Believe it or not, self-care actually does work. When you are in a depression or feeling depressed, taking care of your mind and your body is a great way to help your mind hit the reset button and keep you from falling into bad habits.
The Power of Water
Something that not many people are aware of is that water is one of the ultimate self-care weapons that you can use against depression. First, there’s drinking more water which will help keep you hydrated and keep headaches at bay. Then there’s being in the water that can also help you out.
Go Swimming
If you live near a lake, river, or a public pool, sitting in the water and moving around helps your lymphatic system distribute liquid and other nutrients around your body. Additionally, swimming boosts your mood even if you are just sitting in a blown up pool in your backyard!
Take an Intentional Bath/Shower
When you feel yourself getting tied up in a depression or even an anxious episode, hop into the shower or a bath as quickly as you can. Generally speaking, water is a soothing sensation and the warmth will also help get your core back to temperature.
Additionally, when you take a bath, you are taking time for yourself to step away from what is creating an issue and give yourself a moment to collect yourself.
Get Outside
It doesn’t matter how you do it, but getting outside is one of the best ways to get your body moving and take care of yourself.
Sunbathing
With proper skin care and making sure you aren’t just baking in the sun (please don’t go outside when it is in the 90’s without proper skincare!). Keep yourself covered with the sunscreen of your choice and start off thirty minutes at a time.
Always take water with you and maybe even grab a book of your choice. The vitamin D will help alongside the warmth of the sun and taking time food yourself to relax.
Hiking and Outdoor Activities
Getting outside and in nature can help you break away from modern life. Taking a break and learning a new activity helps your brain spend energy on something other than depression and it will allow you to expand your self-care strategies.
Hang Out With Your Safe People
One of the easiest ways to take care of yourself, if you are feeling up to it, try out a new restaurant or coffee place with your safe people. These would be those that you know who are aware of what you deal with regularly and can help pull you out of a funk.
Utilize Medical or Recreational Marijuana
Some people aren’t comfortable with taking medication and some people aren’t comfortable with marijuana. However, it is important to remember that when you work with Marijuana Doctors, you are able to work within your state’s laws and can use marijuana as a way to stop a depressive episode.
Schedule Therapy Sessions
If you can, stay on a regular therapy schedule as this will help you get out of the house, talk with someone who knows how to help you in the best ways possible and can also help you work through the reasons why you have depression. There can be many reasons such as genetic or traumatic, and a therapist can really help you learn how to take care of yourself.
Do Something Creative/Expressive
Self-care isn’t always about taking care of the body. Sometimes it is about taking care of your mind. One of the easiest and quickest ways to start trying something creative or expressive is to journal. Journaling just takes a Word document, a note on your phone, or a notebook. It depends on what works best for you.
There are other creative methods such as painting or drawing. Sometimes the things that are in our heads are easier to express artistically, rather than trying to put them into words.
Conclusion
Self-care is more than a simple action. You have to be intentional and you also have to be considerate towards yourself. There are many ways that you can do this and this list only comprises a few of the many self-care strategies out there.
Don’t be afraid to try different strategies as well and work with what works for you!
