Create Stations Around Your Home
If possible, create a paper station, a key station, a cleaning station, a laundry station, etc.
A station is a place where you will keep all similar things together.
For example, all important documents go to the paper station. All laundry is to be dealt with in the laundry station.
8. Reduce stuff around while walking
Create the habit to always look around the room before you leave it.
Is there anything you could do for less than two minutes?
Is there any stuff that needs to be recycled or moved to another room?
9. 15 minutes speed cleaning
Every day spare 15 minutes to clean whatever you see around.
15 minutes of speed cleaning is a great way to get some things done in less time. In these 15 minutes, you arent allowed to chit-chat, look at your phone, or stop. A focused 15-minute cleaning marathon will save you hours in the long run. Try it.
10. Have a cleaning schedule
One of the things Ive always struggled with is cleaning fast. When I decide to clean, Im so confused about where to start and what to do that I end up skipping some important stuff.
Things changed after I created my own cleaning schedule. Its a simple list of the regular cleaning areas around the house, room by room.
In this way, after I enter the room, I just start with number one without overthinking it.
If youd like to get a cleaning schedule too, I recommend this one.
Getting Back On Track
Fear of the unknown often holds us back from getting back on track and start enjoying the little things in life.If you want to pull yourself together after a bad experience, you can work towards overcoming all your fears.
Sometimes it is not possible to get rid of all those fears completely and in such a situation you can learn to live with those fears and keep moving on regardless.
Bouncing back when life seems to be falling apart is not impossible.
All you have to do is start practicing some healthy habits that would help you get back on track so that you can start enjoying your life once again.
Everyone experiences hard times at some point in their life.
The important thing is to pull yourself together instead of letting those negative emotions eat at you from the inside. Its true that time heals even the most stubborn of wounds but there is no need to wait that long.
You deserve to live happily like everyone else and you are the only one who can get your life together again.
Simply go through the actionable steps discussed in this post and start feeling a difference in your life when you practice them. Share your thoughts in the comments below:
Ways To Get Your Life Together Relationships
31. Prioritise
We all have different priorities, and therefore, your relationship with your friends and family might take a different position than mine. However, recognize that position and nurture it.
32. Schedule family time
Most people have schedules for their work, goals, plans, cleaning, and so on. But just a few block time for family and friends.
Its like listing out whatever needs to be done and leaving the family for whatever time weve left.
If you struggle spending quality time with your family, start by blocking time on your calendar for that quality time.
33. Distance yourself from toxic people
No doubt, there are toxic people around us. They drain our energy and make us feel miserable. Distance yourself from them.
34. Resolve issues
Not every issue can be resolved, but many can.
Have the talks youve postponed, say whats on your mind, free your heart.
35. Focus on quality, no matter the time
When we talk of quality time, we usually forget that the keyword is quality. I could create a deeper connection with my partner for 5 minutes or waste mine and his time for two hours every day. Its all about the quality you put into that time. Curious about the five minutes? This is what Im talking about.
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A Word About These Tips
Depression is a complex mental health condition and theres no one best way to cope. Everyone is different, and what may work for you might not work for someone else.
While some of these strategies may help you with everyday tasks, its still highly advisable to find a depression treatment plan tailored to your needs with the help of a trusted professional.
If you dont currently have a mental health professional, you can try our search tool.
Sticking With Your Treatment Plan
Once you’ve arrived at a treatment plan that works, it’s important to stick with it. For many treatments, this means continuing treatment even when you start to feel better.
Suddenly stopping a medication like an antidepressant can cause uncomfortable side effects. If you want to stop taking the medication, your doctor can help you taper your doses slowly to make sure you continue to feel well.
If your treatment plan no longer works for you, have an honest discussion with your health care professional. Your doctor can help you re-evaluate your treatment plan and move to a different strategy safely.
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How Your Depression Medicine Can Affect Your Life
If youâre being treated for depression, taking an antidepressant may be part of your treatment plan. Antidepressants work by balancing chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions. These depression medicines can help improve your mood, help you sleep better, and increase your appetite and concentration.
