I have a question for you. How are you spending your time? I’m serious. I want you to ask yourself and be honest. Are you spending your time with friends and family? Are you spending your time being creative? Are you spending your time doing things that will help you in your future? Are you doing things that are healthy with your time? Or are you spending your time alone? Are you spending your time being unproductive or unmotivated? Are you spending your time doing things that are detrimental to your future? Are you doing things that are unhealthy with your time? Be honest. There is a lot more that you are in control of than you give yourself credit for.

I know that it is not easy to take yourself out of depression and it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. I know that, and I am not trying to make your struggle seem like it’s not a big deal. I just want you to know that you have what it takes to overcome it. I know because I have been there. I know that it feels so low sometimes that you don’t know how you’ll ever feel different. But I promise it won’t be forever. It’s not as simple as flipping a switch but there are things that work. The most important question is how you spend your time. So ask. And listen to what your brain tells you in response. Are there things that you are doing that are directly contributing to the way you feel? What can you change today that would lighten your load?

I know that this is said a lot but it’s because it works- work out. Get moving and break a sweat. You’ll feel better knowing that you did. It’s important for obvious reasons, but also because to pull yourself out of this depression you have to build up your confidence. You have to prove to yourself that you are capable. And so you do that in baby steps. Prove to yourself that you can overcome the feeling of not wanting to be active by going out and taking a walk or a light jog. And then prove that you can do that every day for a week. Maybe that means that you are going to have to wake up earlier than you usually do but you don’t want to. Great, here’s another chance to prove that you can. How you spend your time in little ways is going to make a big difference in your life. You need to take responsibility for the aspects of your life that you have the power to control and in that time, do things that you’re proud of. I know it’s not easy but you are worthy of having the life you want.

It all starts with you.