Sports outdoors with other people
this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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Asklemmy
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My hobbies change with the seasons. Woodworking, tinkering with electronics, amd gaming in the colder months. Biking in the summer months. Anything that requires your undivided attention helps forget about depression.
Physical hobbies like sports are very good, I went to a "martial arts club" for 2 years to train boxing. They shut down the boxing part of the gym during COVID and never started back up. So naturally I started singing. I had been singing in my car to and from work for almost 2 years at the time, so when COVID hit I started singing much more. Now Im in a choir and Ive been part of 2 concerts. You always have your voice with you so its easy to just put on some music and practise. I was still quite depressed so I got a dog, even though Im allergic, and have just gotten into university to get a degree in something completely different from my previous job. I feel amazing these days.
Making something. I'm taking lessons on metalworking, and it's really satisfying to have something that I made which can be useful in my daily life.
ive been wanting to make a game or something, like that but honestly im not sure, i cant even code, i wonder if there is something easier to do?
That's a great point. If you start out with a definite objective like that, it's going to be hard to get past the depression hump. I know for me I have to give myself more general objectives. So instead make a goal of learning how to code. You can find tons of lessons online that are aimed at teaching kids, and they typically have a gamification component to them. That quick hit of serotonin is what you need to stay with it. If, instead, you start out wanting to make a game app for your phone, you'll quit when it gets too hard.
I have started to knit. I usually will watch TV or listen to a podcast and as I become better, I try more complex projects that force me to put more thought in what I'm doing.
I started out not doing anything specific, basically different lengths of squares and rectangles, because I also struggle with motivation to do anything. It was really just so I would have something to do and keep myself busy with. Then I started to include more simple techniques and then motifs and now patterns. If it's something that interests you, I think it's a great way to get distracted and at the end of it, you get a "reward" (being whatever you knit).
I hope you find something that helps you and that eventually you overcome depression.
Whittling is also a good one, low investment and relatively simple.
Juggle. You must have 3 similar ball shaped items around the house. There's lots of tutorials online. You get your blood feeling, body moving. Such a nice rush when you finally get that new pattern or trick you were working on.
A cat? It forces you to do something useful everyday, which will make you feel good. Maybe a dog is even better, since you'd have to walk it, but a dog is a harsher commitment than a cat. You can't skip a walk with a dog, just because you re having a bad day. A cat however, will be fine for a day of neglect as long as you keep it's bowl full. A cat also enjoys playing outside though, so you could try that as well.
I had a kid, which didn't cure my depression, but it took away all my time. I didn't have time to think about depression anymore, so I kinda forgot about it. Though I wouldn't recommend having a kid for anything besides just wanting to have a kid.
Im sorry but im allergic to alot of things such as cats and dogs for some reason, i wish i could get one but i just cant at the moment.
I'm super allergic to cats, but it's absolutely worth it. You just have to remember that the hand you pet the cat with can never be the hand you touch your face with lol
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For me, it was running and reducing alcohol to very moderate levels. I'm at the point now that I crave a run to clear my mind and lower my stress. I rarely ever feel depressed anymore. Total game changer for me.
Iโve thrown myself into competitive powerlifting and my bipolar disorder has been stable for like three years. The exercise can be tough but it really levels me out.
Turn the passive watching into something a bit active if you can. I like watching TV, and I sometimes try to analyze the data from them. Similarly, if you like watching youtube videos, maybe examine what it is that excites you about them, if any, analyze and introspect.
Drawing of course ๐! I think it would help to get your emotions out.