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That lovely German word 'schadenfreude' describes the pleasure that one gets in witnessing another person's misfortune. While we don't necessarily condone this slightly evil feeling, it can be useful in putting one's own struggles and unfortunate events into perspective.

For instance, it's Monday. You didn't get much sleep, the car won't start, and you're late for work. Seems like you're having the worst day ever! It's easy to feel grumpy and full of self-pity; you might even bring the people around you down as well, with your crappy mood.

However, one look at this list, compiled by Bored Panda, will immediately make you realize how much worse things can be. These people are having a really bad day, , and it's sure to be even more unlucky than yours!

Scroll down below for your Monday dose of schadenfreude for yourself, and sure your own funny accidents and worst fails in the comments!

#1

My Cat Couldn't Get To His Litter Box Because The Toilet Door Was Forgotten Closed At Night, So He Spilt The Litter Bag Himself And Pooped On It

My Cat Couldn't Get To His Litter Box Because The Toilet Door Was Forgotten Closed At Night, So He Spilt The Litter Bag Himself And Pooped On It

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So, like these unfortunate souls bestowed with bad luck, you have had a terrible day. What's the best and healthiest way to deal with such a setback? Psychology today has some basic tips on how to calm down, come to terms with your fate and carry on with serene acceptance, avoiding an existential crisis.

Start by setting an intention to be gentle with yourself. "When you're feeling battered around by the winds of luck, you're going to need some self-nurturing. Set an intention that you're going to be kind to yourself while you're waiting for the universe to start dishing out some kindness again."

#2

He Saw A Squirrel And Dragged Me Through The Mud On My Ass

He Saw A Squirrel And Dragged Me Through The Mud On My Ass

muyobi Report

Treat yourself: "A dose of positive emotion will increase your resilience during stressful days. Know yourself well enough that you have a short mental (or written) list of simple things you enjoy that reliably boost your mood."

"As a self-test, try to come up with five things now that reliably boost your mood. They need to be simple and under your control (e.g., "sunny days" isn't going to work since you can't personally create one of those.) If you find this hard, note whatever you can and add to it when something pops into your mind."

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Some examples could include: Getting a kind of food that you like that you don't eat that often, maybe lobster or some fried plantain! A good, tasty meal is always good for the mood... You could also book yourself in for a massage or meditation session on the way home from work, or yes, even a beer. But don't overdo it, because alcohol is never the answer to a problem!

#4

Kids Playing With Fire Hose During Coast Guard Demo

Kids Playing With Fire Hose During Coast Guard Demo

Energylegs23 Report

#5

This Big Guy And Three Of His Friends Got Into A Newly Built Montana House And Proceeded To Live There For A Month Before Being Found

This Big Guy And Three Of His Friends Got Into A Newly Built Montana House And Proceeded To Live There For A Month Before Being Found

SanchoLibre Report

Get something small done that's on your own agenda: "Positive mood comes from a combination of pleasure and a sense of mastery (feeling you're competent and can get things done). These both go out the window on bad days because having a run of bad luck usually feels frustrating, demoralizing, and out of control."

"Find something you can get done that will ensure the day isn't totally unproductive. It's a skill to be able to identify quick mastery tasks that feel achievable no matter what else you have going on. The more you practice, the better you'll get at it."

#6

Went To Open My Fridge. Definitely Thought My Hand Was Connected Properly

Went To Open My Fridge. Definitely Thought My Hand Was Connected Properly

EatPrayNub Report

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#7

Stuck His Head In A Hole In A Tree To Take A Look, Guess What He Found

Stuck His Head In A Hole In A Tree To Take A Look, Guess What He Found

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And finally, learn to recognize the impact of stressful events: "When I worked as a therapist, clients would frequently overlook or underestimate the impact of stressful events and frustrations on their mood."

"It's a lot easier to cope with one isolated incident than it is to cope with a series of blows that come in quick succession. If you're feeling down or overwhelmed, it can help to recognize that many of the causes of your stress are temporary, one-off events, or random incidents of bad luck."

These incidents are all just that, random incidents of bad luck. Life goes on! In the meantime, let's all enjoy a little hilarious schadenfreude at these poor people's expense!

