Episode 98: How Not to Turn a Bad Day Into a Bad Life with Dr Gayle Smerdon

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong?

The alarm doesn't go off.

Someone says something that rubs you the wrong way.

Work feels overwhelming.

Your confidence takes a hit.

And before you know it, one bad day starts feeling like a bad week, a bad month, or even a bad life.

In this episode of It's a Mindset, Emma sits down with Learning and Organisational Development specialist, speaker and author Dr Gayle Smerdon to explore why bad days happen, how we can recognise them early, and most importantly, what we can do to stop them spiralling.

Gayle is the author of The Bad Day Playbook and founder of the "Make Work Less Sh*t" philosophy. Drawing on decades of experience working with leaders, teams and organisations, she shares practical and compassionate strategies for navigating life's inevitable difficult moments.

Who hasn't had a bad day?

I know I've experienced a few recently, and this conversation really landed for me. One of the things I loved most about speaking with Gayle was her reminder that while bad days are inevitable, staying stuck in them isn't.

This episode is filled with practical wisdom, self-awareness and gentle reminders that we have more agency than we often realise when we're struggling.

Key Episode Takeaways:

• How a bad day can slowly turn into a bad week, a bad month or even depression if left unchecked
• The early warning signs that you're having a bad day
• Why recognising what's happening is often the first step towards changing it
• The powerful questions you can ask yourself when you're struggling
• How to identify what is within your control and what isn't
• The role of self-awareness in navigating difficult emotions
• Why connection can be one of the most important tools during a bad day
• How to know whether you need support, space or something else entirely
• Why bad days are part of being human and don't define who you are

One of the most powerful messages from this conversation is that while we can't always control what happens to us, we can influence what happens next. Bad days may be inevitable. Staying stuck in them isn't.

About the Guest

Dr Gayle Smerdon is a Learning and Organisational Development specialist, speaker and author who helps people make work less exhausting and more meaningful.

For more than two decades, she has worked across universities, government and not-for-profits, helping leaders and teams navigate change, build capability and create healthy workplace cultures.

With a PhD in Sociology and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Gayle studies how organisations function (and malfunction), exploring the interplay between systems, culture and behaviour.

She is the author of The Bad Day Playbook and founder of the "Make Work Less Sh*t" philosophy - a practical, funny and deeply human approach to improving work without pretending everything is fine. Gayle believes bad days may be inevitable, but staying stuck in them isn't.

Show Resources:

Connect with Gayle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayle-smerdon/

Follow Gayle on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gaylesmerdon/

Check Out Gayles Website: https://www.gaylesmerdon.com/

Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmalagerlow

Purchase Worthy & Wealthy: https://www.amazon.com.au/Worthy-Wealthy-Discovering-Abundance-Fulfilment/dp/1998528022  

If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @gaylesmerdon.

Remember: A bad day doesn't mean you have a bad life.

Go Gently, Emma. X.