4 Self-Care Strategies to Help You Manage Your Depression

Being down and feeling a little upset is normal from time to time. Everybody hits a low point in their life and will eventually bounce back from it, stronger than ever. However, things aren’t that easy for people suffering from depression, which is a serious mental health condition. Depression can affect just about anybody, and people can experience it at any point in their lives, even when they’re extremely happy.

One solution to help people cope with depression is practicing self-care and finding ways to look after themselves a little better. Making conscious decisions about what you eat, how much sleep you get, getting enough physical activity, and being present, can all help to improve the symptoms of depression you may be feeling. Here are some ways you can take good care of your body and make good lifestyle choices to help you cope with your depression.

Eating Nutritious Meals

Eating healthy is so important not only for your physical health but also for your mental well-being. By making sure that your body receives the right amount of nutrition, you’ll inevitably feel better. Your brain consumes up to 20% of your daily calorie intake, so it’s only essential to feed your brain and your body for it to work optimally. Regular intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and antioxidants will help you feel a lot better.

Engaging in Physical Activity

Despite what the name suggests, a huge part of any physical activity requires brainpower. It helps you focus on something other than depressing thoughts, and it helps you take your mind off of life’s stresses. Being active redirects your energy into something positive and also changes some of your brain’s chemistry. Physical activity actually leads to increased production of endorphins, which are “feel good” hormones that can help improve your mood. 

While finding the motivation to do exercise is hard enough even for people who aren’t depressed, just pushing yourself to do small steps is already a good thing. Like setting aside a five or 10-minute walk will do you a lot of good both mentally and physically.

Getting Enough Sleep

Sleep plays a central role in conditioning our minds to work better and feel more relaxed. No one can function their best when they don’t get enough sleep. If you’re depressed, your sleeping patterns are often affected. Most of the time, you’ll find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. In some cases, people sleep too much. Whatever the case is, try to get a good seven to nine hours of sleep, to allow your mind to rest for a bit.

Practice Mindfulness

One of the common symptoms of depression is having the tendency to think negatively about yourself, your experiences, and your future. This is where mindfulness can help you by helping you become more aware of your thoughts and stand back to observe them. Mindfulness is a technique designed to help you stop dwelling on negative thoughts and feelings. It allows you to observe and accept them and even build a little self-compassion. It doesn’t take much to practice it. In fact, it’s recommended to practice mindfulness for about 30 seconds to 5 minutes, multiple times a day. Just take a step back and review your thoughts instead of being swallowed and consumed by them.

Conclusion

Depression is never an easy thing to deal with. In fact, some people spend the rest of their lives battling depression. But it’s these simple tasks that could help you manage your thoughts and just become a better version of yourself, even for a tiny bit. 

Chettiar Counselling and Associates offers a safe and non-judgmental space for people to be open and honest about their thoughts and feelings. Our therapists provide support for managing anxiety, depression, anger management and relationship issues. If you need counselling services in Cambridge, Ontario, you can take advantage of our no-cost phone consultation. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.