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#9

Put My Visor Down In The Side To Block The Sun

Put My Visor Down In The Side To Block The Sun

FlamingWarPig Report

#10

Threw My Swatter At A Fly. Don't Ask Questions Because I Don't Have Answers

Threw My Swatter At A Fly. Don't Ask Questions Because I Don't Have Answers

TheGreatBugle Report

#11

My Brand New Roomba Ran Over My Puppy’s Shit And Proceeded To “Clean” The Rest Of My Home

My Brand New Roomba Ran Over My Puppy’s Shit And Proceeded To “Clean” The Rest Of My Home

screamicide Report

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#14

I Came In To Find My Tortoise Like This

I Came In To Find My Tortoise Like This

Putting the clues together, it seems he pooped, got it stuck on his foot, ran in circles trying to get it off, and flipped over. Good job, buddy.

Pigglepoo Report

#15

Good Morning And Happy Valentine’s Day! Why Not Start Your Day Off With A Turmeric Smoothie?

Good Morning And Happy Valentine’s Day! Why Not Start Your Day Off With A Turmeric Smoothie?

katierobson4 Report

#16

Your Day May Have Been Bad, But It's Probably Not As Bad As 'I Tipped Over A Satellite And It'll Cost $135 Million To Fix' Bad

Your Day May Have Been Bad, But It's Probably Not As Bad As 'I Tipped Over A Satellite And It'll Cost $135 Million To Fix' Bad

NASA Report

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Mangoes'nRum
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That impact test went well! It got hit by a planet and is still in one piece! That's a Job Well Done!

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#17

The F Fell Off My Ford Fiesta Flame. Now I Drive A Ford Fiesta Lame

The F Fell Off My Ford Fiesta Flame. Now I Drive A Ford Fiesta Lame

Thechuz1337 Report

#19

My Dad Bought A Soap From A Charity In 2016 And Only Today Opened The Box. Look What Was Inside! P.S. My Dad Is A Huge Football Fan

My Dad Bought A Soap From A Charity In 2016 And Only Today Opened The Box. Look What Was Inside! P.S. My Dad Is A Huge Football Fan

JPM33 Report

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Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was just stupid of the soap company! Lots of people don't open a soap box right away but wait until they've finished the soap they already have.

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#20

So Excited To Use My Pizza Cutter For The First Time

So Excited To Use My Pizza Cutter For The First Time

BCFire22 Report

#21

Bet She's Glad She Bought That Tire Cover

Bet She's Glad She Bought That Tire Cover

Driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

BakerFam Report

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#24

Anyone Curious What Happened After That Guy Ripped His Pants At The Wedding. I'm His Wife

Anyone Curious What Happened After That Guy Ripped His Pants At The Wedding. I'm His Wife

Draseph Report

#26

I Asked To Have It Edged Up So My Bangs Would Be Straight. Proceeded To Cut All My Bangs Off And My Entire Widows Peak. White Guy At A Black Barbershop Problems

I Asked To Have It Edged Up So My Bangs Would Be Straight. Proceeded To Cut All My Bangs Off And My Entire Widows Peak. White Guy At A Black Barbershop Problems

jburna_dnm Report

#27

I've Been Using The Complimentary Towel At My Apartment's Swimming Pool. Someone Just Told Me It's A Towel For Wet Dogs

I've Been Using The Complimentary Towel At My Apartment's Swimming Pool. Someone Just Told Me It's A Towel For Wet Dogs

I just moved in to a new apartment complex and I've been using the new swimming pool and hot tub. I usually come straight from gym, so as a courtesy to others, I shower in this locker room before I use the pool. I keep forgetting to bring a towel so I quickly use one of these towels on the wall. Yesterday, a stranger saw me bathing and here and told me that this is actually a room meant for residents to give baths to their dogs, and that the shower I'm looking for is in a different locker room. As he tried to hold back laughter, he asked me what I thought this blue thing was for. I told him I thought it was for bathing babies. FML.

