The Bad Day Playbook
What to do when everything sucks
Written by Gayle Smerdon
Designed by Matthew Oswald, Like Design
Published by Broadcast Books
The Bad Day Playbook is a practical, evidence-informed guide to navigating difficult days – the kind where deep frustrations and disappointments start you sinking deeply into the couch. Rather than offering sweeping life changes or forced optimism, the book focuses on small ‘plays’ that interrupt unhelpful spirals and restore a sense of control in the moment. Drawing on real-world experience and grounded psychology, Dr Gayle Smerdon combines clarity, warmth, and humour to help readers recognise what’s happening and choose responses that genuinely help. There’s no toxic positivity and no pressure to ‘fix’ yourself. Just thoughtful strategies for managing rough moments and, once you’re through them, ideas for staying steady for longer.
About the author
Dr Gayle Smerdon is a Melbournebased writer, speaker and workplace culture specialist. She has previously published books on learning and workplace change and regularly publishes on LinkedIn to her 11,000+ followers. She can occasionally be found trying to be funny at open mics, and is the willing slave to her feline overlord, Mr Spooks.
Published: March 2026
Trade paperback RRP: AU$35.00
176 pages
ISBN: 978-1-7638250-8-6
To order a copy of The Bad Day Playbook visit gaylesmerdon.com, Amazon, Readings or Booktopia.