Self Care: Depression Hacks

Depression can be so debilitating and can make even the smallest tasks feel impossible. When I find myself in a severe depressive episode, I try to employ little tips and tricks (depression hacks!) to make things a little easier on myself.

Below are just a few of mine--I can add more later if any of this is remotely helplful to anyone.

Washing dishes - If washing dishes feels like too daunting of a task, I sometimes use paper plates and bowls to make the clean-up less taxing (less environmentally friendly, but takes the pressure off of having a dirty dishes build-up in the sink for who knows how long)

Taking a shower - If I'm having a lot of trouble finding the motivation to take a shower, I'll sometimes get up and turn the water on and then lay back down for a few minutes first - and sometimes, showering just isn't feasible! That's okay, you don't need to shower every day

Grocery shopping - Grocery shopping can be so tough when you're depressed, and even more so if you struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating. I try to think of just two meals that are easy and appealing, make a list of the ingredients, and then mix around the options for lunches and dinners. If it is within your means financially, grocery delivery apps can make shopping a lot easier, and meal delivery services come with ingredients all ready to do. If even this feels unmanageable, there's nothing wrong with ordering out!

What are some tips or self-care that work for you?