How to cheer yourself up when everyone else seems busy:

Coping with depression: [Part 2]

Moods of May
Aug 27, 2017 · 6 min read

Sounds easier said than done, but distracting yourself from depression isn’t easy when you don’t really feel like socialising or reaching out to friends and family. And I admit it with ample, frequent experience that people arent free or perceptive when you’d desperately like some company.

Sounds easier said than done, but distracting yourself from depression isn’t easy when you don’t really feel like socialising or reaching out to friends and family. And I admit it with ample, frequent experience that people arent free or perceptive when you’d desperately like some company.

So here are some quick tips to cheer yourself up when everyone else seems busy or best kept off.

1. Rest your mind and give your body some workout

Sleeping it out works best for your mind; and there’s nothing better than a walk or workout to naturally induce some good sleep. It is the best distraction that effortlessly takes you out of your sulk-zone, in fresh air, without the pressure to socialise or talk about it. In fact, you’ll end up thanking yourself for the slightly healthier version of you when you bounce back and you will do so faster, in fact.

2. Sign up for an activity or class you’ve been procrastinating

We all want to learn something new — a dance form, a new language or skill; or an interest group / workshop with likeminded people; but lack the motivation to take time off our must-to-dos or lack the right company. Well, this is the best time to kickstart it since you are anyway not in the mood to perform the routine chores or duties. And if you don’t have the list of any such activity, simply google or check local activity apps (LBB/ Thrillopedia/ Bookmyshow etc in India) for the listed activities in your city / neighbourhood and pick one up. You will end up befriending your mood swings and depression everytime you bag a skill or two on the other end.

3. Practice mindful meditation

This one’s a tough cookie to bite in the beginning as any kind of mediation means mastery over your constantly chattering mind. But it’s a fight with your thoughts, you must pick and you shall win, once you begin to walk the path. There are plenty of apps available that you could explore to find the one that suits you or look up for guided mediation on YouTube. If you believe in “what you seek is seeking you” then you shall come across the right technique that suits you and gets you going. In one of my severely depressing phases in life, I came across Vipassana (www.dhamma.org) and I went for the 10 day executive course at the Global Pagoda, Mumbai. And I’ve never looked at the impermanence state and phases of life in the same way.

5. Limit your social media usage

We are all voyeurists by nature and we constantly keep a tab on what’s happening in other people’s lives, thanks to Facebook and Instagram. While, studies claim that social media releases dopamine that makes us feel good about our virtual social circle and the drama that unfolds, it also makes us restless and depressed with the subconscious comparisions, thanks to the pretentious status of perpetual happiness on the medium. Depression isnt the best phase to aggrevate it further in your mind while everyone else seems to be loving their seemingly perfect lives.

6. Entertain yourself!

The reason I list this option later in my tips is that I believe depression can be used productively as much as possible. But in case you don’t have the motivation to start with the top of this list, then you could begin here. Use the healing time to pursue an intriguing book, film or web series you’ve been sitting on for a while. I understand your attention span might not be at its best, but atleast you have something to reach out to while everyone else seems to be busy. You never know, you might end up warming yourself to calling over a friend who enjoys the same thing. It has worked best for me occasionally; as it unburdens me from approaching them out of need.

7. Explore community service

Depression takes you from “I don’t have time” to “I don’t know how to kill time” in no time. I often slip into my shell, stop answering or responding to calls and messages, loath socialising and confine myself to a room — feeling useless and bored in the bargain. While a part of me want to soak up the sun and go somewhere inspiring, I don’t have the motivation or the courage to set off to somplace inspiring all by myself and find my ground back. The easiest way to put this time to good use is by offering to serve those who are potentially in a worse situation than you, socially, physically, mentally or financially. Find a local orphanage/ school for the underprivileged, old age home or a local cause or community and lend some of your free time helping with arrangements as required. Trust me you’d gain more than you give and bounce back much faster when you observe how people cope up with even worse issues in life while earning some good Karma.

8. Go for a solo trip

While I’ve always wanted to resort to solo travel as my first choice of ‘escape’, it’s been the toughest for me to manage so far. The farthest I’ve been with this one is to my first ten days mediataion camp, where we were anyway requested to maintain noble silence. That lifted off the pressure to talk or socialise with others especially when I was in a foul mood. I aim to pursue solo travel seriously on or off depression but its going to require a push on my side. And I believe this can be the first go-to depression battling tool for me in future.

I hope this helps those of you who are still learning to tame the beast called depression, to find some inspiration. Do leave your feedbacks, suggestions and your own coping mechanisms that might help me and others alike. Thanks for reading.

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Moods of May

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Seeking the meaning and purpose of this fancy life, one day at a time. Fancy words can wait for another day!

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