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Making mistakes is a part of life. No matter how many times you play a song on your guitar, bake the same chocolate chip cookie recipe or develop film from your camera, there’s a chance that something will go wrong along the way. 

As embarrassing as these little mess ups can be, it’s best to accept them and move on. There’s no point in wasting energy being upset! And if you need help accepting your own failures, you might want to try seeing the humor in them. Bored Panda has searched far and wide to find the funniest examples of facepalm worthy mistakes people have made and compiled them down below. So enjoy scrolling through these photos that might make you feel better about your own errors, and be sure to upvote the ones you can’t help but giggle at!

#1

Sometimes It Pays To Have A Dirty Car. My Son Got Rear Ended Last Night, The Other Driver Was Aggressive And Left Without Exchanging Info

Reversed license plate imprint in snow showing a difficult day.

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    #3

    That's Why You Don't Remove The Cones That Reserve An Area For Delivery

    Car trapped in a parking lot by stacked metal barriers, a visual of someone having a worse day.

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    As the wise Hannah Montana once sang, “Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days.” Whether you drop a bowl of boiling hot soup on the floor, lock yourself out of your apartment or forget to activate your ticket on the bus and end up getting fined, you’re far from the first person to have made that mistake.

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    And as the photos on this list prove, it’s always better to learn from our mistakes and move past them than to waste energy being frustrated! In fact, Louise Carroll reports that the average person makes between three and six errors per hour, regardless of what task they’re trying to complete. This might be as small as making a typo in a message (that can be easily corrected) or burning your lunch by leaving it in the oven a few minutes too long.

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    #4

    I Thought I Took A Cute Picture, Looked Back At It And Realized My Hand Was Directly On The Sascrotch

    Person cheerfully hugging a large Bigfoot statue at an outdoor location, with a sign reading "Please Keep Off Statue."

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    #5

    This Is What Happens When You Wear Too Much Make Up And Not Your Seat Belt

    Car seat with a face-like stain, resembling a person, seen in a dimly lit parking area.

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    One place where nobody wants to mess up, yet everyone does at some point, is at work. And according to Harvard Business Review, there are several mistakes that we’ve all been guilty of on the job. For example, have you ever had an “aha-moment” at work? This is when we do something with the right intentions but later realize there would have been a much better way to go about it.

    Next up are “sloppy mistakes.” These can happen when you didn’t get enough sleep last night, you’re in a hurry to finish the workday as quickly as possible or your mind is simply elsewhere. These errors are perfectly preventable, but we can’t all be working at 100% efficiency every single day. We’re humans after all, not robots!

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    #7

    What If I Decide To Let My White Dog Out After I Mow My Lawn?

    Dog covered in grass clippings after playing outside, having a worse day.

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    #9

    I Didn't Mean It Like That

    Screenshot of a Reddit thread where a user unintentionally makes a 9-11 joke, realizing their mistake afterward.

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    Lady Eowyn
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The memory of watching it happen is still so immediate, it's had to believe it happened long ago enough to be history that's taught in school.

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    Another mistake HBR notes that we’ve all made at work is stretching ourselves too thin. If you are feeling ambitious or want to get brownie points in your boss’ eyes, you might be tempted to agree to way more than you can handle. But this is sure to come back to bite you when you’re overwhelmed, stressed or start making errors trying to balance everything.

    Finally, high-stakes mistakes are inevitable from time to time. These are the errors that actually have significant consequences, so hopefully, they’ll happen extremely rarely. But if you do find yourself guilty of making a high-stake mistake, try not to beat yourself up. Own up to it, and learn how to prevent it from happening again. 

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    #10

    Note To Self, Check The Dimensions Of Everything Before Ordering On Amazon

    A cat staring at a tiny scratching post on a bed, looking unimpressed.

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    4 days ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    Because humans are so prone to making mistakes, we cannot let these errors haunt us. Messing up is a part of life, and so is learning from those mishaps! MasterClass notes on their site that if you want to move past an error, the first step is to acknowledge it. Understand what went wrong and take the blame. Next, figure out how to reframe this information into a lesson. What can you do differently next time? How can you fix what went wrong? Be willing to analyze your mistakes.  

    #13

    Learn From My Mistakes

    Man with suction cup mark on forehead and colorful toy, illustrating a worse day moment.

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    Mjskywalk
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dad did this with one of those suction poppers (flip the half sphere inside out and it pops up in the air). He was popping it off his forehead and it left a mark like ⬆️. He had to give a presentation at work right after…

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    MasterClass also recommends asking for help when you need it. If someone knows the task at hand better than you do, they can be a valuable resource. Even YouTube and blogs can help get you sorted. It’s not always easy for us to think outside of the box, especially if we’re feeling frustrated or embarrassed. But someone else might be able to offer a fresh perspective and a creative way to solve the problem. 

    #16

    My Wife Reminded Me Several Times To Put The Dog In His Kennel And I Did Not. He Promised He Would Be A Good Boy And He Was Not

    Messy living room with sofa cushions torn apart, showing a worse day scenario.

