Depressed AF. What are you doing right that is actually helping your MH?

[KeepYourselfGrounded]

As per title. Any advice is appreciated.

Hey, you ok?
My mental health has been dipping for a few days now and it's hard I know.
I've tried my best to keep it at bay but sometimes it just doesn't work.
One thing I have found helps is instead of doing lists of things to do, I now so a list of things I've done at the end of the day. I've even put getting out of bed on really bad days.
Have you got any friends and family that you can email, phone or facetime?
Are you able to volunteer?
Can you do crafting or other hobbies?
Ask yourself how you can turn this into a positive?
Do something that makes you feel happy and good about yourself.
Have you read the AIBU threads about getting - guaranteed to make you laugh 😂😂😂😂😂

Shower, getting dressed, doibg hair and make up, exercising, netflix, tidying up my bed, cooking. Tidying up and decluttering one area at a time

Yoga
Yoga everyday is what is helping me,

I am also getting enough sleep. Getting dressed in the morning and avoiding all alcohol.

Which makes me sound pretty boring, but I know that my mental health is too important not to.

I am struggling a bit, so you have my sympathies.

The thing that has helped me is to create a routine where there is no real routine, but that is possibly a bit easier for me as I am still working as a lecturer, so having video classes/meetings every day.

My routine is:

Get up, check emails, breakfast, shower and dress in nice clothes, put makeup on, do hair, clean teeth

Work until lunchtime, then sit and eat lunch at the table with DP who is also at home

About 3pm we have a cafetiere of coffee and a biscuit. Usually we drink tea at home, so this feels like a treat.

Finish work at 5ish, then go for a walk on my own

Eat dinner at 7ish. Do any house chores that need doing.

9pm we are working our way through a boxset, one episode each night. Once that's done, I usually have a glass of wine and read for a bit, then bed.

I'm also trying to connect with one person each day outside work/DP. Yesterday I wrote a letter to a friend, which I will post on today's walk, but it might be a message exchange, or an email - I don't like video calls outside work. I'm also keeping in touch with my neighbours, both of whom are lone parents - our cat is sending the children messages and little gifts like comics and sweeties.

Take care, OP, this is a shitty time.

Building in little pockets of joy.

A nice wine. A favourite meal.

Bringing out a wee treat for the kids - a face mask, sweet treat.

Flowers.

Go out into the sun (when it deigns to shine).

Enjoying the smells of spring - line dried sheets, and flowers.

Listening to the bird song.

Understanding that this is utter crap, but soon some of the crapness will pass, and we will have a little less crap to deal with. Or different crap, which will at least be novel.

I planted some over ripe (about to go in the bin) tomatoes in some spare compost and a old food container on my window sill.

I've grown 60 little tomato plants this week from what is basically rubbish.

It really lifts me seeing my seedlings growing so readily. I think anything to do with new growth/ birth and nature is uplifting.

I'm going to pot them on. I'll eventually leave them outside my house with a note for people to help themselves and grow tomatoes on their window sills too.

Thinking of others helps your mental health as it shifts your focus.

The other thing that helps is to find three things however small you are grateful for each day.

Mine today are:

I'm grateful that our lovely post office delivered to my door some milk and bread. With a smile and a wave.

I'm grateful today that my cat is curled up having a cuddle on my lap.

I'm grateful today that I have access to the internet and I can FaceTime my friend to have a coffee and a chat.

I'm battling with low MH at the moment. These are the things that help me.

Journaling, art, exercise, playing piano :)

Sudoku and listening to upbeat music.

I'm still recovering from illness, but I noticed my mental health dipping already too. I started a very silly parody instagram and have been doing a couple of posts a day. It's very niche humour, but I already have 10 followers! It's really cheering me up.

Thank you all for your replies. I have been doing most of what's been suggested on here, though have been struggling for the past few days due to pre-existing circumstances. Covid 19 just adding yo the stressors.

