Depression can occur in many ways. A recent shock, sudden change
or grief may have literally taken the life out of you. You may feel
stuck, blocked or confused. You may have been struggling with
feeling low for some time. You may question your life purpose or
are boggled down by stress.
Regardless of how depression may overwhelm you, here are 10
practical and tangible things you can do right now to bring
happiness back into your life:
1) Get Physical. Physical exercise is the #1 most
important thing you can do. You may have heard this many times but
still choose not to get moving. Do high cardio, sweat and release
toxins. The adrenaline will feed your whole day and make you feel
tons better about yourself. Just the act of choosing to do it will
make you feel great. And the rewards are even greater!
2) Create a daily structure. Structure gives you a
safe container to hold you when life feels like life its spinning
out of control. Take out your calendar and schedule your day.
Include what you have to get done, even if it is the bare minimum.
Stick to your structure – this will make you feel more in control
and on top of your game.
3) Do what you say you are going to do. Start
small if you need in order to follow through. If you say to
yourself, Tomorrow I need to pick up the dry clean, buy
groceries, and wash the laundry - DO IT! Following through
raises tremendous esteem and will get you feeling great about
yourself again.
4) Find something you love. If you love to garden
pot a plant. If you love to swim find a pool. If you are drawn to
creativity, paint, sculpt or dance. Engaging in something you love
will give you tremendous energy and inspire you again! Make sure
you do something you love a few times a week. Your spirit will lift
and you will feel lighter super soon.
5) Stop eating the “whites”. Sugar, white bread,
white rice, potatoes, and processed foods are instant depressants.
Nothing brings us more down then the crash of a sugar high. Did you
know there is sugar in McDonald’s fries? That’s their secret
ingredient! It may be difficult at first but it only takes a few
days to get over the hump and once you do you will feel like a
completely changed person!
6) Look at other ways you medicate. We find ways
to medicate our depression other than antidepressants in so many
ways. We may drink too much alcohol or caffeine, smoke too much,
over eat or do drugs. We don’t realize we are trying to balance our
depression by using substances. Becoming aware that these
substances remove you from experiencing happiness can help get your
life back on track, feeling more clear and empowered.
7) Be aware of how you express your feelings. Many times
we make our depression worse than it is by indulging our feelings.
We talk and talk our problems out to friends and loved ones and
don’t realize that we are actually making them bigger by keeping
our focus on them. Find a way to put your attention on something
else. Keep busy or do something with your hands rather than
spilling out all that you feel.
On the flip side, if you are holding what you feel deep inside, you
may need to give your feelings a voice. Find a good therapist to
talk your feelings out with. This will support you to have a needed
release and will help empty all that is de-pressed within
you.
8) Get rest. Sometimes anxiety that comes with
depression can keep us from getting a good nights rest or we may
hide in our sleep to avoid doing what we need to create change.
Know the difference between when you are tired and need real rest
and when you are running away under the covers. Sleep 7-9 hours a
night, no more and no less.
9) Connect to nature and sunshine! Get outside and breathe
fresh air. Take a hike, go to a park, or sit on the beach and watch
the waves. Look for the nature that is blooming life all around
you. Let the sun feed you and warm your heart. Being in nature can
shift your mood in a quick minute and Vitamin D from sunshine can
give you an added boost. Here comes the sun!
10) Find a spiritual practice. Connecting to
something much bigger than you will help you lift up off of the
self-obsession that underlines depression. Meditate daily at least
15 minutes. Take a yoga class. Find a spiritual teacher you respect
or attend a retreat or workshop.
All of these things may seem so simple and obvious, yet we can
still choose not to do them. We don’t realize that these basic
fundamental acts can actually shift our mood and bring new light
and energy to our lives.
Are you willing to commit to doing any one of these today? What is
one step you could take to put your happiness into your own
hands?
