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How to get things done professionaly at work when I'm very depressed?

173 Answers
Last Updated: 03/31/2022 at 3:00pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United Kingdom
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Top Rated Answers
Ribz
September 25th, 2020 4:22am
all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy
empatheticListener123
November 21st, 2020 10:25pm
The fact is, you cannot do everything you could normally do when you’re depressed. Even within depressive episodes, some days are worse than others. To Do lists helps you to prioritize what is most urgent and what is most feasible for you to do in any given day. The list contains all of the things you need to do, just like any To Do list. However, next to each item, you assign it a number between 1 and 4, indicating how difficult it is. For me, petting my cat would be a 1 – so easy, I would do it even if it wasn’t on the list. A 4 would be something that would take much more effort.
Anonymous
November 25th, 2020 5:36am
The best way to get something done professionally is to take it slow. Don't overwork yourself or stress out if you couldn't do as much as you wanted to. It is important to realize that getting even a little bit done is a huge accomplishment and bringing you one step closer to your ultimate goal. Little results make a huge difference. If you can go ahead and do what you can do with how you are feeling, that will motivate you to get more done as well. Being patient and allowing yourself time to reflect is key to doing better overall.
wonderfullPassion6640
November 26th, 2020 8:56am
Remember first you don't need to be perfect. It helps to bring down the pressure...Also knowing that you are depressed you should cut yourself some slack..meaning its okay to be a bit slow, passive, and not getting results as fast as when you are active. Now you need to know what you need to achieve...like complete this much work (cut some slack here, if possible) and then just immerse yourself in it till you reach the end Be good to yourself...you know you would do the same if not more for your friend in the same situation. Hope it helped a bit.
Anonymous
December 16th, 2020 2:49pm
When it comes to careers it's easy to get tunnel vision and focus on the goals set for you by the company (or yourself, if you are freelance). However, sometimes it's more important and beneficial to take a step back for a minute to focus on setting yourself up for success. If it's possible and you think it would help, a mental health day may be in order. It would probably also help to talk to a doctor or therapist about your depression. This way the depression is no longer a problem. These are solutions that are not quick fixes, so they should be initiated sooner rather than later. For a very short term solution, sometimes you just how to power through it. Pick your tasks wisely - push off things with later deadlines - and just force yourself to do what you can. I like to use the "5 Second Rule" coined by Mel Robbins, where you count down from 5 like a rocketship blasting off, and when you hit 0, you begin with no question or excuse to move on.
Anonymous
January 20th, 2021 7:52pm
Sometimes I just need to push feelings and negative thoughts aside and put on a brave face so I can get things done. It is not always easy but I find that it gets me out of a slump and helps me continue moving forward. I have struggled with depression for over 10 years and there are good days and bad. Some days I feel on top of the world and others I think that the world would be better without me. At a certain point I need to just turn my brain off and get my work done. I find I always feel a lot better after having accomplished something
bellaecco
January 28th, 2021 5:41pm
When possible, take a 2 minute break and find a safe place where you can relax and preferably be alone or at least not within earshot of another person. Try first tuning in to your physical body. How are you feeling? are you breathing? Is it shallow or deep in yuour abdomen? Try taking three full abdomonal breaths. Then check in about how you feel. It's ok to have your feelings, even at work, but it helps to find a safe space away from work if you feel you need to cry or just be alone. It's ok to feel depressed.
gentleSun78
March 26th, 2021 9:34am
You can consider trying to focus on your work. It can be great distraction from your overthinking and ruminating and thus you might also have less depressive thoughts this way. Let's not listen to your depressive thoughts as they only bring you down unnecessarily. If you focus on your work and do proper self care before you come to the work (enough sleep, hygiene (bathed, shaved, decent haircut), dress decently, have some exercise (previous day before work or if you have time also in the morning) eat breakfast, have something for lunch with yourself or buy something healthy for eating at lunch break time, you will get things done as professionally at work as you possibly can.