ShittingPretty Report

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#28

In Colorado, Due To Rock Fall, A 20 Mile Stretch Of Highway Now Has A 238 Mile, 4,5 Hour Detour

In Colorado, Due To Rock Fall, A 20 Mile Stretch Of Highway Now Has A 238 Mile, 4,5 Hour Detour

kdpiette Report

#29

A Storm Came Through. The Plastic Furniture Barely Moved But The Grill Blew 30 Ft Into The Pool

A Storm Came Through. The Plastic Furniture Barely Moved But The Grill Blew 30 Ft Into The Pool

sleepybuddha44 Report

#30

Finally Gave In And Let My Daughter Get A Cat. Turns Out She’s Allergic

Finally Gave In And Let My Daughter Get A Cat. Turns Out She’s Allergic

vampyrechic Report

#31

A Small Crash Revealed Just How Much Make Up She Had On

A Small Crash Revealed Just How Much Make Up She Had On

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#32

So This Guy Paused A Video Of A Model He Wanted To Look Like And His Barber Mistook The Play Button Icon With His Desired Hairstyle And Shaved Triangles On Both Sides Of His Head

So This Guy Paused A Video Of A Model He Wanted To Look Like And His Barber Mistook The Play Button Icon With His Desired Hairstyle And Shaved Triangles On Both Sides Of His Head

Tian Xiu Bot Report

#33

A Woman Put 1.5 Gallons Of Windshield Washer Liquid Instead Of Oil

A Woman Put 1.5 Gallons Of Windshield Washer Liquid Instead Of Oil

kumahair Report

#34

Life Must Be Hard For Him

Life Must Be Hard For Him

hunterfisher21 Report

#35

Whoever Threw A Sink Into My Car Last Night

Whoever Threw A Sink Into My Car Last Night

friendlyyleg Report

#36

The Door I Had To Get Through Last Night To Get To My Room

The Door I Had To Get Through Last Night To Get To My Room

swimingle Report

#37

My Favorite Wedding Photo. I Got A Bubble In My Eye While We Were Leaving

My Favorite Wedding Photo. I Got A Bubble In My Eye While We Were Leaving

companionmadie Report

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Ale_Vidal23
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

don't be ashamed by getting emotional, no need to hide behind a bubble-accident

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#38

I Proposed To My GF This Weekend And Proceeded To Drop The Ring Down A Gopher Hole

I Proposed To My GF This Weekend And Proceeded To Drop The Ring Down A Gopher Hole

MobyMadness Report

#39

My Roof Caved In Last Night

My Roof Caved In Last Night

BROWNS_CHAMPIONSHIP Report

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Foxxy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Step away slowly, close the door and pretend it didn’t happen.

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#40

Trying To Even Out My Tan On My Lunch Break

Trying To Even Out My Tan On My Lunch Break

philfromchico Report

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jevais
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're so right. Working on building site he should wear a shirt and suntan lotion.

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Leon'
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like a photoshop composite of two people.

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anderlou69 avatar
Uchman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not photoshop. Darker guy is white shorts sitting on a deck above white guy is red shorts lying down below. Camera perspective.

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Paul Punzer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

again, what a geneticly elitäry and smart guy, no wonder that i am an INCEL, SMH

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Rich McCormick
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MAN, your legs are whiter than mine dude! LOL I'm jealous of the upper body tan though, I'd just look like a lobster! LOL

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Sue Sanders
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is going to be a VERY long tanning session. But the contrast is interesting.

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Liz Morea
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's going to spend at least 2+ years of lunch hours to even that out.

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Josie Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This can't be real, as in the tan on top is either photoshop or fake tan

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Lucy Shupe
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope you live where you have 6 months of nothing but sunshine.

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anderlou69 avatar
Uchman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not "fake". Camera angle. Use your head, obviously it's two different people, one lying down below, the other darker person sitting on a deck above him

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#42

Cut My Finger While Opening A Package Of Band Aids

Cut My Finger While Opening A Package Of Band Aids

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#43

Damn

Damn

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BC
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Usually a memo is issued if there are road repairs happening to the neighborhood. He must have not read it or ignored it.

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#44

Waited Almost 14 Years For This Moment, And Of Course I Missed It

Waited Almost 14 Years For This Moment, And Of Course I Missed It

NoshawnSmith Report

#45

Instagram vs. Reality

Instagram vs. Reality

ViennaDoLL Report

Note: this post originally had 112 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.