âAntidepressants can help jump-start mood and give people the boost they need to get over the symptoms of their depression,â says Eric Endlich, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in Boston. âThis often allows them to start doing the things they enjoy again and make better choices for themselves, which also helps contribute to a more positive mood.â
If youâre taking an antidepressant, itâs important to know what to expect and how it will affect your life. Here are the answers to five common questions about taking antidepressants.
Signs To Notice When Feeling Depressed
When you feel depressed, you may experience one or multiple symptoms of depression. Such feelings are persistent, and its not easy to shake them off. Since symptoms affect people differently, they should be a red flag to see your doctor or mental health professional.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, signs of depression may include the following:
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Take Care Of Yourself
When you care about someone whos living with depression, its tempting to drop everything to be by their side and support them. Its not wrong to want to help a friend, but its also important to take care of your own needs.
If you put all your energy into supporting your friend, youll have very little left for yourself. And if youre feeling burned out or frustrated, you wont be much help to your friend.
Set boundaries
Setting boundaries can help. For example, you might let your friend know youre available to talk after you get home from work, but not before then.
If youre concerned about them feeling like they cant reach you, offer to help them come up with a contingency plan if they need you during your work day. This might involve finding a hotline they can call or coming up with a code word they can text you if theyre in a crisis.
You might offer to stop by every other day or bring a meal twice a week, instead of trying to help every day. Involving other friends can help create a bigger support network.
Practice self-care
Spending a lot of time with a loved one who has depression can take an emotional toll. Know your limits around difficult emotions, and make sure you take time to recharge.
If you need to let your friend know you wont be available for a while, you might say something like, I cant talk until X time. Can I check in with you then?
What If I Don’t Know What To Say
Don’t wait to talk just because you’re not sure what to say. You can keep it simple. You can start just by saying, “Got a minute? I need to talk.” Then say what’s on your mind. For example, “I’ve been feeling down a lot lately. I think I should talk to you about it.” The person you’re talking to might ask you to tell them more. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to get started talking.
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Why Is Your Sense Of Purpose Important
Feeling that you have a sense of purpose can be an important part of your mental well-being.
According to partner studies from 2013 and 2017, this sense of direction may help you stay emotionally balanced not too affected by negative or positive situations.
Research also suggests that you might have a more positive outlook and fewer physical responses during a stressful day when you live with a sense of purpose. It may improve your mood and your ability to manage intense emotions.
In addition to daily benefits, living with intent may help you maintain cognitive function, like memory and decision-making, as you age and may decrease the chances of dementia, according to study data.
Living with depression may mean more than experiencing a lack of purpose as a symptom. Some researchers believe depression is the result of loss of purpose. Heres how they explain it.
In a recent study, experts worked with participants who screened positive on depression tests.
Rather than describing themselves as living with a clinical condition, the participants associated their symptoms directly with a loss of direction in life.
They attributed their depression symptoms to major disturbances to their aspirations for work, relationships, and other factors of life that were meaningful to them.
As their sense of purpose declined, they started to experience formal symptoms of depression, but remained primarily focused on how their dreams and goals were deteriorating.
Check In With Trusted Friends And Family Members Regularly
Rather than hiding your feelings or depression symptoms, try to talk to loved ones about them. Its helpful to talk to people in your inner circle about the stressors in your life. Relationships provide a give-and-take that can help you find perspective and provide you with helpful advice.
You can also consider joining a support group online or in person to share advice with others going through similar experiences as you.
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Couples Therapy For Depression
At Priory Group, our therapists are able to offer couples therapy to people dealing with depression within their relationship. Your therapist will help you to understand the impact that depression is having on both parties and the steps that you can take to address any issues.
This form of therapy can also help you look at the effect that depression has had on your relationship and how certain life events have impacted you both. With open communication encouraged, you have the chance to discuss triggers and coping strategies that can help you now and in the future. Our online therapy service Priory Connect means that you now have the option to access these therapy sessions online.
Recognizing Depression Symptoms In A Loved One
Family and friends are often the first line of defense in the fight against depression. Thats why its important to understand the signs and symptoms of depression. You may notice the problem in a depressed loved one before they do, and your influence and concern can motivate them to seek help.