DimLFL01
April 10th, 2021 4:25pm
You have worth as a professional and human as well. Hard times require that you get all the best support possible. It is required to step back and dedicate some time for yourself. You have the option to dedicate some time for self care. You can choose to have people that you deserve on your sad moments. You can prioritize tasks in your professional life and talk to your manager if you need some time off. There is a point where performance can be deeply affected if interrupted by your depression. Celebrate every small win, forgive yourself for your mistakes and go on.
Anonymous
April 15th, 2021 1:04pm
Getting anything done while you’re battling depression can be very difficult, but it is crucial to give yourself the space you need to do as much as you can without pushing yourself too hard. Sometimes we focus too much on what we haven’t accomplished, we forget how much we have already accomplished. Remember, the little things matter. So at work, set little goals or set small goals on the things you want to accomplish that day and even if you do half of that list, take a moment and thank yourself. You got this, don’t push yourself too hard.
SoShellie
April 29th, 2021 12:00pm
When you’re down or depressed, work can seem overwhelming. Try taking some time to make a list of the things you need to accomplish professionally. It doesn’t have to include everything, maybe just the things that are priorities that you can start with. Then take a couple of minutes to see if there are any items on the list that you can break down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Sometimes it can be helpful to start with the smaller things. Check off the list each time you complete a task. And take a moment to acknowledge yourself for what you’ve accomplished.
Yellowobject
May 8th, 2021 2:22am
I will apply the TIPP model from DBT! TIPP stand for Temperature, Intensed exercise, Paced breathing, and Paired muscle relexation. It helped me a lot come out from my depressed state of mind. In details, temperature means you hold a ice cude on your hand, feel the cold of the ice cube. Intensed exercise means by engaging in intense cardio/aerobic exercise, we engage our physical body in a way that de-escalates intense emotions. Paced breathing Excercise mean that try to slow your breathing down to 5 or 6 breaths per minute. Paired muscle relaxation – practice tensing your muscles as you breathe in for 5-6 seconds.
Anonymous
May 26th, 2021 1:33pm
Do my best to perform as well as I can and complete my duties. Being transparent with others that today isn’t a great day for me without sharing every detail of what is going on. Self motivate myself with positive affirmations throughout the day. Remind myself that although I am depressed today I can make it through. Take small breaks throughout the work day if permissible. During lunch break listen to a podcast or speech that is motivational or go for a walk to is possible. Talk to someone you trust about the depression of possible. Do everything you can to get through.
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2021 11:45pm
I find it helpful to create a task list and start with the most time-consuming or important task early in the day. I try to eliminate the emotion and just act. If doing the complicated task seems too hard in the moment, I move to the next/easier task. When I get the ball rolling and start crossing tasks off the list, the feeling of accomplishment lifts my mood. If I get stuck, I try to be kind to myself and acknowledge that I'm doing the best I can given the circumstance. Always ask for help when you need it. Give yourself grace.
Anonymous
June 10th, 2021 8:09am
If you are very depressed, it can be a sign that you are very exhausted:( So it can also be the sign that you need a break. It does not have to be long. You can just take some walk, get some fresh air, talk to your loved ones, and get some comfort. And this can make you feel better. Also always remember that you do not always have to perfect and professional. People make mistakes and no one can blame. If you are having a very hard time with depression, it would also be helpful to reach out for help to a counselor. Hope you feel better.. I’ll always pray for you!
Anonymous
August 5th, 2021 6:03pm
The best thing for me is to have the most relaxing thing with me at work to help me go through the day. Like for me personally, I would love to have my books and favourite teams souvenir with me to help me cheer up. Sometimes making small changes to your own space helps make things better. I do feel some food that makes you feel nostalgic like for me a nice cup of brown tea makes me feel a bit better, I guess both physically and mentally. But I will say, to always take a day off if you really feel so.
