If you’re having a bad day, just remember, it could always be worse. In difficult times, I often tell myself this as well. But my favorite piece of advice on staying motivated comes from Scottish comedian Limmy. He once said, “If this has been the worst year of your life, that means next year will be even better. If it gets worse, then congratulations, this hasn’t been the worst year of your life.”
Served in true Scottish fashion, it’s a blunt but honest way to encourage yourself. You’re probably not going to see Limmy’s inspirational words on Pinterest boards any time soon though. Maybe it’s better to frame your situation against others. Yeah, sure, you had a bad day but was it as bad as smashing a brand new phone that wasn’t even taken out of its box? True story — we’ve got the pics to prove it.
Here’s our compilation of people who probably felt like they were having the worst day ever. It makes us realize that maybe we don’t have it so bad after all. But if you’re looking for motivational quotes after all, there’s some from Bored Panda here, here, and here to help you get by.
This post may include affiliate links.
Went Into My Attic Looking For A Water Leak Coming Into My Living Room And It Appears That I'm With Whatever Monstrosity Left This Behind. It's Soft To The Touch So I'm Assuming It's Still Around
It’s ok, everyone has a bad day from time to time. Maybe you were late for work or school and everything just went downhill from there. It feels like one small mishap can set off a chain reaction to ruin the rest of your day.
It’s even worse if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and don’t even know why you feel down — you already know it’s going to be a tough one. Although many might think of this as just an expression, it’s a real phenomenon and scientists believe it has a detrimental effect on our well-being.
Do Not Order Your Toilet Paper From The Wish App
A study was completed by Pennsylvania State University looking at how these feelings in the morning impact our performance for the rest of the day. Their results were published in a paper aptly titled Waking Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed: The Effects of Stress Anticipation on Working Memory in Daily Life.
The two-week study involved 240 adults completing reports on their emotional well-being at different times throughout the day. These reports (known as ecological momentary assessments) aimed to capture how an individual was feeling in the moment, especially in regards to stress. The reports were to be completed at random times throughout the day. The only exceptions were the morning and end-of-day ones which also asked participants if they were anticipating being stressed ahead of time.
Can’t Explain To My Cats The Gravity Of What They’ve Done
You're in quarantine with absolutely nothing to do. The cats changed that.
These Guys Managed To Get Into A Crash On An Empty Street Next To A Closed Gas Station
After the participants logged their states, they were asked to complete a small ‘working memory’ test. An example of this could be trying to recount numbers that flashed on a screen briefly. The results from their study highlighted what anticipating stress in the morning does to people.
“Waking up on the wrong side of the bed” (or being ready to feel stressed) appeared to have a knock-on effect on participants’ working memory tests throughout the day. Although being stressed normally had an effect on their test performance, reporting negative feelings from the start of the day influenced their behaviors far more than anything else. So, science has confirmed that having a bad day isn’t completely the universe throwing you a curveball.
That Online Session Didn't Go Well Then. Not Surprised At All, These Next Few Weeks Are Going To Be Hell For Teachers & Parents
Poor Kid
Staying motivated can be tricky, but there’s always a way to get through. According to Bo Muchoki, a motivational speaker, being optimistic is tantamount to getting through difficult times. He said, “You can’t control the painful situations that life puts in your path. All that you can control is your mental response to the painful situations that you find yourself in.”
Governor Just Ordered All “Non Life Sustaining” Businesses To Close, Including Construction And Contractors. This Is The Current State Of My Only Bathroom
One would think functional plumbing would be considered an essential service...
My Kiddo Cut His Hair Yesterday, Then Agreed To Let Me Have A Little Fun With It Before We Fixed It
My Husband Has Been Home 24/7 For A Whole Three Days And My Dog Is A Full On Traitorous Bastard. It’s Like I Don’t Exist. This Is Crap
“Your mental response to the tough situations that you find yourself in is huge,” he continued. “Whether you choose a negative mentality or a positive mindset to interpret your pain determines how well you fare in life.”
“The only difference between those who crumble into sadness, helplessness, depression, hopelessness, and defeat in tough times and those who rise above their pain is a positive mindset.”
Today My Partner Learned That You Shouldn’t Put Off A Haircut Until The Only Person Left To Do It Is Your Girlfriend
I have never even trimmed my own ends. He calls this look “Cambodian garbage Hitler.”
