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[mtclmbr_gal]

I recently did the best thing I could do for my depression & other personal issues that I'm dealing with, & that was to cut back my work hours to relax and take some time for myself. Today's one of my days off, but I'm becoming depressed just sitting around, yet relieved to have a day off. I'm very interested in trying a yoga class tonight for the first time to pamper myself & to get out of my apartment. I just don't have the energy, and I'm a little self-concious about my body shape.

What do some of you do when you don't have the energy to do something you want to do? I may try a nap & see how I feel afterwards. I may even have to force myself out the door tonight, but I'm sure it won't be easy.

[LibraryLady]

Hey Mtclmbr Gal,

First off, I think you need to REST for a while! Do nothing! I find that extremely hard to do myself, so it is ironic that I'm recommending it to you!

Let your energy build up for a while and it's possible you will start feeling like getting up and doing stuff. When I find I'm just too tired to actually do anything, I will do passive things to do with my interests. For instance if you are interested in yoga, then look at yoga books or magazines, or websites. If you sew (or quilt, like I do), then look at patterns you have, or read sewing magazines. I love to garden, but if I'm too tired, I pull out my gardening notebook and draw flowerbed designs, or read up on plants I want to get.

In other words do passive things that don't require a lot of energy, but are of interest to you. I think after a few days of getting extra rest you will naturally feel more energetic and want to go out and do things.

Edited by LibraryLady, 06 June 2012 - 02:18 PM.

[serenity80]

Push yourself to do something and then maybe the motivation will come as your heart rate increases. Exercise gives off endorphins that make you happy. Ever seen a sad fitness instructor? lol
Sometimes I want to relax and then I get depressed and mad at myself for not doing more projects, or chores around the house and I tend to punish myself mentally for just relaxing. Arrggg!!! Why? don't I deserve to relax for God sake?!!!

[LibraryLady]

Ha ha Serenity! I'm like that too! I try to stop and relax, like sit out on my porch, and then I get antsy because I'm not doing something. I have to laugh at myself for being such a fidgity fussbudget! :-)

[mtclmbr_gal]

serenity, your coment made me think of the movie, "Legally Blonde". 'Exercise gives you endorphines. Endorphines make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands.'

OK, here's my plan. I'm going to get my butt out of my apartment. I'm going to go bend as much as humanly possible, and then I'm going to come back & check in with you guys. Sound good? Good. Glad to hear! :)

VERY slowly getting off of my computer to walk to my closet to get out of my pjs & into workout clothes & SLOWLY driving to the yoga class.

Edited by mtclmbr_gal, 06 June 2012 - 04:33 PM.

[mtclmbr_gal]

OK, I'm back. I made it through. It was actually pretty relaxing for most part. I did a lot better of getting in my car & going than I had anticipated. I came back feeling much less tense & not as sad. Those must be the endorphines speaking.

[serenity80]

Great job!!! I am super proud of you and LOL on the Legally Blonde quote.

Now!!!!!! Think about this, When you do get a little energy and you stay busy or accomplish stuff don't u feel good about yourself when you are done and usually have extra energy once you get ur heart rate up?

Its those times that I want to relax that my mind beats the crap out of me!!!! I get depressed because I didn't accomplish anything, but still I feel like why am I not allowed to relax!!???

[LilyRain]

Its those times that I want to relax that my mind beats the crap out of me!!!! I get depressed because I didn't accomplish anything, but still I feel like why am I not allowed to relax!!???

Oh my gosh story of my life. I don't let myself relax because I want to accomplish something, but then I don't accomplish anything, so then I feel more depressed!

It's always really hard, but exercise helps with depression. Once I get started I feel better, but it's the getting started part that is difficult for me.

[dukeofjarvis]

Sometimes I'll do an easier task that's related to what I really want to do but don't feel up to. Often, doing the easier thing will give me the courage to try the one that's more daunting. Example: I've got a half-finished song that I've been putting off for ages. It's now time to add the vocal, but I'm feeling so awful I don't know if I can sing. There's also the hassle of setting up the microphone, getting a level, etc.--tasks that are easily accomplished when I'm well, but pose formidable obstacles when I'm down.

So: instead of forcing myself to do it anyway, I'll start by putting a favourite song on my CD player. That way, there's no pressure, no need to fiddle with equipment; I just press play and sing along. The key here is no pressure and no expectation. If that's as far as I get today, that's fine. But more often than not, I'll sing along with one song, then another, then another and before I know it, I'm ready to set up the mic, get that level and record the vocal track to my own song. :)

As it pertains to your situation, you might want to do some yoga (or even simple stretching) in your apartment first. It may or may not spur you to venture out to your class; either way, it's all right. At least you've accomplished something, and some days, that's all we can ask, right?

P.S. Glad you made it to class all the same. :) Good for you!

[Nellyzen]

Sounds like anxiety to me...always in a rush or hurry or having that feeling that something needs to be done.