hey there gang! it’s jennie, a real life human with depression, here to tell you about all the ways that i cope with my issues day to day.
1) try to stick to a sleep schedule
this one is literally one of the most important. you’ll notice that your whole world will seem to fall around you if your sleeping pattern is messed up. i keep to about 12am/9am but that can change to 11:30pm/8:30am if i have an early class. even if you don’t actually get out of bed, just being awake is sometimes enough.
2) organise your week (however works for you)
i usually use a planner alongside weekly hour by hour printables, but that because i work best when i have a pretty rigid structure. try out some different stuff and see what helps you the most. i also find that to do lists with deadlines freak me out enough to make me hop out of the funk i’m in and get at least some stuff done.
this one really helps me out. usually i try and complete a section of revision or an assignment and then spend the evening relaxing with my favourite show. it makes me more likely to do work if i know that i have something good to look forward to at the end of it.
4) listen to your body and your mind
if really feel like your body is too exhausted and you can’t do much, then stay in bed a little longer, maybe listen to a podcast (my fave thing to do atm) and try and work yourself up to tackling a few tasks later on. don’t pressure yourself too much, but also try to push yourself when you know you need it. striking that balance is hard, but it can be done.
5) make it to as many lectures as you can (and catch up with those you can’t)
i cannot stress this enough. even if you just go in trackies and put your phone on to record the lecture while you try and focus, it’s better than nothing. if you do have to miss something for whatever reason, make sure you catch up online, speak to your classmates or email your tutor.
speaking as someone who used to do this, saying, “no, i’m depressed, i have to stay in bed longer” “i can’t do it” etc etc isn’t healthy. you can do it, just maybe a bit slower and with a bit more effort, but you will get there. the negative mindset is part of the problem
7) ask for help when you need it
from your personal tutor, your gp, your university’s mental health service. people are there to support you and will try their hardest to do so.
8) mentally condition yourself
sounds like a weird one, but it works for me. i have a lavender pillow spray, that i’ve conditioned myself to associate with sleep and relaxing, so now and can smell it and be asleep in minutes. i also have a reed diffuser and a candle on my desk that i’ve associated with being happy and productive (pink sands by yankee candle, if you’re wondering), and that made all the difference for me in the last year of college and this first year of uni.
9) think about who/where you want to be
i know it’s super *eye roll* for people to say to you to ~think positive~ when your depressed, but it does sometimes make me feel a bit better to motivate myself by thinking about the person i want to be, and what i want to achieve and where i want to see myself in a few months/years. it might not work for you, but it can be a really good motivator.
10) when things get tough, keep going
try to find new things to make you feel better, maybe buy a little something nice, have a long shower, change your pyjamas, have some good food (food, food is so important. fruits and veggies make your brain function better) go for a fresh walk, talk to a friend about how you’re feeling, and then return to studying once you feel better.
hope this helps, i know it can be super difficult but it won’t stay this bad forever <3