Cambodian Garbage Hitler is an amazing name. I might name my next kid after you!
The Dental School I Was About To Visit Has Been Shut Down For The Next Month. Wish Me Luck
His situation is already bad enough, but what would happen if someone gets a heavy or excruciating toothache and there is no dentist available?
My friend slipped on the ice outside and broke her tooth just after all the non-essential businesses shut down here. She had to call around to every dentist in the city to find out which was was taking emergency appointments. It was a long and frustrating process.
Load More Replies...Same. Had a root canal postponed. I traded root canal anxiety for anxiety about not getting a root canal.
I've had 2 root canals. They are really not painful anymore. I didn't have any issues with mine and the relief is immediate. I hope you're able to get yours soon.
Load More Replies...A friend of mine has had her chemo cancelled, CANCELLED because they want to keep beds and hospital staff for virus victims. She's 42 as nd has 4 children. Pray for her.
What's the big deal? He doesn't look different than any other pro hockey player...
I have braces and am in need of some work. At least I’m not in his shoes!
My mom was visiting Taiwan with me to visit our family and she broke one of her teeth. All of the dentists refused to see her until she had been quarantined for at least two weeks. Then we went back to the US and people there refused to treat her because she just came from Taiwan. Luckily, we found someone but she had to deal with super expensive healthcare right after she and my dad got huge pay cuts.
OH 💩~ And I WAS looking into THAT A MONTH & A HALF AGO... THANK GOD MY MEMORY ISN'T WORKING VERY WELL!
Good luck! A cap came off of one of my front teeth. I went to my dentist. However, the labs that make the partial I use, closed because of CV-19. I’m not in pain.
A cap came off that was on one of my front teeth. I don’t go to dental schools. However, this is what’s going on in my mouth. Go ahead ... you’ve got permission to laugh! 🦷🙇🏼♀️
This is when we really learn to appreciate the many wonders of society...
Well played, Christopher. 👏🏼 I am unable to resist a pun. 😂
Load More Replies...Not yet. But that broken one looks totally open.
Load More Replies...Mine did the same thing, and I'm getting a replacement set of dentures because the old ones are missing.
There has too be some dentist who are willing to take emergency cases!
You know COVID is spread by droplets right? And a dentists' life is all about droplets from people's mouths? Without the SAME personal protective equipment as the frontline doctors (high-grade masks, eye coverings etc) they are chucking themselves into the lion's den to a) catch COVID and b) spread it to vulnerable patients. And can they get hold of the PPE? No. Because not even the frontline doctors have it in abundance. So that's why dentists have to be shut down.
A few days into quarantine (we're in Spain) by husband broke a tooth. Dentists here are open, but only for a few hours and they see very few people. Luckily, we called our regular dentist and they fixed his tooth the following morning and all was well. I don't understand how dentists aren't considered essential in the US? What about vets? Are they also closed?
I took my dog in one on of the last days. They met me in the parking lot masked and gloved and took my dog. Reversed the steps when i picked him up. I imagine the Emergency dog hospital is open for real emergencies. Don't know about appointments.
Load More Replies...Just tell people you took a hockey puck to the grill, Jake. No shame in that.
Does anyone know what country this guy is in? I would really like to know where it is that things like that happen. I´m in Germany, and while most dentists will no longer do things like cleansing or purely cosmetic procedures. they will treat and help anybody that has a problem that requires immediate attention, like for instance pain, and infection or broken dentures. And they will most certainly not just stop in the middle of things and send a patient home with two half done teeth.
Several of my local dentist offices sent emails saying they were closed but were available for emergencies- I think this would be considered an emergency.... ouch!
This isn't an emergency. It doesn't affect his ability to eat. & isn't causing him pain. He's getting them capped. It just takes longer at a Dental School because each step needs to be monitored by the professor.
Load More Replies...I lived with a painful tooth for a couple of years. Frequent rinsing with Listerine (or similar) kept it at bay, so there were occasional days without pain.
Playing with fire - or really with your life. Especially if the tooth is on the upper jaw. If it abscesses, the infection can go into one of the many sinuses in the face, spread upward to the eye or farther, the brain. It cause also spread into one of the gum and into blood vessels and enter the blood stream. From there go into the heart and cause permanent heart damage. So, toothache aren't something to just take painkillers or mouthwash & just wish away. GO TO THE DENTIST!
