Few Days Ago Because Of A Tropical Typhoon. This Is What I Came Back After The Storm Has Settled
Well, I Managed To Go Four Years Without Getting COVID, And I Got It Right Before A Trip
Diaper Got Mixed With Laundry And Went Into Washing Machine. Everything Is Covered In Absorbent Hydro Gel
My Mom Left Her Car For 2 Months, Came Back To It Covered In Mold
Took The Wife Out Of Rehab For A Walk Through The City. She Was Making A Selfie And Lost Her Grip On Her Crutch. It’s Still There… Impossible To Retrieve
