First of all, there is a difference between being down and depressed (of course). You may feel down now and then but this state doesn't last. Being depressed is being ''down'' all the time for a long period of time, but is also being sad most of the time, don't want to see other peoples, don't want to get out of your house (I would say, even more, don't want to get out of your bed) and even, sometimes, thinking about death.
Other than seeing a doctor, taking pills or go talk to a therapist, you can help yourself with these little tips. I know, it may be difficult as you may not have the necessary energy to want to help yourself. But if you do, I guarantee you that it will help you a lot.
So here are some simple ways that you can motivate yourself, when you're feeling depressed:
1-Before everything, don't be too harsh on yourself! This is really important! It may take some times to get things done like you used to and to feel like your old self; don't rush things either. Take all the time you need! So, don't be overly critical of yourself if you make mistakes or don't get as muchdone as you'd like. You're having enough hard time without getting on your own case.
2-I know you may want just to be alone, which I can perfectly understand, but try to surround yourself with people. Having people around you, giving you a helping hand, talk to you and provide you with inspiration is important as it will help you feeling better, even if you feel like you just want to shut them out.
3- This may seem the last thing you want to do, but start a project; this will give you something to concentrate other than your depression and will bring your thoughts away of it. Also, when you will be done, it will help you feel proud about yourself and, of course, the project you have accomplished.
4-When being depressed, it's easy to forget everything you've ever done right; take a moment and reflect your past success. Do this whenever you can`not only it will help you bring a little sunshine in your rainy days, but it will also help you figure out what went wrong and maybe generate some ideas for success in the future.
5-A change of environment may be the best way for you to stop feeling like you do. Although it will maybe not change everything all of the sudden, it will definitely brings you another perspective on your current situation. Why? Because when you feel the way you do, you start to associate your problems with everything around you. It can get to the point where your environment is a constant reminder of your problems. This can be a dangerous cycle. The solution is to change things. Change doesn’t have to be radical. Cleaning up, adding more lights, or including pleasant decorations can completely change the mood of a room. If you think it's not enough, go somewhere else for a few days...or a few weeks! Take the time you need!
6- Doing the same thing day after day may be monotonous and depressing so try to break your routine. Do something you don’t normally have time for or something you’ve never tried. In the long run, taking a day off every now and then to get out of slump will make you happier and more productive.
7- Don't neglect yourself because you're depressed! Try to dress as you usually did and use make-up (if you're a woman) if you used it before. Even if it's not everyday, and even if you're not going out; it will help you feel a little better about yourself as I know that depressed people have a tendency to neglect them (what they wear, how they look...and even what they eat...which can conduct to health problems, by the way). Even if you're not hungry, try to eat! Even if it's just a fruit, it' more than nothing at all...And if you eat too much, well...try to diminish what you're eating or change you're habits if you always eat sweets or junk by eating healthy...at least, you will not be depressed, after, because you gained weight!
8-Try to surround you with pleasant smell! I know, it may sounds weird...However, according to Dr. Maoshing Ni, his research indicated that the scent of smell can have quite an impact on our physical and mental aspects of well being. Using the sense of smell stimulates the limbic system in the brain. This part of the brain associates moods and memory, which is why aromatherapy is such a popular holistic method to help uplift a poor mood. Most of the scents that have shown to increase the levels of endorphins within the body are scents like lavender and vanilla. So invest in some nice scented hand lotion and feel the bad mood melt away. If lotion is not for you, try some scented candles in these scents. They can do wonders for the environment and put a person at ease. Pick up a scent that you will be sure to appreciate and that you will help you; do not take vanilla or lavender if you don't like those scents; there are plenty others!
9-Even if I know you don't necessary want to clean up your mess in this hard time, try to do it! Being in a room that is messy and unorganized can influence a bad mood or worsen a bad mood. By taking the time to organize and clean a room can do wonders for the overall sense of well being within a person. This also helps to alleviate any distractions that may occur because of this disorganized space. People not only generally feel better in a clean, highly functional room, but they also perform better.
10-Keep a journal and write down how you're feeling; it will help you getting out the bad vibes inside of you and surely can help you feel better after each writing episodes.
There are plenty other ways to get help you feeling better when you're down or depressed; you also can help yourself by seeing a therapist or by joining a support group, for example. But no matter how you do it, try to push yourself a bit. Even if it takes more time that you think, you will get over it and you will be stronger after. But don't let depression engulf you completely!
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