Yoga, listening to music, my garden/gardening, baking, creative writing - these have all been saving graces. Have not had an alcoholic drink for over 3 weeks either. Though guess drinking loads of coffee and staying up late looking at social media isn't helping...

Yes it probably isn’t. It’s understandable though - stuff like staying up late when depressed is a really hard cycle to break at the best of times!

Don’t expect to break it instantly - even making yourself go to bed half an hour earlier, or having a short break from browsing the internet, or having one less cup of coffee, would be great progress

Hi there the last coup me of days death told have been v depressing.However what I have been doing so far.
Get up 730 as per usual coffee and news.
Switch off!! Then DIY and chores.
Bath dressed and chill time music\ internet FB.
Then walk briskly.
Downing street catch up.Yea
Then a film or fav progr ame.I do have pets though and love baking so I think th is adds lightness to my day.I hope this helps.😊

Am also feeling down . I find this time of day hardest - early evening or evening. I guess I felt lonely Anyway, before the lockdown and the lockdown has amplified that. Am at home with my three teens.

I know I am lucky to be able to be at home with them for now, and also lucky not to be ill, but that doesn’t stop the darkness sometimes crowding into my head.

Cup of tea, chatting to people, watching programs, avoiding too much news.

I have an ocean waves crashing + birdsong recording as well which is soothing

And yes the death toll and stories emerging of the individuals are very sad.

No need to blush about the sound recording frownette - if it helps that’s fantastic!

Me and my work friends (furloughed) have been having a stand-up meeting every morning where we say what productive things we want to do that day, and hold each other accountable.

I've done about 1/4 each day of what I said I was going to do, but without the meetings it would be 0!

Art, yoga, drinking 😬 and avoiding constant news articles

@beachbreeze Yes. Think it's best I avoid clicking on to news stories! 😬 Managed to get to bed earlier last night at least.

Have not been drinking at all during this time - feeling kind of proud of myself for it.

So today my aim is to:

*Actually do some work from home.
*Homeschool for one solid hour (admittedly this has petered away).
*Lay on a picnic blanket in the garden and read a book or magazine.
*Properly clean and tidy at least one room.
*Stay off social media as far as is possible, unless watching something worthwhile.
*Go for a walk and take pics of the landscape.

Will report back! Hope everyone has a good day!

DD and I are digging a wildlife pond, essentially the lawn is mostly weeds now and she asked if she could after watching a garden rescue programme. It's relaxing and quite cathartic. We have a spade but I told Dd we didn't so we are doing it with hand tools so it takes longer. Keeps her busy and it's good being outside.

Most powerful thing I've done is to let people know if I'm having a "wobble"

Most people are more than willing to chat or message to get you through a low point, but they won't if you sit at home pretending everything's ok.

A rough daily schedule for me and baby each day. Getting dressed every day and mapping out activities so I have stuff to do. The schedule also includes me time where I have left the baby with DH and sat in the car listening to my audio book. My daily schedule is mainly focused on the baby, tummy time, playing, singing that sort of stuff.

How’d you get on OP?

Keep. It. Simple. Forget yoga and anti g stuff and thar jazz. Brushed teeth and had a wash? You're winning. Eaten something semi wholesome for breakfast (cereal/toast) you're winning. If I'm struggling I actually write a tick list of the most, basic things. Like :aim- all in house washed and dressed before midday? (big fat tick. I'm winning. It's so rewarding and builds your self esteem and sense of achievement and as you start doing the, basics you then build on it thr next day and the next. Don't look too far ahead. Day at a time. Break it down into manageable chunks. Also go easy on yourself. Mute fb 'perfect people' *what's app groups and just really step aware from all social media for a few days. Certainly made my mental health better good luck

@HuckfromScandal ticked off most from the above list. Went for our first walk to the shops in nearly 3 weeks. Video chatted with family as usual and also had a productive online staff meeting. Also watched a movie.

Today I plan on doing much the same.

I'm not depressed as such. Just feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders at the moment... guess we all are.