To ask what small things that help you stay positive?

[Ankleblisters]

When everything is really hard or totally unbearable or it feels like there is no longer any joy or pleasure in anything and never will be again... what are the small things that help you bear it? What helps you stay positive and keep going?

Typo in title, sorry

the kindness of friends.

sertraline

Tea and biscuits.

Listening to music that makes me want to sing and dance. If possible, sing and dance.

Exercise. Don't always fancy it, but it is the best medicine for low mood, for me. Get on the bike and keep pedalling till feel a bit better. Repeat.

My friends
My adorable grandson
My health
A sunny day
A latte with a friend
My garden
Mumsnet the funny bits
My marriage 💑

A cuddle with a dog.
The knowledge that we are all tiny and insignificant in the context of the entire universe and history of time - we are like tiny earnest ants crawling along a well worn path going about their business. None of it matters that much. I find this a relief sometimes.

Hot bath, early night, cuddles from my kids, going for a walk… I’m a firm believer in the power of fresh air, cuddles with my cat, chat in the phone with my mum 🥰

Fresh air, my kids, Ted lasso, trying to think of three nice things that have happened that day. Making a cup of tea. Reading.

A weekly (or more) swim in the sea.

Work really helps me. My job brings tangible benefits to people.
Making a hot coffee just before I leave on the school run, so it’s sipping temp when I get back.
Organising and trying new ways of organising, it makes home life much easier and gives me less to think about.

Exercise, meditation, medication, therapy.

having concerts booked really helps me to get through I know it's maybe silly but it's what I used to spend all my free time doing before kids and I've just recently this past year for back into going to shows and it really helps me having something to look forward too that doesn't revolve around kids

sparrows and pigeons

No matter how shit the day has been, I can go home and my dog will still greet me like I am royalty.

I count my blessings.

Also, I remind myself that life is meaningless and everything dies 😂

At the moment the thought of spring keeps me going.

It was booking little holidays to look forward to, but can't afford that now - so here for more ideas!

Meditation and medication and twice weekly Zumba.

Planting vegetable seeds and seeing them develop into food, also podcasts on all different topics depending on my mood

Exercise
My morning cup of coffee
My DH and DCs (especially hugs and laughs)
Walking on the moors on a nice day
Praying for people and wishing them healing (not popular but it's like meditation for me and brings me peace)
Being around our pets
Smelling flowers
Listening to bird song in a morning in spring

Longer days
First daffs in the shops for £1 a bunch

Getting lost in a good book.

Doing something nice for someone else - whether it's a tiny gesture like stopping to let them cross to a traffic island, or doing something more time consuming like volunteering . Or just giving someone a (genuine) compliment

Cuddles with my dog (am not well enough to walk him at the moment or would say that)

When we sit down for dinner together (not every night but as much as we can) we each take turns to say our positives from the day.

It started as a strategy given to me by CAHMS to deal with my eldest daughters depression and anxiety and tbh I rolled my eyes but it’s been over a year now and is firmly instilled in our routine. We are all honest and say when the positives are a bit thin on the ground but it can be as simple as ‘dinner is nice’ if you’re really struggling. It makes you really look at your day and see that it’s rarely ALL bad, there’s usually a glimmer of positivity in there.

The post-run high

Belief in myself and my skills and hope for the best each day. And a good cuppa tea,

Wine :)