One thing that I’ve discovered is the need for rest. If you are not rested it’s hard to focus, it’s hard to think, and you’re more easily agitated. Rest also helps with depression and your overall well- being. So, as you continue working through what you need to heal, I encourage you to take time to rest and take care of you. What does this look like?
Though it is still something I’m learning every day, here are a few things I have discovered.
Avoid long naps – these add to your depression and make it harder to sleep at night. If you feel that you are drifting off to a deeper sleep either set an alarm for 20 minutes and get up as soon as it goes off or get up and get moving for a couple minutes at the time you feel tired.
Set a realistic schedule. A schedule without rest is not what God intended. He rested on the 7th day, and we should all have a sabbath, whether it is a full Sunday, or another day throughout the week.
Exercise is good but not in excess. If you are exercising 7 days a week and for more than 30-45 minutes each day, ask yourself why? This can actually produce extra cortisol and put unneeded stress on your body. Our muscles and joints need time to rest as well, so consider a 6 day a week exercise regimen. Exercise is great – especially for depression and overall mental well- being, but excess of anything is not good.
Journaling helps you connect to what you’re feeling and why, and begin to handle emotions. For me, when I start to get overwhelmed with emotions and feelings or easily frustrated, I stop and just start typing out how I’m feeling. It soon begins to show me that I have a lot inside that I need to deal with to be more productive throughout my day.
Keep your counseling appointments. Having someone to walk with you through healing and be an outside perspective is helpful, and it’s healing in its own right just having someone hear your struggles.
These are just a few tips that I have learned over the years and am still learning. Take care of yourself, rest, and it will help you have more energy for the days ahead.
© 2022 Susan M. Clabaugh
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