Load More Replies...So My Fridge Doors Just Fell Off
Whether it’s meditation or motivational quotes, everyone has their own ways of changing their mindsets. Our loyal readers tell us that Bored Panda always helps to lift them up when having a bad day. Of course, we love to cover inspiring stories, but at the same time, reflecting on the difficult times helps us to stay focused on the better ones. Just remember, it could always be worse.
Switch On TV. It Decides To Just Die
My Plumbing Is Fine, Thanks For Asking
Can You Spare A Square?
Girlfriend's Grad Cancelled, So She’s Picking Up Her Degree From The Student Desk
Bought 60 Doughnuts For The Office Today To Celebrate My 20th Birthday, Only To Be Told Not To Come In For The Next Week
Lost His Blueberries
He's so sad! Plus his shopping cart is almost empty so he was probably already sad :(
HS Teacher Remote Teaching. Our Platform Generates Unique Classroom Codes For Each Course. For My Course, I Have To Screenshot And Send "Jizzin' To God" To All My Students
Bathroom Flooded And I Lost Four Good Men
My Buddy Was Cleaning Out His Desk And Found A $50 Gift Card From Another Era
Haha! I used to work at Blockbusters. Best job ever! $50 would have bought you a shitload of stuff! :P
Angry French Noises
We Were Getting Our Kitchen Redone When The Workers Just Left. We Currently Are Living With A Toaster Oven And A Sink
Order a camping stove online! I did this when my kitchen was being renovated
As A Single Man Who Has Eaten Out Pretty Much Every Day Since I Was 19, This Whole "Fend For Yourself " Plan Is Utter Crap
You see this? This is instant oatmeal and I messed it up. There is no hope for me. Stay healthy, folks.
I'm Regretting Panic Buying $100 Worth Of Legos To End Up With My Children Ignoring Them And Instead Playing With A Cardboard Box And A Can Lid For The Last 2 Hours
Had To Say Goodbye To An Old Friend Today. I’ve Had It For About 11 Years And It Finally Gave In. Rest In Peace, Buddy, And Thanks For All The Incredible Memories
I Didn’t Partake In The Toilet Paper Panic. Maybe I Should Have?
I'll let you in on a secret. Water is cheaper, cleaner, more hygienic and better for the environment. Win win win win situation.
Dropped My Charger Cable Behind The Desk To Then Go And Plug It In - It Landed On The Power Strip. And Turned It Off. My Computer Was On That. And So Was My Work
Don't trust Trust. Never trust Trust. It's the only company in the world that can be accused of false advertising by just showing their name.
Someone Forgot Their Bag Full Of Groceries
Someone Threw A Rock Through My Front Window At 4 In The Morning
My Friend Went To The Apple Store Today Because He Broke His iPhone XS Both Front And Back. They Told Him That Because Of Corona The Repair Service Was Temporarily Closed. He Then Chooses To Buy The 11 Pro Which He Then Dropped When Opening The Box
Behold, 125 Kazoos With Our Wedding Date On Them That Arrived At Our Door The Day We Emailed Everyone To Tell Them The Wedding Was Postponed
Never Ordered Groceries To Be Delivered. I Just Wanted Three Bananas
That Was The Last Bottle
We Had One Roll Left. Kids...
My Door Was Being Repaired When The Repair Man Suddenly Left In A Panic
My Son Clogged The Toilet. Then This
Another way is to boil water and pour it in, wait 1 min roughly then try flushing agn (worked when my kid did an enormous one!)
It's Better Than Nothing
Can't Get Anyone To Get Our New Kitchen Fitted. No Oven, Stove, Nothing
So, I'm Stuck At Here In Italy With Already Not Much To Do, And This Morning My Gpu Decided To Just Fry
Note: this post originally had 59 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
The fact that people are being left without plumbing, missing locks, broken windows, etc., is ridiculous. How are these not considered essential services?
Especially considering how many states are considering liquor stores and weed dispensary's essential.
Load More Replies...Some of these have nothing to do with quarantine. Mashed potatoes turning out runny? Baby threw up? Overcooking oatmeal? ...Do these not happen unless there is a pandemic?
People just trying to have a little fun while they are stuck at home
Load More Replies...My shower stopped working 12 hours after the U.K. shutdown, and I've decided I'm going to live without it being fixed as I'm in a high risk group for Covid-19. I don't want to risk someone bringing it into my home. I guess I'm having baths for a couple of months!
