A morning routine plays a hugely important role in our state of mind and overall attitude during the day. The ability to start your day on the right foot can really improve your approach to life, especially if you're living with depression. Here are ten ways you can start each day with a smile – or at least a smirk!
1. Make a list of things you’re grateful for
We all have something to be grateful for.
When you're living with depression, it can be difficult to see the good in life. But there is always a reason to be grateful—even if it's just the fact that you are alive and have the ability to feel gratitude.
It doesn't matter if you have a lot or a little; it's important to take time each day to reflect on what makes your life meaningful, and then express that gratitude through words or actions.
Gratitude journaling is one way to do this, but so is a simple list of things you're thankful for. The point isn't necessarily to write down the most significant thing in your life (though that could be part of it), but rather just to remind yourself of how much there is around you that needs appreciation. It's also good practice for realizing what matters most in your life and focusing on those things when they come up during daily interactions with others.
2. Take a warm shower or bath
Waking up with depression is not easy. Even the simplest tasks can seem overwhelming, and it can be incredibly challenging to get out of bed in the morning.
The warm water will help to relax muscles, which in turn will help to relieve some of the tension that can build up throughout the day. A hot bath also helps to loosen up stiff joints and muscles, releasing tension and stress from your body. This can also help improve circulation, which is important for overall health and well-being.
An important part of managing depression is finding a way to make yourself feel better as soon as possible each day, and there are times when a shower or bath just might be what you need. Not only will getting out of bed feel like less of an effort, but the warmth and comfort that come from being in water can help you relax and calm down enough to tackle the rest of your day.
3. Exercise
Exercise is a way to start your day when you're living with depression. It can help you feel better and get the day started right.
It has been shown to be effective in treating depression, specifically in people who have been diagnosed with clinical depression. Exercise can boost endorphin levels, which are chemicals in the brain that help you feel good. It also helps your body release other hormones that make you feel better, like serotonin and dopamine.
Exercise also helps improve sleep quality, which is important for managing depression symptoms. Sleep allows your brain to go into a state of rest where it can recover from stressors it's experienced during the day, so getting enough sleep is important for both mental health and physical health.
In addition, exercising in the morning can also help reduce stress levels throughout the rest of the day by giving you something positive to focus on instead of dwelling on negative thoughts or feelings like anxiety or sadness.
4. Meditate
When you’re dealing with the daily challenges of a mental health disorder, it can be difficult to find time for meditation. But the fact is that meditation can help you get through some of life’s most challenging moments and make them easier to handle.
In addition to being an important part of your overall treatment plan, meditation can also help regulate your moods and improve your quality of life.
Many people who suffer from depression find that they have trouble sleeping at night or they wake up feeling tired and groggy. This can make it difficult to get through the day without feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts or feelings of despair.
Meditation helps reduce stress levels and increase feelings of calmness and peace within the body. It also slows down brain activity so that you are able to focus better on what is happening around you without being distracted by negative thoughts or feelings about yourself or others around you!
5. Drink lemon water
Drinking water with lemon in it every morning. According to a research, lemon water is a great way to start your day if you're living with depression because it helps curb cravings for sugar and caffeine while providing some much-needed hydration. The citric acid in the lemon juice also helps neutralize toxins in the body, including those from alcohol consumption. And since drinking water can help flush these toxins out of your system faster than other beverages do, you'll be able to feel better faster.
So if you've been struggling with getting out of bed and starting your day, try adding a dash of lemon juice to your water before you drink it—just make sure not to add too much! A little goes a long way towards helping improve your mood and energy levels as well as supporting overall health.
6. Do something nice for someone else (like send a friend a text, leave them a voicemail, or make them dinner)
One way to start your day when you're living with depression is to do something nice for someone else. This can be as simple as sending a text message to a friend or family member, telling them how much they mean to you and thanking them for being there in your life.
Another way is through volunteering your time or skills at a local charity or organization that helps those in need. This will help remind you that others still have it worse than you do, which can be huge when you're feeling down about yourself or about life in general!
Finally, if none of these ideas seem like they'll work for you right now but still want something positive and uplifting to focus on each morning then try writing out a small list of things every day (even if it's just one thing!) that make you happy or grateful for being alive today! It doesn't matter if it's big or small – just make sure it makes YOU happy!
7. Listen to music that makes you feel good (or read something uplifting)
Music is a great way to kick-start your morning and get you in a positive headspace for the day. Pick something that makes you feel good, whether it's upbeat pop or classical music. You might even put on some of your favorite podcasts—if not for the content itself, then for the sound of people laughing and talking. Whatever works for you!
You could also try reading something uplifting before starting your day. If you have time to spare (and who doesn't?), grab a book from your bookshelf that inspires or motivates you, and read it for ten minutes before getting out of bed. This will help set the tone for the rest of your day by reminding yourself that anything is possible if we set our minds to it!
8. Write down your thoughts
Journaling doesn't require much energy or effort—you just sit down with a pen and paper (or even just a computer) and write down whatever thoughts come into your head. It's basically free therapy without having to pay for an appointment or drive anywhere. And while it might not seem like much at first glance, journaling can actually help you make connections between different aspects of your life that might otherwise go unnoticed under normal circumstances; kind of like how those little connections between neurons make up our brains!
9. Go outside and breathe in the fresh air
One of the best ones in starting your day during times of depression is going outside and breathing in the fresh air.
When you go outside, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the things that are going on around you. But if you're able to focus on just one thing—breathing in, breathing out—you can start to feel more calm and relaxed, which will help your body get used to being outside instead of inside.
It's also important not to judge yourself while doing this exercise; don't think about how many people are looking at you or how long it's been since someone asked how your day was going. All that matters is that you're breathing in and out, slowly but surely.
10. Call someone who always makes you feel better
This person could be a family member or friend who listens well, understands your situation, and has a calm demeanor that helps soothe your anxiety.
He or she will be able to help lift up your spirits by offering sound advice and encouragement. They might even have some suggestions for ways they can assist with getting through tough times.
By calling this person first thing in the morning, you'll be able to start your day off with positivity instead of dread!
If you are reading this article, then odds are that you are living with depression. And like any illness, there are things that make living with it easier, and things that make it harder. The ten tips above will hopefully give you some ideas on how to make your day go more smoothly when you’re dealing with depression.
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