- Get shit done. Over the last few weeks I’ve felt a self-imposed pressure to finish big projects, meet deadlines, get organized. I know I won’t feel up to big stuff when just basic life skills seem overwhelming, so I want to get ahead wherever I can be.
- Access as many resources as possible. I made an appointment with my nurse practitioner & I will totally see about any free counselling or etc. I feel so lucky to be in a place where I can access some good, free healthcare. If you have this access too, I hope you use it to the extent that it helps you.
- Move my body around. I’m serious about keeping up with the jogging, & when it gets too cold or snowy for that I will think about a gym membership, if I can hack it. But even a long walk or a laptop dance party will do the trick.
- Get some damn sun. Going outside in the daytime – gonna try it.
- Stay warm. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I feel like my SAD is equally affected by heat as well as light. I love a good cuddly extra-layered outfit but I also need to remember to wear slippers at home, drink more tea, take baths, use a hot pad, whatever. When I get too cold the first thing that happens is that I get mean, and then I get super unproductive. No thanks. I resolved to turn the heat up enough in the house that I can be a functional adult, even if it ends up being more expensive.
- Be aware of the sugar & carbs diet. Carbohydrate cravings are a real symptom of seasonal depression & I am not gonna tell you that I will stop eating them, but I know I feel good in a more stable way when I drink a lot of water & eat a lot of vegetables.
- Be aware of the beer/caffeine cycle. In the summer, if I drink a lot, I get a hangover. In the winter, if I drink a lot, I feel despondent & I panic. Same thing happens with too much coffee. I’m stocking up on herbal tea, okay?
- Read a lot – but not only sad books. Every winter I end up on a Margaret Atwood binge & then I end up with no hope left for the world. Reading is the best & I love learning stuff but too many depressing stories in a row is – wait for it – depressing. Sometimes I like to read self help books & take a lot of notes – generally a “take what you like discard the rest philosophy works best.
- Make things. When I feel crappy it’s easy to passively consume media & sleep a lot but I feel way better when I actually Do Stuff. Making things gives my brain something to focus on & is a visible marker of productivity. Doing a creative thing just feels better.
- Cute animals. Cute animal videos.
- Call my parents. They, like, believe in me. & they like to visit. & they are nice.
- Talk about shit. The best thing I ever did for managing my depression was to be open enough about it that I was able to connect with people who are going through the same things. Sometimes being able to name what is happening & know you are not alone is so fantastically helpful. I have slowly stopped seeking close friendships with people who refuse to get it about mental health stuff. Being able to trust the people around you is such an amazing thing.
- Experiment. The other day I had the thought – what if, instead of buying lipstick and beer when I want to spoil myself, I bought plants?
About
RACHELLEABELLAR.COM28 y/o Queer Femme from Seattle, WA. Manager of Design for GeekGirlCon, eternal starving artist, Whovian, fatty, feminist, ~magical girl~, troublemaker, and the perfect candidate for costumed aggression.
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