No matter what age or stage of your life you happen to be, there’s always going to be times when you feel unmotivated. Sometimes, it feels like you have no energy or you feel completely lost. It can feel like a milder form of depression. It’s not something I like to think about, but it happens and I try my best to work through it.
I thoroughly believe in taking mental health days. The problem is that it isn’t always convenient to take them nor is it always appropriate to. That doesn’t always mean you have to suffer through it. Here are some strategies that I use to get me through a tough mental health day.
Exercise
A little jumpstart can work wonders when in a mental rut. A brisk walk outside, a jog on the treadmill, or some free weights at the gym can make a world of difference. Exercise releases endorphins which are perfect for when you’re stuck inside your own head. For best results, find a workout buddy for the day
To-do list
I find that my day becomes infinitely better when I know exactly what I need to do and how I am going to do it. Lists allow me to see how productive I am and helps hold me accountable. Of course, it’s still possible to procrastinate which brings me to my next point.
Do things immediately
If you think something has to be done, DO IT! This is especially helpful when I have my first task of the day. This allows me to: A. get things done, and B. get them done quickly. From there, it’s easier to build up momentum to get some of the harder tasks done, such as writing an essay or starting a difficult research project.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips that work for me. It usually gets me into the worker bee mindset and by the time I’m done exercising or creating my daily to-do list then I’m ready for the day. At the very least I’m out of bed.
I don’t have depression, however, I do show signs of it when I get too stressed out. If you have these feelings or symptoms on a consistent and persistent basis, contact a medical professional or a hotline. There are many national and local resources available so there’s no need to suffer in silence.
Here’s a list of a few national hotlines:
https://www.depression-test.net/depression-hotlines.html