Depression makes people lose energy and zest for life. Find out how to get energy to do simple tasks and big goals. This post will give you ideas to help you figure out how to increase motivation when depressed.
Depression causes people to lose motivation to do certain tasks. Simple things can be hard to do. Challenging things are even harder to do. Being depressed stops you from trying out new things. However, sometimes you just need that extra nudge to help boost your motivation for life.
In this article, I’ll list the methods you can use to put depression in the back seat while you try to control your own life. We can trick depression and gain motivation to do the things we need to do without being dragged down. Read on to find out how to increase motivation when depressed.
How to Increase Motivation When Depressed
Here are 5 ways on how to increase motivation when depressed:
1. Start with the first step
When you want to do something but you feel depressed, the trick is to not think too much about it. Don’t over-think about what you’re going to do, how long it will take and all that extra information. Just do it. Literally everything starts with the first step. The first step usually takes the most effort. When you want to start the day, the first step is sitting up on your bed. When you have to write, the first step would be to open up your laptop. Concentrate on doing the least you can. Chances are, you’ll end up doing way more than you planned to.
2. You need the right kind of motivation
Some people motivate themselves from within. They can give themselves motivational talks that help them to burst out of bed ready to seize the day. Other people need external motivation. Motivation can come from things you never suspected. Watching a movie or reading a book can give you motivation. There are podcasts and YouTube videos that give you that energy you need to go after your dreams. You never know what’s going to give you motivation. That’s why you should try it all. TV shows, articles, documentaries; make sure to give yourself a diverse sensory experience. The things we do for recreation have the power to motivate us.
3. Talk to your close friends and family
Being stuck with your own thoughts can suck. Talking to other people can change your mood and mental state. Great friends and family have the ability to motivate you. They help you see things about yourself that you don’t. They can encourage you and provide support. It’s easy to distance yourself from others when you’re feeling depressed but a lot of people are actually happy to help. Send a message or call them and they can boost your mood. This can help you to increase motivation when depressed.
4. Small victories matter
When you’re feeling depressed, your thoughts can be very negative and destructive. You need to learn to fight these thoughts. Counter any negative thoughts with positive ones. Small victories matter. Getting out of bed in the morning is a great achievement. Don’t compare yourself to other people. The truth is that you can’t ever be them. You can only ever be yourself, and a better version of yourself. It can be hard to be positive but we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves. You need to rebel against any thoughts that tell you that you aren’t enough. You need to believe that you are worthy of so many good things.
5. Write down your achievements
Depression makes you feel like you haven’t achieved anything in life. It can make you feel like you aren’t worthy. We tend to put less value in our achievements and abilities. Write down a list of your achievements, talents, abilities and strengths. People concentrate on their flaws. We should concentrate on the resources that we have. It’s easy to get sucked into a destructive cycle of noticing our flaws and mistakes. Experiment with positivity. It doesn’t hurt to try out what everyone is always telling you: Be positive.
Motivation Comes When You Try
Being depressed stops you from doing things. You need to try your worst. I know that sounds counter-intuitive. It can be hard to try your best. Sometimes your worst is good enough. I hope this article helps you to learn how to increase motivation when depressed.
Additional Resources:
- What not to do When You’re Depressed
- 6 Surprising Reasons Why You Feel Depressed
- What to Do When You Feel Depressed
- How to Increase Motivation When Depressed
- Top 10 Quotes to Get You Through a Breakup
- How I’m Dealing with My People Pleasing Behavior
- Why I Hate Social Media
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