Luke’s $10k A Week Blog

Sometimes we all feel a little depressed. Unless you’re that 1% of the population that’s never depressed, chances are you’ve had it happen to you. A bad case of the Blahs.

And feeling down can seriously interfere with achieving our goals. We know of course that we should be doing something, but we just don’t feel like doing anything. If you don’t do something to nip it in the bud, this can get way out of control — and rip you out of your groove for success. Here are some winning techniques:

1. Make a list. All the “stuff” that’s in our head can overwhelm us. Pick up a piece of paper and a pen, and make a list of the most pressing things you have to do. It may be work, stuff around the house, maybe a combination of things. Just getting it on paper will be a huge load off your mind, making the impossible task seem much more achievable.

2. Take action. If the first task on your list is too big, you’ve gotta break it down. Do something even if it’s ridiculously tiny. Anything positive you do will make you feel better. Remember, the villian isn’t the problem itself (which you would probably breeze through effortlessly on a good day) but the depression itself. Just doing one little thing can work wonders for depression. And once you’ve got that foot in the door of Accomplishment, the next task will be much easier.

3. Exercise. You might not be in the mood for exercise — but trust me, just do it! Whether it’s walking, running, lifting weights, what ever you like to do, do it. A walk in the sunshine works wonders for me. It doesn’t need to be a hugely strenuous workout; just get your blood pumping and your endorphins flowing.

4. Get cleaned up. Smelling bad and having greasy hair is not good for your mood. Unconsciously it makes you feel ashamed — just that little bit of self-image makes a huge difference. Don’t let it win. Showering and feeling clean can work wonders for your mood. Brush your teeth, comb your hair, shave, and whatever else you need to do. Every little bit of good feeling counts. All that skin and hair stimulation releases endorphins. Endorphins are your friend.

5. Get out of the house. Once you’re all cleaned up, going out and seeing people and being seen will boost your mood. You can see new people and sights, notice new details about the world, and basically stimulate your brain in new ways. Trust me, it works. You don’t need to travel to Mesopotamia; just going to town for a bit will make a difference.

6. Play some lively music. Forget the heartbreak stuff. Put on a happy jingle or upbeat tune. Crank it up and move to it. It works.

7. Talk about it. You have friends, family members, maybe a significant other. Talk to them. That’s what they’re there for. This is a great way to bond, which in turn makes you feel better about yourself. Humans need people they can trust, and you build trust by talking about things.

Feeling better could be just a few minutes away. Don’t give up.

Inspired by: Feeling Down? 7 Ways to Pick Yourself Back Up!

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 8:00 am and is filed under productivity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.