You’ve had this kind of day. First, the coffee machine deposits the usual jug of morning ambition – but it’s stone cold. Then, your laptop swears blind it doesn’t recognize a router that it’s known for well over a year. By mid-morning your cat has thrown up on the new rug and is now unapologetically looking at you from the bed, just as you check the presentation for your afternoon Zoom call, only to find out that it has saved the first draft with the embarrassing typo and not the perfect one you finally settled on at 2 AM.

When things go wrong, break, and just generally don’t go your way, it tends to happen at once, and although you know the universe can’t be conspiring against you, you don’t know how else to explain this cartoonish run of disaster. The best laid plans don’t stand a chance against the trickster spirits that have taken control of your day.

Why does this tend to happen – and more importantly, how do you deal with it without swearing vengeance against everything and everyone — except your cat, obviously, who could stay mad at that little face?

Things Fail Together, Not in Isolation

One of the reasons this phenomenon feels so real is that it is, at least up to a point. We live in a world of overlapping systems. Your phone charger dies just as your ability to deal with things does. Your train is delayed and not only does it mean you miss your meeting – you also forget to buy groceries on the way home because you’re late and rushing, and you’re also hungry so you aren’t dealing with things too well.

All it takes is for a single thread to pull loose, and all of a sudden the whole tapestry is looking shaky. Chaos has a domino effect, and of course it affects your decision-making.

So, What Do You Do?

This is why it is a sound idea to have a kind of everyday emergency kit. Think of it as a first aid box for your emotional well-being, something to reduce friction and help you regain control. It can contain anything that is connected to your everyday life and work. Keep a spare charger (or two, ideally) for the devices you need every day. Bookmark sites that you’ve had to use for work; everything from that English-Korean translation app to a Cummins engine parts lookup to that page with voucher codes for online shopping. You might not dip into this metaphorical (and sometimes physical) kit for months, but you’ll be glad it’s there.

Not only does being prepared mean that you can deal with mini-crises; it also allows you to pick up small wins that build a sense of motivation and confidence in your coping skills. It genuinely all makes a difference, and equips you to feel more serene when another day like this tries to happen to you.

Bad days will happen. Chaos will unfold, from time to time. We’re only human and sometimes it will get to us. But by having a set of coping strategies we can have confidence that we will deal with the worst of it and move forward with positivity.