Tell me, if you are feeling sad, what small things do you do to prevent depression

[Whatthefuck3456]

Feeling low. Apart from gp. Any advice please.

Avoiding The Daily Mail online helps me feel better.

In no particular order, ride my bike, go for a run, remember that i was once happy, take my friends dog for a walk, cook a nice meal and have some decent wine, read a book.
I find walking makes me sadder.

As i ve got older, sadness/depression, call it what you may, has very much lessened to now be v rare, not even once a year.

No booze or powders
lots of fruit & veg
seeing positive people
getting out in nature
regular exercise
having something to look forward to
reading
cats!

Oh and meditation - takes a while to master but bloody transformative!

Reading this thread itself is making me me feel brighter, some really good suggestions & kindness in spades.

I feed the ducks. Or squirrels, pigeons, seagulls or crows even.

Very grateful for all your replies! Thank you 🫶🏻

My go to list, in no particular order:

Music
Swimming
Drastically reduce coffee intake as this really spikes my focus/anxiety on whatever I am dealing with
Lots of herbal teas
Reading
I keep catch ups with friends minimal and sort of shutdown for a few days
Try and stay off social media/tv in the evenings and do some sketching or make something for my child
Go for a drive alone with music
Expand on night time self care/skincare
Flick through photos of my late grandmother and remember her incredible strength (probably very sad this but it helps me!)
When I am ready chat to DP so I feel I have "offloaded"

I won't post it here but it's available on YouTube

Adm. McRaven's speech at the graduation ceremony at UT - the whole thing is great but one thing has stuck in my head years since I first watched it.

When you get up, make your bed. It sets you up for the day positively with little effort. And if you have a rubbish day you've got an inviting place to retreat back to.

I'm naturally prone to depressive thoughts.
I run. I watch my favourite comedy shows. I try not to worry what people think of me (not easy I know).
I remind myself I'm an insignificant speck present for a tiny fraction of time in the universe to put problems into perspective.

I swim or walk, I eat some nice food and get fresh air every day

I get cosy. Blankets, candles, fairy lights and tea in a fancy cup. I then watch tiktok videos of people doing Christmas crafts or decorating trees. Doesn't matter if its June or Dec, it's my absolute go to. I work in hospice so unfortunately feel sad/down alot. This always picks me up. I am well aware the majority of adults will think this is ridiculous but it genuinely gives me joy! Hope whatever is going on, you feel better soon op.

Walk among trees or by water.
Go to the gym.
Stroke the cat.

I stopped smoking habitually a while ago, but if I’m really really down I have a cigarette, a redbull and some ice cream from this really nice ice cream shop. I enjoy all of these outside at the same time. It’s very chav but it never fails. The redbull is optional depending on time of day.

Practice gratitude every night or when I’m feeling low
take my vt d and b vits raises my mood
go for a walk
hot water bottle blanket fluffy socks
Clean bedsheets
feel good movie
a hot drink
chocolate
a hug

Swim outdoors

I watch tv series that I've seen lots of times - lots of episodes, and not to heavy going, like Modern Family, Friends, US Office.
I find the familiarity calming.

For me
Walk in trees by moving water
Challenge my "what if the bad thing happens" with "what if it goes well" (but specific!)
physiological sigh - deep breath in the when you feel like you've fully inhaled gasp/sniff a bit more in then let it out slowly they really calm me down
name three things I'm grateful for
hug DH
Good sleep hygiene (& ashwagandha)
my lazy brain likes to follow the well worn paths through the jungle so often if one thing makes me feel down then I spiral into other sad things grief etc that are down the well worn paths, I make an active effort to find new positive paths & try to walk on them (makes me think of Frost "I took the road less traveled by)

I hope you feel better soon 💐

Make spicy roasted vegetable soup: tastes lovely, is really healthy, great for digestion and I feel wholesome for having done it.

Go for a walk somewhere nice. At this time of year blackberry picking really lifts my mood. Or do some gardening. Just being outside is so good for my mood.

Go for a coffee and a pastry on my own and just enjoy the peace.

And the single most effective thing I’ve ever done to improve my mood: come off social media. I haven’t been on Facebook, Instagram, tiktok or any news app other than occasionally scrolling through BBC news since early summer and it’s had a massively positive effect on my mood and I haven’t missed it for a second. It took me a few weeks to pluck up the courage to delete the apps because I thought I’d somehow miss out, but it’s been great and I’m not planning on going back any time soon, if ever. I really cannot recommend it enough. Also I’ve read more books in the last couple of months than I have done in the last few years, because I’m not wasting my life scrolling though bollocks.

Fresh air.
Nature.
Don't drink alcohol.
Exercise.

No wine
Walking and cycling

Take St John's Wort - has natural antidepressant properties...
Make sure I get exercise every day.
Try and avoid the news and social media
Lots of cuddles with my dog
Do crafts - knitting, sewing, crochet etc. it's a good exercise in mindfulness and is very satisfying.

Staying busy and distracted. Even if it's just finding a fun tv show and binge watching or picking up a new video game or a craft project.

Anything to avoid lying in bed ruminating over things.

Talk to family or friends- they always put problems into perspective.
Get my hair cut.
Go back to what I loved as a child- drawing/painting/ certain books/ picking up an instrument.
Do something kind for somebody else.
Gardening. I like being able to look out of my window to a cultivated space- even if it is just seeing some bulbs coming up in spring.
Planning things to look forward to- a holiday/ meals out with friends/ exercise time
Going the market to buy unusual food to cook for friends.
Going to a bookshop and picking a new book.
Buying a new online audible book.
A walk to the local fruit shop to buy fresh fruit from someone directly rather than the noisy supermarket.
Decluttering
Trying something new- joining a gym/ reading club/ knitting circle, courses at local library.
Going on a bargain hunt in local charity shops.
I think the little things are the most pleasing. Anything too demanding- like redecorating- can be exhausting and add to the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Watch a funny film - love a cartoon like The Incredibles.
Go for a walk tomorrow morning - sunlight or at least daylight helps.
Ring a mate or a nice family member.