How to organize time when depressed?
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| Fri, 12-31-2004 - 4:35pm |
Hi, this isn't a very important post, and it may not be too relevant to depression...but I think maybe it is. As I've had a few days to spend by myself without too many obligations (OK, really no obligations!), I've realized I probably make my depression worse by my bad use of time.
Today, for example, I've had all day to myself...and early on, I did take a walk around the park and get some minor amounts of organizing done...but other than that, I've just been surfing the internet (mainly reading posts in a silly med student forum), over-eating like crazy, and getting more and more down (and more and more fat as well!). Well, I'm not sure how much farther down I can go...I'm already feeling like I can hardly stand each moment, although there is no specific reason for me to feel this way (that I know of)...but I don't want to find out where the bottom is!
I guess the obvious thing would be to "just do it"...just get up and be more productive or creative or something. And I am planning on exercising and maybe dragging myself out to a New Year's celebration to try to take some photos later on. But I just feel like I've wasted my day...I told my parents I needed to come back early to work on some things, and I've done less here than I probably would have done at my parents' house!
Does anybody have a good idea for ways to schedule your time when you feel completely unmotivated and useless? I guess this may not be an issue after Monday, when classes start again for me...but still, it is in a way, since I often feel like I waste what little free time I do have then.
Thanks for listening...sorry to be such a downer on New Year's...but I guess this is one way for me to start working on better habits.
Rose
Edited 12/31/2004 5:48 pm ET ET by rosa444

Rose ~ I don't see why you would think that post was "unimportant!" How we use our time is actually completely correlated to how we live our life, which is of utmost importance.
I will be lurking on this thread, as I would like the answer to this one as well! I have the same problem. I did all through high school, all through college, and now at 27 with two kids, I'm still this way. I used to call myself a "procrastinator", ha ha. It seems to be so much more than that. I am horrible with using time wisely and I can waste away hours without really *doing* anything. Then I become overwhelmed with all that I have left to do! It's so hard.
The only advice I could give (and maybe try to take myself) is that I try to tell myself when I am feeling completely unmotivated "An object in motion tends to stay in motion". For example, cleaning the house. The first 10 minutes is the WORST, but make it past that though and usually I am ok to at least get the important stuff done like dishes. And sometimes just seeing small spaces in my house clean is enough to keep going. It feels GOOD to have a clean house. (Although right now mine is yucky and I am not doing it tonight!)
Other than that, no pearls of wisdom. But good luck!
~Kiya
Hey Rose, its a wonderfully important post, not silly at all.. Everything we do in life effects us and our depression and the use of time is no different.
Now I have to start by saying that what works for me may be partially because I am a morning person but I still think its a valid suggestion hehe.
I make myself goals in the morning and I start them first thing sometimes before even breakfast.
*hugs
Thank you, Kiya...I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering about this issue! I think your advice about "staying in motion" is great...that does seem to be true for me as well, although I hadn't really thought about it much until now. I have used that idea for exercising before...saying to myself that I would exercise for 10 minutes no matter what, and then see if I felt like I could continue. But I hadn't really thought about applying it to other things like cleaning...I appreciate the idea!
Hope you're doing well today,
Rose
Thanks very much, Caly...it's nice to know that I can occasionally post questions like this here. I really like your suggestions...it's true that I'm not a morning person at all, but I think I could adapt them a little for my night-owlishness, maybe by making a list of little goals or a to-do list before I go to bed.
I also like your cleaning ideas...I've gone from having my own apartment to now living in a dorm again, which has its advantages and disadvantages...the main disadvantage being that I don't have my own kitchen or bathroom, so I have to do all my "living" in one room! But I think I could use your idea for organizing different areas of my room...I also tend to get distracted by something when I'm cleaning and get off track.
Thanks again for the ideas...I will definitely put them to use.
Rose
Time is a big thing for me, I look at the clock all the time. And say what a wastedday.