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    #18

    I Put A Rock In Front Of The Green Electrical Box So My Wife Wouldn't Take Out Power To The Entire Neighborhood Again

    Car stuck on a large rock in a snowy setting, surrounded by ice and snow, highlighting a rough day scenario.

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    After fixing an error or working on how to prevent it in the future, be sure to track your progress. Understand what exactly works and what doesn’t, so you don’t have to endure making endless mistakes before you actually fix the issue. And on that note, focus on having a growth mindset. Not only do you want to fix the issue that you created in the first place, but you probably want to find an even better solution than what you first envisioned. Remember to be open to making more changes over time as well. We should always keep evolving! 

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    #20

    3 Years Ago I Unknowingly Bought A 2 Person Child's Tent Thinking It Was Adult Sized. Still Took It To The Festival

    Man looks frustrated while stuck in a small, muddy orange tent at night, having a bad day outdoors.

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    We hope you’re enjoying these silly photos of mistakes people have made, pandas. Keep upvoting the ones that make you giggle, and let us know in the comments below what errors you’ve made recently that deserve a spot on this list. Then, you can find another Bored Panda article featuring even more hilarious fails right here!

    #22

    When England Scored, I Celebrated So Much That My Apple Watch Thought I Was In A Car Crash And Proceeded To Call 999 To Inform My Family That I May Have Been In A Serious Accident

    Smartwatch crash alert triggers false emergency text during football match.

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    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Another reason to not use this smartwatch I've come into possession of.

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    #23

    They Couldn’t Do It

    Truck stuck under low bridge with "You can do it" slogan, highlighting bad day scenario.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a underpass in Melbourne that has this happen so often there is actually merchandise you can buy of it!

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    #24

    This Girl Was Bleaching Her Hair And Put A Plastic Bag From Walmart Over It To Help The Heat Stay In And It Printed The Ink Onto Her Hair

    Person sitting in a bathtub with hair covered in yellow cream and green doodles, looking down.

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    #26

    I Was Told It Gets Worse And Worse Every Time You Get Exposed

    Tweet by Matt Walsh humorously realizing he's not immune to poison ivy.

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    #27

    Forgot To Close The Window Before Getting A Carwash

    Car interior covered in spilled white paint, with documents and water bottle affected.

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    #28

    Stubborn Husband Said He Didn't Need My Help Putting Sunscreen On His Back

    A person with a sunburned back showing uneven tan lines in a home setting.

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    Hoi-Polloi
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a silly husband! He should be all about the free massage from wife.

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    #31

    My Wife Washed My New Pair Of Jeans So I Could Wear Them Today. She Also Threw In Her Big Fuzzy Blanket

    Pants covered in white lint on a washing machine, illustrating a bad laundry day.

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    Panda-sized Potato
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wasn't sure if that was the jeans or the blanket for a moment. Brown jeans.

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    #32

    Oh, Well

    Broken mug with a cartoon dog and text saying "This is fine," highlighting a bad day moment.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have one bowl left from my favourite set and I am so scared of breaking it. I already have no more of the matching mugs because I broke them :(

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    #36

    Nissan Rogue Driver Gets Stuck Making A Turn On A Denver Bike Path Foot Bridge

    Nissan SUV stuck tightly between railings, highlighting a bad day.

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    Deta Rossiter
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    how they they get up there, and think they were able to pull it off? It is not a smart car

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    #38

    I Made A Mistake And Bought The Wrong Gas Lift For My Chair

    A broken office chair precariously balanced, illustrating a worse day scenario.

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    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OMG it's the barber's chair from Curse of Monkey Island. (She says, making a reference it's unlikely anybody's going to get, but you never know!).

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    #39

    I Put These Brownies To Cool On The Porch, And A Dang Squirrel Came Through The Screen And Had At Them. I Am Very Sad

    Brownie with a missing piece beside spider-shaped candle holder on a wooden table.

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    #40

    Car Accident Results In Toilet Paper All Over The Highway

    People on a roadside picking up scattered toilet paper rolls and water bottles. Worse day than you keyword.

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    #41

    My Wife Accidently Used The Wrong Soap In The Washer

    Washing machine overflowing with soap suds, illustrating a bad day mishap.

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    K Barnes
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How does an adult human old enough to be married put dish soap in a laundry machine? I can see a teenager doing it, but an adult? That's not an accident, it's a lack of like skills.

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    #43

    Decided Today I Was Going To Take A Different Route In The Construction Zone To Get To Work

    Muddy shoes and leggings stuck in wet dirt, illustrating a worse day scenario.

    Safe to say I went back home.

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    Madam Puddyfoot
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They didn't notice after the first step?! This person was either drunk, doing this for 'likes' or truly a huge idiot

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    #44

    Someone Just Left Their Car Like This In The Parking Lot

    A red car stranded awkwardly on a grassy curb near a shopping plaza, having a worse day.

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    #45

    Took The Wife Out Of Rehab For A Walk Through The City

    A lost crutch stuck in shallow water next to a stone wall, suggesting a worse day for someone.

    She was taking a selfie and lost her grip on her crutch. It’s still there, impossible to retrieve.