Anonymous
August 22nd, 2021 1:00am
I believe that it is vital that whenever you feel very upset or you are having a day where you feel more anxious or depressed than usual, you should most definitely take a break from work. Working or studying whilst feeling intense emotions such as anxiety and depression lessens your productivity, increases the chances of you becoming frustrated with yourself, and leads to you feeling even worse than before. So if you can, ask your boss or your parents/teachers for a break at least for a day where you can spend time with yourself. If you're unable to do that, then during work, take it slow, create a schedule or a to-do list and focus on each task one by one. Once you start feeling overwhelmed, take a break, close your eyes, do some relaxation exercises. Talking to someone and venting the feeling out is also a great method to quickly lift some weight off.
avanef
August 29th, 2021 5:53pm
You have to be very clear with your employer how you’re feeling. Even though it may scare you that they could potentially fire you or shift your work duties or even pay because of it, you can’t force yourself to push through when you’re mentally not okay. Telling your employer sometimes can be helpful and they can give you some time to take leave (paid or not). But no matter what - always let your employer know because it’s not fair to them when they’re expecting you to put you all in when you’re not in the mood to do so. Depression can change so much for someone and especially their career, and if you can be proactive on it, it could make all of the difference. Another thing to think of is - is the depression work related? If so, you might want to speak with your employer about how your work, etc. is affecting you. If it’s not work related, then you’ll still want to tell your employer that you’re going through things and need to think it out before you come back so you’re not putting work on the side. No matter what, take care of yourself. Self-care is extremely important. I wish you the best!
Anonymous
October 23rd, 2021 10:07pm
It is very challenging to do things when one has depression. This illness literally takes away energy and produces what is called an asthenic state. If your depression is severe I would recommend you to see a professional. As for things you can do now, start one day at a time, and on hard days, one hour at a time. Divide your tasks into smaller, more achievable tasks, try to get some sleep, and remember to eat. Keeping a schedule tends to make things easier since you don't have to think a lot about what you are gonna do next (for example, you can add an activity or task at the same hour every day and set a reminder on your phone on repeat). Showering every day also helps a lot.
AvrilGraceofGale
November 24th, 2021 10:29am
Don't stop at your dream, even if you don't find support outside. Burn with an idea, let it kindle a fire in the heart, and make the soul tremble. Fight for yourself, for your feelings and thoughts. You decide what's important to you. You decide what to believe in and how to live. Imagine yourself in 5 or 10 years, what you will be if you go all the way. Imagine the life of your dreams, do not put a frame on your consciousness and possibilities. Take the risk, feel the life, live it. Cherish your dreams. And never stop. Because you will achieve what you want. When this happens, you will remember with gratitude your former self, the one who took the risk and went to the end. We believe in you. You can handle it. 💜
Howegeorgia
December 5th, 2021 2:31pm
From my experience with depression can be really hard when I am in college I just try and put it out my head if that doesn't help I speak with a teacher about how my moods are making me lose concentration in class then they will find a way to help the situation hope this helps you
ListenerJake
January 9th, 2022 1:00am
Take the time to let your colleagues know you are having a rough period and this may affect how you interact with them. It doesn't have to be about specifics, just that your behaviour/attitudes might be different. Focus on the positives you've achieved throughout the day, rather than focusing on what you have not achieved or what you could have done better. Take your breaks seriously - practice mindfulness exercises in a quiet spot, if possible. If not, try use deep breathing techniques throughout the day to help manage your emotions and how you respond to different people and situations.
Em230122
March 31st, 2022 3:00pm
I like to put on some music from a video-game to help me focus on work when I'm depressed. Game soundtracks are designed to keep players engaged, and I find it helps keep my mind clear while I work. I find some animated movie soundtracks (Ghibli movies especially) also help with work or studies. Another thing I find helpful is to set small goals for myself along the way. Have a huge project due and feeling overwhelmed? Break it down into the smallest possible steps and tick them off as you go. This helps me realise that a. The work isn't nearly as overwhelming as I thought initially, and b. The feeling of having multiple little accomplishments helps me feel better about myself and my capabilities.