Today was not turning into a good day. I woke up irritable, stressed, and slightly depressed. I thought, "A nice yoga DVD will fix everything!" Unfortunately - that was not the case. Usually yoga is my cure-all, but my mood was even too bleak for yoga to fix! After a few admittedly blissful moments in savasana at the end of my practice, the negative feelings returned.
It took some work, but now (at 11:20 p.m.) everything is great. It was a day-long battle, but I can honestly say that I'll go to bed content and in a better mood than when I woke. Isn't that awesome?
Here's a few of the things that helped turn today around. These tactics might work for you on a bad day too:
1) Eat something "trashy"
When I'm in a foul mood, I always crave "trashy" food. "Trashy" food is anything that can be made quickly, preferably with a microwave. It's the dive food you order at midnight or the greasy spoon you visit in the morning after a night out. Today I ate some easy microwave blueberry pancakes (believe me - - they are 1,000,000 times better than they sound) and they totally started the reversal of my "bad" day to "good." I posted the recipe at the bottom of this post. Try 'em.
2) Buy something ridiculous
Sometimes, completely ridiculous and unnecessary purchases make me happy. Did I need a Cuisineart ice cream maker (in the dead of winter no less)? Of course not! Am I happy that I bought it? Yes! Will I use it? Actually, I already have a batch of vanilla/cinnamon churning as we speak...so yes :)
3) Connect with an old friend
My friend Erin and I used to work together and, subsequently, saw each other all the time. We no longer work together - - but we are both constantly working, so it's a challenge for us to connect sometimes. Before today, I hadn't spoken to her since before Thanksgiving. We reconnected tonight and it made me so incredibly happy to hear her voice. My evening instantly perked up after our conversation. I realized that I was smiling and even laughing!
Anyway, that was my recipe for success today. Here's the food recipe I mentioned earlier. To any skeptics, I just want you to know that I've made these three times. That's how much I like them.
"I'm Like So Easy!" Blueberry Pancakes
I didn't name it, nor did I invent it, but I can tell you that this recipe is great! It comes from PETA's Vegan College Cookbook. There are lots of easy, convenience (microwave and fridge only) recipes in the book. It's a nice addition to a traditional (oven, stove) cookbook collection...especially for those days when you're feeling "trashy."
- 1 cup Bisquick (yes, it's vegan!)
- 1/2 cup soy milk
- 3 teaspoons ground flaxseed mixed with 4 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- maple syrup to taste
In a bowl, combine the Bisquick, milk, flaxseed/water mixture, and blueberries. Spray an extra large microwave safe mug or bowl with cooking spray. The first time I made this, I used a regular sized mug, and the mixture spilled over into the microwave (BIG mess). I now use my medium-sized Pyrex bowl because it's big and deep. Microwave the mixture on high for 2-3 minutes, until no longer liquidy. I eat this straight out of the bowl with lots of maple syrup. serves 1
Microwave the
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