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    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This calls for... a magnet fisherwoman! *brandishes powerful magnet on a string* (Seriously, those magnet fishing videos on YouTube made it looks like I'd find all kinds of cool stuff and all I've caught is a few iron filings and some slime. What a ripoff).

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    #50

    Left My Sunroof Open When It Called For Rain

    Car interior with rain-soaked dashboard, highlighting a challenging day.

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    #51

    My Brain Read This As “No Push”. Spent A Good 30 Seconds Twisting The Handle To Try And Turn It On

    Backwards "push" label on a shiny bathroom faucet.

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    #54

    I Don't Think I Had To Wash That

    A remote control is accidentally washed with black and white clothes in a washing machine.

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    Analyn Lahr
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remotes are actually quite dirty. But it probably won't work after this.

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    #56

    I Didn't Realize Until I Got To Work That I Had Mismatched Shoes (Got Dressed In The Dark Because I Was In A Hurry)

    Mismatched shoes on a tiled floor, illustrating someone having a worse day.

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    #59

    Guess Who Thought The Soy Sauce Was Syrup This Morning

    Grilled cheese soaked in soy sauce spill on a marble counter, illustrating a bad day mishap.

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    Fat Harry (Oi / You)
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Honestly, I can't believe the quantities Americans buy things in. Who needs a container that size of either soy sauce or syrup!?

    Offbeat Quinoa
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It’s usually cheaper to buy in bulk :) my parents had 5 kids and not a lot of money. We had pancakes for dinner at least once a week, because it’s cheap and filling. We had a giant bottle of syrup like this :) judge me all you want for it.

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    Hoi-Polloi
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Buy non-perishables in bulk for better unit price. If you have extra space in the pantry, it's a reasonable play.

    Marleina Hershberg
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ever heard of large families? A lot of people can live in 1 home. Teenagers eat a LOT on their own. etc

    Kira Okah
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have a much bigger container of soy sauce than this, this thing is dinky. I'm not American at all. Soy sauce is used in pretty much all of my cooking, my soy sauce container is restaurant size.

    ChickyChicky
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Both last indefinitely, so a larger size is more cost-effective.

    Nword James
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I use Karo corn syrup in smoking salmon. I use a cup each time. I smoke a lot of salmon.

    driedgrapes
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Astronomical portions all over US, but "wow how did we all get this obese? " 🤔

    Jonathan Labelle
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    unless its in restaurant i dont see the point of such a big container

    Brian Herold
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, Kikko-Man says to use soy sauce on sunny-side up, so why not French toast?

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    #61

    You Ever Climb Up Somewhere And Then Realize You Have No Clue How To Get Down? I’m About 6 Meters (20 Feet) Up

    A person stuck in a tree, looking down at rocks, having a worse day.

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    justagirl
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Put the phone away, wrap both hands around that thick branch, and then sort of shimmy down to that other thick branch, and then just slide down i guess. alternatively, call 911

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    #63

    Didn’t Understand What Was Funny About Ordering 3 Cheese Enchiladas On The Side Until These Monsters Showed Up

    Messy enchiladas overshadow the meal, creating a culinary disaster.

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    #64

    This Is My 2nd Set Of AirPods That I Have Idiotically Left In My Pockets And Washed. Please Mock Me

    Earbuds stuck in a washing machine drum, having a worse day.

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    Littlemiss
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would but I constantly wash my permanent markers. I have washed and dried the same screw cap container of lip balm 5 times. Bless the makers who put it in a metal tin.

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    #65

    I Accidentally Broke My Wife’s Succulent Llama At 6 Am

    Broken ceramic planter with fallen leaves, note saying "I am so sorry, babe," and tube of super glue on a countertop.

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    Analyn Lahr
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't that a giraffe? Llamas don't have those horn things, right?

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    #67

    Left Car Run For 25 Hours In Winter One Time By Accident

    Frozen car exhaust with icicles beneath red vehicle, highlighting a worse day scenario.

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    Karizma Kaliko
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    how did the gas last so long? my vw locked itself while idling one day and it took 3 hours til locksmith came and it ate over quarter tank of gas just idling there.... i need a car like yours

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    #69

    Automatic Door At Work Was Broken This Morning. Walked Right Into It

    Wet stain on someone's pants, possibly indicating a rough day.

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    #70

    Unemployed And Doing Job Interviews. Thought I’d Wax My Eyebrows To Look Put-Together

    Uneven eyebrows showing an awkward grooming mistake, highlighting people having a worse day.

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    Hoi-Polloi
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Crikey. I'm glad that I'm (a) a guy, (b) in tech, and (c) look like a weirdo no matter what.

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    #71

    My Mate Got A Tattoo, Ready For England Winning The Euro Championship

    A wrist tattoo reads "England Euro 2024 Winners," reflecting a regrettable decision in context of worse day experiences.

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    Pernille
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Football fans are not known for being the crispiest chip in the packet.

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    Poll Question

    How do you usually react to making a mistake?

    Laugh it off

    Get upset

    Try to fix it immediately

    Ignore it