I hear what you're saying DvF, I haven't been working for about 6 months now, and having operations has kept me out of even looking for work and the situation will be the same for another couple of months.
The first month or so I was motivated - I'd get up early every day to stay in the habit of it (I knew that if I started sleeping in it would be harder when I do go back to work to get back into it) and do all of my housework so that by about 8am I could just relax for the rest of the day, I'd go for a walk every day even if it was only 10 minutes, I started writing my novel again that I'd put away, I taught myself how to knit. After a while though I just lost the urge - the longer I've been out of work, the less reason I've had to get out of bed every morning. And that's when my depression really started settling back in.
So I spoke to my doctor and she told me stuff I already knew but had ignored - I needed to start exercising again (summerqueen is right, once you get into it, it becomes addictive) and I needed a routine. I haven't quite been motivated enough yet to start walking again (the fact that it's hot enough to melt the soles of my shoes doesn't help
) I have started an online writing course to help me with my novel and I try to write something every day, I've gotten back into the habit of cleaning every morning so I feel better in my own home (mess really contributes to depression) and I even went and joined my local library; just little things but they help me to not feel so hopeless.
You need a routine, and even if you don't feel like doing something, you have to make yourself. And before long it will become second nature and you won't have to force it any more.
TL;DR: It can be hard, but summerqueen is right - the only way to do something is to do it.
The first month or so I was motivated - I'd get up early every day to stay in the habit of it (I knew that if I started sleeping in it would be harder when I do go back to work to get back into it) and do all of my housework so that by about 8am I could just relax for the rest of the day, I'd go for a walk every day even if it was only 10 minutes, I started writing my novel again that I'd put away, I taught myself how to knit. After a while though I just lost the urge - the longer I've been out of work, the less reason I've had to get out of bed every morning. And that's when my depression really started settling back in.
So I spoke to my doctor and she told me stuff I already knew but had ignored - I needed to start exercising again (summerqueen is right, once you get into it, it becomes addictive) and I needed a routine. I haven't quite been motivated enough yet to start walking again (the fact that it's hot enough to melt the soles of my shoes doesn't help
) I have started an online writing course to help me with my novel and I try to write something every day, I've gotten back into the habit of cleaning every morning so I feel better in my own home (mess really contributes to depression) and I even went and joined my local library; just little things but they help me to not feel so hopeless.You need a routine, and even if you don't feel like doing something, you have to make yourself. And before long it will become second nature and you won't have to force it any more.
TL;DR: It can be hard, but summerqueen is right - the only way to do something is to do it.
"No-one who decides that scientific evidence is not for him and that his own experience or the stories of others is the be all and end all of deciding what's true ever has the right to call people searching for reliable, repeatable evidence narrow-minded. That is hypocrisy of the most laughable kind." Derren Brown - Tricks of the Mind.
