Everyone has days when they feel down or overwhelmed. Whether tackling a difficult assignment or a tedious group project, creating a positive experience starts with a shift in mindset and small actions capable of making a big difference. It is important that students attempt to better their day to keep them from becoming burnt out and adding unnecessary stress, according to uopeople.edu.

The first step students can take to ensure their day is a good one starts with their morning. How you start your morning can have a very large effect on the quality of the rest of your day. Starting with a good breakfast is important for having energy that will last the day. Quality and quantity of sleep can also have a major impact on your mindset. Sleep is important because it determines the amount of energy and motivation you will have, according to harvard.edu.

“If you wake up on the bad side of the bed arguing with your parents, then obviously you’re going to go to school not in a good mood, and you will probably be argumentative,” junior Abigail Bright said.

Another important method students use is making sure that they eat healthy. Food can have a major effect on energy and mood. Foods like trail mix and berries can boost energy production as well as support brain function. Eating unhealthy foods can lead to increased levels of stress as well as anxiety. Having a large amount of stress and anxiety can make you more agitated, leading to a more negative outlook on life, according to healthdirect.gov.

“Eating right, having energy, and getting good sleep [is what I do to have a good day],” sophomore Tyson Bingaman said.

Not eating at all can have a very unhealthy effect on your feelings and emotions. Being hangry makes you more irritable and frustrated. The difference between being hangry and not eating healthily is that being hangry can involve more harsh feelings, according to health.com.

“If you eat a nutritious, yummy breakfast, you will enjoy your day more,” senior Jacob Bruce said. “If you don’t eat anything, or you don’t eat a good breakfast, then you probably won’t have a good day.”

The most important thing to remember is that bad days can change. Just because a student’s day starts off bad with an argument or they did not sleep well the night before does not mean that their day can not get better. Things can change and surprises can happen that students do not expect, ranging from a simple surprise gift from a friend or simple assignments in their classes. These can change their terrible morning into an okay or even a great day.