I’ve been working from home for about a month now. As I hope many of you are, I am staying home about 99% of my weeks, the 1% is just to go out for a walk around my apartment.
Being home all of this time has made the voice of my depression loud and critical. Because I have been depressed, I haven’t felt like doing anything besides laying around. I say to myself that I should do something, even just one thing, but often times that is a fleeting thought.
Depression tells me that during this time at home I should be productive. I should be exercising in some capacity twice a day because I have gained a little weight. I should be cleaning the house and doing home improvements that I have put off instead of playing PUBG.
Day before yesterday it peaked and I had a minor freak out. My aunt kept asking what was wrong, I would say nothing and she would reply, you’re lying. I was lying. Saying that nothing is wrong and that I’m OK is my most told lie.
So here are some little things you can do to overcome your depression state.
1.Have a glass of water. Every day if nothing else, please, do this one kindness for yourself. If you require meds, wash them down with the water. Add a multivitamin, if you’re feeling particularly confident. Don’t feel bad if this seemed hard. You did a thing!
2.Brush your teeth. If you can’t bear to do anything else but drink a glass of water, at least brush your teeth once daily.
3.Wash your face. Use a warm washcloth and soap. Moisturize after. If you’re feeling saucy while you’ve got the washcloth out, give your pits and bits a swipe, too.
4.Put on clean clothes. At least underwear. Or, if you’re not an underwear person, clean pajamas or lounging clothes. Even if you’re just going back to bed, you’ve cleaned your body and dressed it. That’s big!
5.Wash your hair / take a shower. Comb your hair.
6.Fix yourself something to eat. Even if it’s just toast. Eat something.
7.Get outdoors. Look at the sky. Listen for a bird. Smell a flower. Put your hands in the grass or dirt. Attend to a living thing, if it’s an option. Water a plant. Pick a flower. Pet a cat or a dog. If getting outdoors for you looks like stepping onto your tiny balcony and not leaving the house, that’s okay. Take a cup of coffee out there. Squint at your neighbors. Breathe deeply.
8.Tidy something up. Just one thing. Take out the trash. Do the dishes. Change your bed sheets. Clear the laundry off your couch. You’re more or less taking care of business at this level. No need to spend hours a day cleaning. Tackle one mess at a time. Ten minutes here or there is perfectly okay. The key is that you’re incrementally improving your surroundings. The result is that you’re going to start believing that you deserve to live in a comfortable place.
9.Consume some carefree media. Read an escapist book. Watch a silly show or movie. Listen to your favorite music. Do not consume the news.
10.If the mood strikes you, create. Do some art. Play some guitar. Paint. Draw. Sing, even if it’s only to yourself.
11.Reach out to a friend or family member, via text, phone, or video call. Staying connected is good for the soul. It’s okay to isolate, or not to feel like you can face a call with someone, and it’s okay not to do this every day. But you may find that you feel a tiny bit (or a lot) better sharing your feelings with a friend.
How has your mental health been lately? Are you feeling things for intensely than you normally would or have you become numb to it all? Comment it..
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