Be concerned if your loved one:
Doesnt seem to care about anything anymore. Has lost interest in work, sex, hobbies, and other pleasurable activities. Has withdrawn from friends, family, and other social activities.
Expresses a bleak or negative outlook on life. Is uncharacteristically sad, irritable, short-tempered, critical, or moody talks about feeling helpless or hopeless.
Frequently complains of aches and pains such as headaches, stomach problems, and back pain. Or complains of feeling tired and drained all the time.
Sleeps less than usual or oversleeps. Has become indecisive, forgetful, disorganized, and out of it.
Eats more or less than usual, and has recently gained or lost weight.
Drinks more or abuses drugs, including prescription sleeping pills and painkillers, as a way to self-medicate how theyre feeling.
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Learn How To Stop Negative Thoughts
Depression doesn’t just make you feel bad, it can also cause you to think more negatively. Changing those negative thoughts, however, can improve your mood.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that works to alter common patterns of negative thinking called cognitive distortions in order to eliminate depression. There are also many self-help books, apps, and online courses that can help you learn how to change your unhealthy thinking patterns.
The symptoms of depression, such as fatigue and difficulty concentrating, make procrastination tempting.
Putting things off fuels depression. It can lead to increased guilt, worry, and stress.
It’s important to set deadlines and manage your time well. Establish short-term goals and work hard to get the most important things done first. Each task you successfully complete will help you break through the habit of procrastination.
Back Reflect And Reframe
If youre wondering how to get your life together, its time to step back and reflect on what led up to the overwhelm. Some good questions to ask yourself are:
- Did I put too much on my plate? If so, who can help me? What can I set aside for now?
- Am I prepared enough? If not, what else can I do to prepare? Is there anything getting in the way of my preparation?
- Were there signs I ignored that would have kept me from getting to this point?
- Is there any self-sabotage at play?
- What is the single most important thing I can do right now that will move me towards my long-term goal and personal development?
Reflecting is great because it helps you to sort through the data you received from being overwhelmed. Taking the time to will also help you to better understand what your body is trying to tell you in the future if you experience these sensations again.
Reflective journaling is especially helpful. It involves thinking of an experience, interpreting what happened, and analyzing lessons learned from it.
Having a frame of reference for overwhelm ahead of time is invaluable. Instead of it feeling like a chaotic incoming tornado siren, it will feel more like a monotone, preventative, early warning system.
Reframing happens when you have collected, processed, and reflected on the data and can now place the experience in a new perspective.
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Day 1: Talk With People But Dont Complain Excessively
Nothing of value is accomplished by complaining over a problem again and again. This doesnt mean you should not share your problems at all, but do think over how is it going to help. Are you looking for solutions? Are you just trying to release stress associated with the problem? Or are you just sharing them for the sake of talking?
In Psychology, rumination occurs when someone repeatedly reminds of negative things in his life which causes them to slip deeper into the problems. It only serves to exacerbate the state of anxiety and depression and cause more stress.
Also, remember that people have their own problems to deal with. If you expect them to help you with your problems, be there to offer help when they need one. Otherwise, they would simply disappear and this wont be pleasant for you.
Feeling Down And Being Depressed Is Not The Same
Symptoms of depression can affect a person physically, mentally, and emotionally. Common symptoms include trouble sleeping, appetite changes, and problems concentrating. They affect how you think, what you do, and how you feel physically. A depressed person may not feel motivated to do their usual activities. A person may feel persistent sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness, decreased energy, loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, or want to isolate themselves from others. Relationships with family members, friends, and coworkers may be affected.
Someone experiencing symptoms of depression may not take care of themselves as they should. The way they think about their health, such as how to manage chronic issues such as arthritis, diabetes, or high blood pressure, may leave one feeling discouraged. When a depressed person feels hopeless, self-care is less of a priority and potentially increases personal health risks. Depression is a medical condition that affects you emotionally and physically. However, these elements are influenced by each other, leaving a drastic effect on a persons thoughts and actions.
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