“I try to keep active, even if that’s just getting out of bed, washed and ready before 10am, so that the days don’t become an endless blur of nothingness” Getting out of depression takes a lot of personal effort. Below are some of the tips that you could use to help you through;
- Keep active.
When you are experiencing depression, it is easy for hygiene to not feel like a priority. But small things, like taking a shower and getting fully dressed whether or not you’re going out of the house, can make a big difference to how you feel. Many people find exercise a challenge but gentle activities like yoga, swimming, cycling or walking can be a big boost to your mood.
- Work out what makes you happy.
Try making a list of activities, people and places that make you happy or feel good. Then make a list of what you do every day. It probably won’t be possible to include all the things that make you happy but try to find ways to bring those things into your daily routine. Try to do little bits of these activities when you are feeling low.
- Create a resilience toolkit.
This could be a list of activities you know improve your mood or you could fill an actual box with things to do to cheer yourself up. Try including your favorite book or film, a notebook and pen to write down your thoughts or notes of encouragement to yourself. It might feel difficult or a bit silly to put it all together but it can be a really useful tool if you are feeling too low to come up with ideas later on.
- Be kind to yourself.
None of us achieve all our goals. Do not beat yourself up if you don’t do something you planned to or find yourself feeling worse again. Try to treat yourself as you would treat a friend by being kind to yourself.
- Treat yourself.
When you are feeling down, it can be hard to feel good about yourself. Try to do at least one positive thing for yourself every day. This could be taking the time for a long bath or reading your favorite book.
- Get good sleep.
For lots of people who experience depression, sleeping too little or too much can be a daily problem. Getting good sleep can help to improve your mood and increase your energy levels. Establish a routine so that your body clock can adjust, relax before going to bed.
- Eat well. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet can help you feel well, think clearly and increase your energy levels.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. While you might want to use drugs or alcohol to cope with any difficult feelings, in the long run they can make you feel a lot worse. They can also lead to addiction which aggravates the problem.