Some times it can feel like no matter how many times you pick yourself up, life just knocks you back down. And proceeds to spit in your face. One step forward, two steps back. It’s an exhausting and discouraging cycle that can drive us into a depression, to feelings of defeat. At the end of the day, life feels hard for all of us at different ages and stages of our lives. The human condition can be a cruel joke. Despite this sense of unity in our hardships, it doesn’t make depression any easier to navigate through or your struggles lesser than your neighbor’s.
When life’s got you down there are a few ways you can try to trick your brain into feeling a sense of purpose and positivity. Perhaps a trick that turns the tides just enough to get you through the tick of the sadness or despair. When life feels hard, here are a few ideas to help you to regain your sense of purpose and balance.
VOLUNTEER AT AN OLD FOLKS HOME OR HOMELESS SHELTER
While on the generic side, there’s no question that putting in your time to better serve someone else gives you a great sense of purpose and appreciation from the outside world. Spending some time taking care of your grandparents or volunteering with the elderly or the homeless forces you to see the difference in your quality of life at a baseline, but even better builds an opportunity for people to rely on you - and see your value, even when you can’t see it yourself.
TRY YOUR HAND AT A NEW SKILL
Learn how to play a song on the ukulele, start taking a dance class, study a few new words in a different language each day. It doesn’t need to be a significant focus or something that will overwhelm you. After all, tasks and daunting duties are the last things you need when you’re feeling down. This is more about creating small rewards and growth when things feel stagnant.
Pick to focus on something that’s already rooted in joy. Music lovers, turn to instruments. Travel enthusiasts, learn a language that you plan a trip to match. Betterment can build confidence and purpose.
GROW A GARDEN
Back to the thought-process of caring for something else to bring joy and meaning to our own lives. Tending to and growing a garden is one of the most meditative, rewarding hobbies out there (biased source.) Look around your city or town for a community or urban garden that delivers most of the basics right off the bat. Or plant your own plot in window boxes or in your yard. Watching something grow is a gracious experience.
PRACTICE ART
Art! It’s wonderful if executed correctly. See: you can’t take creating it too seriously. One idea to getting started: buy a cheap watercolor set and start by painting a feeling. One day it could be sorrow. Another day, bliss. This art never needs to see the light of day. Its sole purpose is to soothe your soul. If you’re lucky, maybe art is one of those new skills you can craft. Otherwise, simply view creating it as an art in itself.
GET OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE
Fresh air is the ultimate form of freedom and relaxation for me. It’s incredible how healing nature can be when you need it most. Get lost, listen to the crunches of leaves and the chirps of birds and the whistle of the wind. Be present in your wander as it will deliver you a beautiful sense of connectivity to the natural world. Plus, there’s no harm in getting your heart rate up and the endorphins flowing.
HELP YOUR FAMILY WITH SOMETHING THAT NEEDS FIXING
Whether you’re handy around the house or sharp with computers, use your knack to bring betterment to your friends or family. It will help to give you a sense of accomplishment and pride that can be hard to find when it comes to serving yourself. It’ll also give you some much-needed quality time with the people you love most and remind you of the support system you’ve got and the people ready to do the same services for you.
THERAPY
There’s no doubt that sometimes depression is something we can work through on our own and other times, we need an unbiased outsider to give us the extra push or support that you need. Therapy can be an unbelievable powerful outlet and constant in both the highs and lows of life. Working with a professional provides a sense of normalcy and accountability when we can’t give that to ourselves. While the mental health stigma can still be strong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with needing help navigating out of pit.
ADOPT A PET
I’ll admit that this could either be very good advice or bad advice when it comes to driving out depression. So many of the people that I know have turned to their pets during their greatest life struggles. Animals love you unconditionally and oh, also they literally NEED you to survive. That’s why it’s critical that you take the time to deeply evaluate whether you’re in the headspace to take care of another living thing. If you are, adopting a pet may just give you the push to get you out of bed or the sense of meaning that you’re looking for. Oh, and you’ll get a best friend out of it.
The value here is remembering that we all go through some tough ish. When you’re at your peak, look out for those in their pits. Remind yourself of your inherent purpose in this world and take every chance you can to connect and share your vulnerabilities with the people you love. Easier said than done though, no?