ADVERTISEMENT

That lovely German word 'schadenfreude' describes the pleasure that one gets in witnessing another person's misfortune. While we don't necessarily condone this slightly evil feeling, it can be useful in putting one's own struggles and unfortunate events into perspective.

For instance, it's Monday. You didn't get much sleep, the car won't start, and you're late for work. Seems like you're having the worst day ever! It's easy to feel grumpy and full of self-pity; you might even bring the people around you down as well, with your crappy mood.

However, one look at this list, compiled by Bored Panda, will immediately make you realize how much worse things can be. These people are having a really bad day, , and it's sure to be even more unlucky than yours!

Scroll down below for your Monday dose of schadenfreude for yourself, and sure your own funny accidents and worst fails in the comments!

#1

My Cat Couldn't Get To His Litter Box Because The Toilet Door Was Forgotten Closed At Night, So He Spilt The Litter Bag Himself And Pooped On It

My Cat Couldn't Get To His Litter Box Because The Toilet Door Was Forgotten Closed At Night, So He Spilt The Litter Bag Himself And Pooped On It

8080x , reddit.com Report

So, like these unfortunate souls bestowed with bad luck, you have had a terrible day. What's the best and healthiest way to deal with such a setback? Psychology today has some basic tips on how to calm down, come to terms with your fate and carry on with serene acceptance, avoiding an existential crisis.

Start by setting an intention to be gentle with yourself. "When you're feeling battered around by the winds of luck, you're going to need some self-nurturing. Set an intention that you're going to be kind to yourself while you're waiting for the universe to start dishing out some kindness again."

#2

He Saw A Squirrel And Dragged Me Through The Mud On My Ass

He Saw A Squirrel And Dragged Me Through The Mud On My Ass

muyobi Report

#3

Some Musicians Just Aren’t Smooth

Some Musicians Just Aren’t Smooth

NerfGunCaleb Report

Treat yourself: "A dose of positive emotion will increase your resilience during stressful days. Know yourself well enough that you have a short mental (or written) list of simple things you enjoy that reliably boost your mood."

ADVERTISEMENT

"As a self-test, try to come up with five things now that reliably boost your mood. They need to be simple and under your control (e.g., "sunny days" isn't going to work since you can't personally create one of those.) If you find this hard, note whatever you can and add to it when something pops into your mind."

Some examples could include: Getting a kind of food that you like that you don't eat that often, maybe lobster or some fried plantain! A good, tasty meal is always good for the mood... You could also book yourself in for a massage or meditation session on the way home from work, or yes, even a beer. But don't overdo it, because alcohol is never the answer to a problem!

#4

Kids Playing With Fire Hose During Coast Guard Demo

Kids Playing With Fire Hose During Coast Guard Demo

Energylegs23 Report

#5

This Big Guy And Three Of His Friends Got Into A Newly Built Montana House And Proceeded To Live There For A Month Before Being Found

This Big Guy And Three Of His Friends Got Into A Newly Built Montana House And Proceeded To Live There For A Month Before Being Found

SanchoLibre Report

Get something small done that's on your own agenda: "Positive mood comes from a combination of pleasure and a sense of mastery (feeling you're competent and can get things done). These both go out the window on bad days because having a run of bad luck usually feels frustrating, demoralizing, and out of control."

ADVERTISEMENT

"Find something you can get done that will ensure the day isn't totally unproductive. It's a skill to be able to identify quick mastery tasks that feel achievable no matter what else you have going on. The more you practice, the better you'll get at it."

#6

Went To Open My Fridge. Definitely Thought My Hand Was Connected Properly

Went To Open My Fridge. Definitely Thought My Hand Was Connected Properly

EatPrayNub Report

#7

Stuck His Head In A Hole In A Tree To Take A Look, Guess What He Found

Stuck His Head In A Hole In A Tree To Take A Look, Guess What He Found

Report

And finally, learn to recognize the impact of stressful events: "When I worked as a therapist, clients would frequently overlook or underestimate the impact of stressful events and frustrations on their mood."