This is a great time for the people to learn not to take everything for granted.
Or to learn that they don't actually need some of the things they thought they needed.
Load More Replies...our stove top broke down when the "lockdown" was going to happen (we dont have full lockdown here) and then had to drive to 4 shops to find one, (3 shops were closes, we didnt go in) spend more money and pick the only model they had. Next day all shops closed. Fel a bit sorry for ourselfs but these are way worse!!! (and also happy that we had the money to buy it and that we have one, ofcourse)
Yes it sucks, but as you say, in the greater scheme of things, sommuch to be gratefull for. Great attitude.
Load More Replies...During quarantine, our sink AND refrigerator stopped working. The sink has been replaced and the fridge is still working a little, but still.
Worse quarantine than you. This one is not funny. People realize how many small businesses have already closed permanently?!!! The small business loan that is coming is weeks too late. My own son didn't even pay himself from his business except to literally buy food and gas to pay a new marketing guy. Things were going so well they were going to start expanding soon. He's sacrificed so much in the past 5 years getting to this point. He shut down voluntarily and now it's likely he'll lose it. He put more money into it than he got out. It was going to be all worth it. Now what? He has to start over from scratch. F**k people and their "bad quarantines". Tragic things are happening all over the world.
There were some horrible storms in the Atlanta area last night. No electricity for a few hours, no wifi till Friday. My problems seem small next to many of these.
Any Bored Panda folks having similar experiences right now? Let's talk about it:
Loo won't flush so having to use a bucket to flush it - far worse things that can go wrong though.
Load More Replies...Thank you so much I haven't had such a much needed laugh since.... I don't know when.
Working through this because apparently no one told my boss. Because why pay unemployment. Why?!?
What? You would rather be jobless? Please quit and let someone who lost their job have it.
Load More Replies...The fact that people are being left without plumbing, missing locks, broken windows, etc., is ridiculous. How are these not considered essential services?
Especially considering how many states are considering liquor stores and weed dispensary's essential.
Load More Replies...Some of these have nothing to do with quarantine. Mashed potatoes turning out runny? Baby threw up? Overcooking oatmeal? ...Do these not happen unless there is a pandemic?
People just trying to have a little fun while they are stuck at home
Load More Replies...My shower stopped working 12 hours after the U.K. shutdown, and I've decided I'm going to live without it being fixed as I'm in a high risk group for Covid-19. I don't want to risk someone bringing it into my home. I guess I'm having baths for a couple of months!
This is a great time for the people to learn not to take everything for granted.
Or to learn that they don't actually need some of the things they thought they needed.
Load More Replies...our stove top broke down when the "lockdown" was going to happen (we dont have full lockdown here) and then had to drive to 4 shops to find one, (3 shops were closes, we didnt go in) spend more money and pick the only model they had. Next day all shops closed. Fel a bit sorry for ourselfs but these are way worse!!! (and also happy that we had the money to buy it and that we have one, ofcourse)
Yes it sucks, but as you say, in the greater scheme of things, sommuch to be gratefull for. Great attitude.
Load More Replies...During quarantine, our sink AND refrigerator stopped working. The sink has been replaced and the fridge is still working a little, but still.
Worse quarantine than you. This one is not funny. People realize how many small businesses have already closed permanently?!!! The small business loan that is coming is weeks too late. My own son didn't even pay himself from his business except to literally buy food and gas to pay a new marketing guy. Things were going so well they were going to start expanding soon. He's sacrificed so much in the past 5 years getting to this point. He shut down voluntarily and now it's likely he'll lose it. He put more money into it than he got out. It was going to be all worth it. Now what? He has to start over from scratch. F**k people and their "bad quarantines". Tragic things are happening all over the world.
There were some horrible storms in the Atlanta area last night. No electricity for a few hours, no wifi till Friday. My problems seem small next to many of these.
Any Bored Panda folks having similar experiences right now? Let's talk about it:
Loo won't flush so having to use a bucket to flush it - far worse things that can go wrong though.
Load More Replies...Thank you so much I haven't had such a much needed laugh since.... I don't know when.
Working through this because apparently no one told my boss. Because why pay unemployment. Why?!?
What? You would rather be jobless? Please quit and let someone who lost their job have it.
Load More Replies...