It’s going to be one of those days today. I know this already and it’s only nine-fifteen!  To list but a few reasons: my new upstairs neighbour has begun to display very strange and LOUD nocturnal habits. Such as talking on speaker phone at the top of his lungs till all hours and doing laundry at 2am so that it sounds like the washing machine is about to crash through the ceiling and kill me (just me; I have that sort of luck). I also think he wears shoes MADE OF CEMENT. None of these things are cool in a Victorian conversion with virtually no soundproofing. Also, I opened Pandora’s Box this morning by looking up all the documentation I need to renew my UK visa and now kind of wish the washing machine would come through the ceiling and kill me. Oh, and I can’t afford to even LOOK at the beautiful things currently on show in New York Fashion Week. No fair! Is nine-fifteen too early for a G’n’T? Is there ever a good time to slap your neighbour? Hmm. Probably not.

So, this morning I’m looking for a few cheap ‘n’ cheerful ways to brighten up my day.  Here’s some that usually do the trick; I thought I’d share them just in case you too are having one of those days…

1.    Put fresh linen on the bed. This has to be the simplest way to make yourself feel good. Is there anything better than the feeling of climbing into a bed made up with clean sheets at the end of a crappy day? I think not.
2.    Buy cut flowers. (Or pick them from your garden if you are lucky enough to have one). I am obsessed with having fresh flowers in my house. A bunch lasts a week, for about £5. Just the weekly ritual of walking down to my local flower-seller man, choosing what I want, bringing them home and putting them in vases always puts a smile on my face. And your home smells lovely and you can’t help admiring them all week long. Which is free.
3.    Make yourself a pot of tea. I am a hard core addict for my morning cup of coffee (understatement much? I actually want to marry my coffee machine), but later in the day I try to avoid the coffee and make a cup of tea. Give the tea bags a miss and get out your best china tea pot and make it in that for a change. The lost art of tea making is simple and therapeutic, so give it a go once in a while. (And you’ll feel all fancy looking at it sitting on your desk all afternoon).
4.    Snuggle up. Get out that overly expensive mohair blanket you never use because it malts everywhere, pull on your cosiest PJs and snuggle up for a night with a) a good book, b) a good DVD, c) a good kisser. Proceed as you will.
5.    Spend the night with a good book. The Man Booker prize is to be announced in a few weeks, so decide which you think should win beforehand. I am almost done with the shortlist, and there are some absolute crackers on the list. Check out Amazon for massively reduced prices.
6.    DIY spa yourself. All you need to turn your bathroom into a sanctuary you’ll never want to leave is some scented candles, bubble bath, your latest copy of Elle magazine and a glass of wine. And a lock on the door if your children/other half don’t know when to just LEAVE YOU ALONE.
7.    Cook something you love to eat from scratch. Your mum’s chicken soup? Your grandma’s fairy cakes? Whatever is your favourite comfort food, just do it. Cooking can be very relaxing (not to mention a frugal and handy hobby), so forget about that tasteless, calorie-free stir fry you had planned and indulge yourself.
8.    Write someone you love a letter. Do you know anyone who doesn’t like receiving handwritten notes in the mail? Didn’t think so. Put a smile on someone else’s face and you’ll wind up smiling yourself. (For that extra special someone, make it a naughty one and you’ll wind up doing more than smiling).
9.     Get your walking shoes on. Everyone knows the merits of exercise as a stress-release measure, but if you don’t feel like hitting up the treadmill for your usual 45 minutes, take a walk in your local park. It’s a great way to remind yourself how beautiful your local area is, and will give you a real sense of community to be out amongst others walking their dogs and flying kites with their kids. (Too sugary sweet for you with the kids and kites? Watching kids have tantrums and seeing their parents completely lose it also provides great – and free – amusement).
10.    Get yours. Come on, ladies. It’s free, he’s right there, and he’s not as interested in that re-run of Battlestar Galactica as he looks. Do yourself a favour. ‘Nuff said.