"It's a lot easier to cope with one isolated incident than it is to cope with a series of blows that come in quick succession. If you're feeling down or overwhelmed, it can help to recognize that many of the causes of your stress are temporary, one-off events, or random incidents of bad luck."

These incidents are all just that, random incidents of bad luck. Life goes on! In the meantime, let's all enjoy a little hilarious schadenfreude at these poor people's expense!

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

Crashed Car And A Parking Ticket

Crashed Car And A Parking Ticket

einarmani Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Put My Visor Down In The Side To Block The Sun

Put My Visor Down In The Side To Block The Sun

FlamingWarPig Report

#10

Threw My Swatter At A Fly. Don't Ask Questions Because I Don't Have Answers

Threw My Swatter At A Fly. Don't Ask Questions Because I Don't Have Answers

TheGreatBugle Report

#11

My Brand New Roomba Ran Over My Puppy’s Shit And Proceeded To “Clean” The Rest Of My Home

My Brand New Roomba Ran Over My Puppy’s Shit And Proceeded To “Clean” The Rest Of My Home

screamicide Report

#12

Their Flight Left 2 Hours Ago

Their Flight Left 2 Hours Ago

czmax Report

#13

Oh No

Oh No

alfie_bond99 Report

#14

I Came In To Find My Tortoise Like This

I Came In To Find My Tortoise Like This

Putting the clues together, it seems he pooped, got it stuck on his foot, ran in circles trying to get it off, and flipped over. Good job, buddy.

Pigglepoo Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Good Morning And Happy Valentine’s Day! Why Not Start Your Day Off With A Turmeric Smoothie?

Good Morning And Happy Valentine’s Day! Why Not Start Your Day Off With A Turmeric Smoothie?

katierobson4 Report

#16

Your Day May Have Been Bad, But It's Probably Not As Bad As 'I Tipped Over A Satellite And It'll Cost $135 Million To Fix' Bad

Your Day May Have Been Bad, But It's Probably Not As Bad As 'I Tipped Over A Satellite And It'll Cost $135 Million To Fix' Bad

NASA Report

#17

The F Fell Off My Ford Fiesta Flame. Now I Drive A Ford Fiesta Lame

The F Fell Off My Ford Fiesta Flame. Now I Drive A Ford Fiesta Lame

Thechuz1337 Report

#18

When Your Snickers Bar Taunts You

When Your Snickers Bar Taunts You

stackattack1000 Report

#19

My Dad Bought A Soap From A Charity In 2016 And Only Today Opened The Box. Look What Was Inside! P.S. My Dad Is A Huge Football Fan

My Dad Bought A Soap From A Charity In 2016 And Only Today Opened The Box. Look What Was Inside! P.S. My Dad Is A Huge Football Fan

JPM33 Report

#20

So Excited To Use My Pizza Cutter For The First Time

So Excited To Use My Pizza Cutter For The First Time

BCFire22 Report

#21

Bet She's Glad She Bought That Tire Cover

Bet She's Glad She Bought That Tire Cover

Driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

BakerFam Report

#22

When The Snowplow ‘Nicks’ Your Car

When The Snowplow ‘Nicks’ Your Car

starsofalgonquin Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#23

Poor Megan

Poor Megan

needmorexanax Report

#24

Anyone Curious What Happened After That Guy Ripped His Pants At The Wedding. I'm His Wife

Anyone Curious What Happened After That Guy Ripped His Pants At The Wedding. I'm His Wife

Draseph Report

#25

Siberian Summer

Siberian Summer

anastasiagav Report

#26

I Asked To Have It Edged Up So My Bangs Would Be Straight. Proceeded To Cut All My Bangs Off And My Entire Widows Peak. White Guy At A Black Barbershop Problems

I Asked To Have It Edged Up So My Bangs Would Be Straight. Proceeded To Cut All My Bangs Off And My Entire Widows Peak. White Guy At A Black Barbershop Problems

jburna_dnm Report

#27

I've Been Using The Complimentary Towel At My Apartment's Swimming Pool. Someone Just Told Me It's A Towel For Wet Dogs

