I clicked on a link and there it was.
“We are a spectacular compilation of little victories that exist in the face of odds, not in our favor.” Kate Speer
“The Positively Kate Depression-Busting Routine.” Read The entire article.
Reading this was exactly what I needed this morning.
Kate’s routine begins by celebrating getting out of bed. Believe it or not, the hardest part of my day is getting out of bed. I was never like that. How is that possible now? This is such a change from the old me. Kate celebrates her getting out of bed by dancing. I will try that.
I go back and forth each morning about when I will get out of bed.
If the alarm is set, I am getting better about not using the snooze button. But that can be a crutch, too. If I avail myself of that extra 9 minutes in bed, then I am pushed and pressed to get everything done before I leave for work.
If I have worked late and am home after midnight, I justify staying in bed by saying “well, I got in late and I really need 8 hours of sleep.” However, my internal alarm is going off at 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, and by 7:30 AM I am facing a decision.
The guilt begins to pile up on one side of the scale.
It is telling me I am wasting the day, and I should be ashamed of myself for just laying around. After all, I am awake, so why am I not being productive? Why am I not getting up?
The other side of the scale has me thinking about the need for proper sleep. I frame it in terms of self-care and getting a good rest each day. I envision statistics that support me staying in bed up to 8 ½ hours.
In addition, I hear the cat in the next room yowling for his breakfast.
My dog is nuzzling around the middle of the bed, hoping I will get up so she can move over and put her head on the warm pillow. And did I mention I need to pee? All this plays out in my head just about every morning.
I need a better “Morning Depression-Busting Routine.”
In truth, I need a spectacular compilation of little victories. I need to recognize all the things I do and spend my time there. Spending my time with the “you could-a, should-a” things I am not doing is eating into my positive energy. It is keeping me from looking at my life in a more celebratory fashion.
We all must balance the scales in our head in order to function. Understanding how our little victories tilt the scale towards positiveness is what I am taking form this article.
What is your morning routine?
Thank you for your article, I found you through Healthline and will continue to follow. My MDD has been getting so overwhelming lately so I’ve changed providers and I’m changing things up a bit. This is such a roller coaster way of life, just when I feel better here we go again. Cindy M.
Cindy, action is one of the hardest things to do when dealing with MDD. You should take pride in being a positive advocate for yourself. Having struggled with this “roller coaster way of life” for years myself, I can identify with the ups and downs. Your courage to go forward is inspiring. Thank you for sharing and keep in touch.