The chill has returned to the air, and leaves are crunching underfoot once more. Along with
these immaculate fall vibes, comes colder temps, shorter days, and more darkness. For people
like me, this seasonal shift can bring some seasonal depression. As someone who’s been
through the ringer, I’ve found some hacks to get ahead.
Environment
Getting ahead of your environment and creating a space that will support and uplift you is
crucial. I don’t keep a trashcan in my room to prevent trash piling up, which helps keep my area
clean. I like to get a big candle from somewhere less expensive like Marshalls, which can help
keep the vibes up and smell nice. I have multiple pairs of sheets, so when I’m down in the
dumps it makes it easier to change my sheets without having to use the little energy I have.
Self-Care
For me, it can be difficult to prioritize self-care when it’s hard to get out of bed. To make things
easier, I try to stock up on easy to make meals. Cans of soup, spaghettio’s, and mac and
cheese are just a few I keep around for when I’m too tired to cook a full meal. Keeping some
cleaning wipes in my room also helps for when I get a random burst of energy, and I can put it to
good use.
Dopamine Kicks
I’ve found that giving myself ways to get a burst of dopamine is extremely helpful in these darker
months. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that gives feelings of pleasure and motivation, and it is
very important to find ways to get dopamine when depressed. Little bits of dopamine could be
enough to get you up and cleaning, moving your body, or sitting in the living room with friends,
which will all cause more dopamine to be released. A favorite book, coloring, a comforting
movie or tv show have all helped to give me that little bit of dopamine I need to attempt to get
going. Other activities like going for a walk, stretching, and meditating I have also found to be
Helpful.
Journaling
I know, everybody says to journal to feel better, but it’s true. I used to feel a lot of pressure about
how to journal, what to write, how to write, and then I realized that it truly does not matter. No
one is reading your journal but you, and even that is not a requirement of keeping one. Getting
started can be tricky, so looking up some prompts can be helpful. I journal in a stream of
consciousness, and use it to attempt to bring subconscious thoughts to the forefront of my mind
so I can understand what is really happening.