I've Been Using The Complimentary Towel At My Apartment's Swimming Pool. Someone Just Told Me It's A Towel For Wet Dogs

I just moved in to a new apartment complex and I've been using the new swimming pool and hot tub. I usually come straight from gym, so as a courtesy to others, I shower in this locker room before I use the pool. I keep forgetting to bring a towel so I quickly use one of these towels on the wall. Yesterday, a stranger saw me bathing and here and told me that this is actually a room meant for residents to give baths to their dogs, and that the shower I'm looking for is in a different locker room. As he tried to hold back laughter, he asked me what I thought this blue thing was for. I told him I thought it was for bathing babies. FML.

ShittingPretty Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#28

In Colorado, Due To Rock Fall, A 20 Mile Stretch Of Highway Now Has A 238 Mile, 4,5 Hour Detour

In Colorado, Due To Rock Fall, A 20 Mile Stretch Of Highway Now Has A 238 Mile, 4,5 Hour Detour

kdpiette Report

#29

A Storm Came Through. The Plastic Furniture Barely Moved But The Grill Blew 30 Ft Into The Pool

A Storm Came Through. The Plastic Furniture Barely Moved But The Grill Blew 30 Ft Into The Pool

sleepybuddha44 Report

#30

Finally Gave In And Let My Daughter Get A Cat. Turns Out She’s Allergic

Finally Gave In And Let My Daughter Get A Cat. Turns Out She’s Allergic

vampyrechic Report

#31

A Small Crash Revealed Just How Much Make Up She Had On

A Small Crash Revealed Just How Much Make Up She Had On

ggg12341234 Report

#32

So This Guy Paused A Video Of A Model He Wanted To Look Like And His Barber Mistook The Play Button Icon With His Desired Hairstyle And Shaved Triangles On Both Sides Of His Head

So This Guy Paused A Video Of A Model He Wanted To Look Like And His Barber Mistook The Play Button Icon With His Desired Hairstyle And Shaved Triangles On Both Sides Of His Head

Tian Xiu Bot Report

#33

A Woman Put 1.5 Gallons Of Windshield Washer Liquid Instead Of Oil

A Woman Put 1.5 Gallons Of Windshield Washer Liquid Instead Of Oil

kumahair Report

#34

Life Must Be Hard For Him

Life Must Be Hard For Him

hunterfisher21 Report

#35

Whoever Threw A Sink Into My Car Last Night

Whoever Threw A Sink Into My Car Last Night

friendlyyleg Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#36

The Door I Had To Get Through Last Night To Get To My Room

The Door I Had To Get Through Last Night To Get To My Room

swimingle Report

#37

My Favorite Wedding Photo. I Got A Bubble In My Eye While We Were Leaving

My Favorite Wedding Photo. I Got A Bubble In My Eye While We Were Leaving

companionmadie Report

#38

I Proposed To My GF This Weekend And Proceeded To Drop The Ring Down A Gopher Hole

I Proposed To My GF This Weekend And Proceeded To Drop The Ring Down A Gopher Hole

MobyMadness Report

#39

My Roof Caved In Last Night

My Roof Caved In Last Night

BROWNS_CHAMPIONSHIP Report

#40

Trying To Even Out My Tan On My Lunch Break

Trying To Even Out My Tan On My Lunch Break

philfromchico Report

#41

ATM Shut Down With My Card In It

ATM Shut Down With My Card In It

ImagineHydras Report

#42

Cut My Finger While Opening A Package Of Band Aids

Cut My Finger While Opening A Package Of Band Aids

kiwisdotpng Report

#43

Damn

Damn

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

Waited Almost 14 Years For This Moment, And Of Course I Missed It

Waited Almost 14 Years For This Moment, And Of Course I Missed It

NoshawnSmith Report

#45

Instagram vs. Reality

Instagram vs. Reality

ViennaDoLL Report

Note: this post originally had 112 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.