Doctor's Orders

I have a real problem with depression but am completely against taking anti-depressants. At least once a year I get severely depressed and always manage to get myself out of my depressive state. So today I sat back and thought about the way I went about de-depressing myself and I recognized a sort of routine that I go through that always gets me through those rough spots. Here are the docotr's orders:

1. Cut your hair. Sometimes all you need is a change and fresh perspective.
2. ALWAYS change out of your PJs. Staying in them all day makes you feel like your life is so pointless and unnecessary that you can stay in bed all day and do nothing and no one and nothing will notice.Start the day with fresh clothes.
3. Groom yourself every day. Brush your teeth, do your hair, put on make up, shower, etc. Remember: How you look affects how you feel.
4. Read a book for at least 20 minutes a day. Get involved in a series. It's nice to get out of your life which may seem pretty boring sometimes and become involved in one of complete fiction like Harry Potter.
5. Draw or do something artsy and creative every day.Get those creative juices flowing again. When you see something that you have created, not only will you realize that, hey, you just had something to do for a good half hour or more, but also your life will have more of a purpose because you are creating something physical.
6. Make your bed every morning. You'll feel better; more fresh and ready to start your day.
7. Write in a journal. Journals are a great way of getting all your depressive thoughts that clog up your mind released onto paper where they can stay instead of flooding your mind with sadness throughout the day. Journaling can also let yourself see how you are progressing out of your depression, get you excited about your future plans, etc.
8. Start a big project. Whether it is redoing the house, starting a garden, and art piece, writing a book, building, anything at all. Just keep busy. Make sure you have something to occupy your mind throughout the day. Focus on a goal and finishing it. Try to keep it at one large project at a time or at least on large one and a mini project. You don't want to become frustrated because you feel you can't accomplish your goal. Just KEEP BUSY.
9. Make sure your room/workspace is clean. Tidy around the house/room/workplace every day. an uncluttered desk is an uncluttered mind and a clean room is a clean mind, body and soul.

Photo from (http://thelighthascome.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/i-am-never-upset-for-the-reason-i-think/)

No medication is necessary to overcome depression. I'm proof of that. Depression is almost always purely a mental state. And like they say: Mind over matter. Get your mind to think a different way. This way works for me, it might work for you too. You'd have to experiment with different things to see what helps you.

Another Option for Square Foot Gardening

I thought this was a pretty cool idea, plus it is easy to build and really practices this whole reuse, reduce and recycle thing I've been trying to exercise.


Milk Crate

Making a Compost Pile: Essential articles and commentary on compost and the composting process

Making a Compost Pile: Essential articles and commentary on compost and the composting process

Square Foot Gardening

My cousin recently contacted me to let me know that she had some "baby plants" that she had no space for and if I perhaps would like to start a garden and she could donate them to me. This has been a dream of mine for a very long time. I don't know exactly why, but it has been and now it is finally to be fulfilled.

I think everyone should create a garden and I also think everyone is capable of it. Especially with this thing my cousin told me about called square foot gardening, where basically you make a box 4ft x 4ft dived into 1ft x 1ft squares so that each plant is separated. Like this you can grow, tomatoes, herbs, squashes, fruits and beans in an organized fashion and since the garden is small, it is easier to take care of, the plants are easy to water and all you need is a space big enough for a 4x4 box.

There are a lot of really great benefits to growing your own garden, even if you just start with a few plants. The food you buy in markets is highly contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals like preservatives that aren't really that good for you. By growing your own veggies you control what chemicals are going into your body, eat healthier, food tastes better, and gardening is a great form of relaxation and discipline. Also, after your garden is finished, you have something to be proud of, almost like a child. Not to mention, square foot gardens are attempting to stop world hunger which has become a serious problem especially in third world countries where governments do not have enough money to pay for subsidized farming (which should be OK since that's bad for us anyway...)

I am going to be starting my square foot garden very soon. First I have to gather the materials to make the box, the soil, the seeds and germinated plants I will be planting, and then I have to build the box and then I'm set. I guess it could be somewhat of a project for discipline and living a healthier lifestyle.

If you are interested in the benefits and how to start you own square foot garden here are some links to help you get started:

http://current.com/news/89867838_introducing-square-foot-gardening.htm

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/home