Thirty Ways to Reset Your Day

Some days you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Some days your kids wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Some days you wonder if there is even a right side of the bed. You want to treasure these moments, let them be little, enjoy the small things, all the hearts and rainbows, blah, blah, blah. Right now you’re in a funk and your kids are driving you bonkers.

I’ve compiled the best tips and tricks that will help you reset your day. It’s CTRL+ALT+DELETE for kids and parents. Some days just one will work; but if it’s a real doozy you might need #3 followed up by #14 with #29 for good measure. You don’t want to reward crummy behavior, yet you need something concrete, practical and fast acting to get your day back on track. Hang in there, mama. You got this!

1. Eat. Even if you all just ate, see if a PB&J or apple may help get everyone back in the groove.
2. Play with Play Doh. Bonus for lavender calming dough.
3. Give the kid(s) a bath. Daytime baths are so much fun.
4. Throw a mini dance party. Turn up a Disney classic or T. Swift jam and dance it out.
5. Practice calming breaths. Even for the little, little ones. Smell a flower, blow a candle, repeat.
6. Watch puppy or videos on YouTube. Or goats. Goats are cute.
7. Take a walk around the block. Stretch your legs, change your scenery.
8. Walk around the mall. A cold weather alternative to a walk around the block.
9. FaceTime someone. Call a family or a friend for a distraction.
10. Pop popcorn. Take a cue from Olivia Pope make a big, big bowl. The popping is rhythmic and result is delicious.
11. Go to the gym and put the kid(s) in the gym nursery. Endorphins for you, new surroundings for them.
12. Climb under a blanket with flashlights. It’s simple, but surprises the senses.
13. Hug it out. Hugging releases oxytocin, which promotes bonding.
14. Go to the pet store. Cuddle something fluffy. Do not (I repeat, do not) “impulse rescue” a kitten.
15. Throw out your schedule. Take a step back from your tasks and see if that may relax everyone’s mood.
16. Blow bubbles. Magical.
17. Scream therapy. Go outside and scream it out (not at each other). Use caution if you have excitable neighbors; my neighbor is a homeschooling mom of four so a little screaming won’t phase her at all!
18. Give yourself a time out. Lock up the knives and give yourself a few minutes of time out, even if that means hiding in a closet.
19. Give your kids “time-in.” Find something to do together that requires everyone’s attention and participation. This is a great time to sort/fold socks.
20. Run an errand. Sometimes your kids just need an audience to shine.
21. Look at baby photos together. Kids love it and you’ll get a hormonal boost.
22. Get yourself dressed and made-up. Put on your version of the mommy “power suit.” If you feel like a penny, you gotta look like a million.
23. Make a plan. Look ahead to something exciting coming up on the calendar and talk about it. Even if it’s just a playdate or a sunny day, anticipation is most of the fun.
24. Stop looking at the clock. Stop! Time drags when things are tough. Hide your watch for a bit and let time march on unscrutinized.
25. Talk to Siri. Ask for her for a joke or stump her with silly questions. There’s something about that condescendingrobot that kids love.
26. Accomplish one thing. Choose one thing that you can do that will make you feel productive and leave the rest for another day. Pat yourself on the back for completing that task.
27. Unplug. Phones, tablets, televisions. Go 19th century for a little while.
28. Turn on the TV. Even if you’re low/no television, turn on a program or two to give everyone a brain break.
29. Read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Remember there are bad days, even in Australia.
30. Reach out. Call a family member to vent or for back-up. If you are in danger of hurting yourself or others, call 9-1-1.

What are your tried and true resets for a bad day?