Bouncing Back From a Depressive Episode
Move on from the negativity of your past to the positivity of your future.
I am currently writing through a raging hangover.
My hands are slow and sloppy as are my thoughts.
I’ve recently gone through a rather aggressive episode of depression. I locked myself away and surrounded myself with bottles upon bottles of varying liquors.
Depression is extremely common and affects a lot of people. According to the World Health Organization, more than 264 million people suffer from depression around the globe. (source)
If you are suffering, then know that you are not alone.
Fortunately, depression can be treated.
Bouncing back requires mental strength and dedication.
Many of us cannot afford to be stuck in the mental rut of depression for extended periods of time. We have tasks to complete, people to tend to, responsibilities to fill.
This month brings the return of NaNoWriMo, a sort of Inktober for writers, in which we are challenged to write at least 50,000 words in one month.
Yikes.
That number alone can be daunting. However, it is very doable.
The hardest part of tackling this challenge is getting started and maintaining a rigorous writing schedule. That’s about it. Get in the habit and show up.
That being said, this can be rather difficult if we are struggling with a depressive episode.
Here’s how I like to bounce back.
Clear that clutter.
A messy room results in reduced productivity.
By cleaning up, we are setting ourselves up in a mood to produce.
Professionals of all fields are judged closely on their levels of productivity. Thus, being able to produce despite your mental state is incredibly important.
Mental health is invaluable. Starting your day off with a little cleaning (or even just making the bed) is a great way to start off on the right foot.
Get writing
Owning a journal that you regularly tend to can help you maintain a productive attitude.
Much like starting the day off with cleaning, journaling at either the beginning or end of your day acts as a pallet cleanser.
By cleaning your mind, you are removing the mental clutter that stops you from performing at whatever levels you need to achieve.
Hide your phone.
Or at least put it out of reach.
It is very easy to get distracted with such a wonderful device within arm’s reach.
By hiding your phone, you are mentally prepping yourself to work without distraction.
Many times completing a task is just a matter of sitting down and doing it.
Maintain a checklist.
Keeping a list of tasks of which you can carefully complete helps guide your mind and keep it from wandering.
Many times our minds need help focusing on what we need to do. A misguided mind can easily be overwhelmed if it does not have a clear list of which it needs to complete.
Keep your mind clear and guided, and you will complete your tasks.
Everyone goes through depressive episodes. The lengths of these episodes vary from person to person. However, everyone can agree that we cannot allow ourselves to be stuck in one phase in our lives when we live in an ever-changing world.
Start off your day with a small productive task. Clean your room and your mind. Make a list, and stick to it.
