Any kind of exercise, and social interaction. A combination is best, ie a team sports like basketball, soccer, etc. Check for local leagues, and so forth. It's a really good way to meet new friends as well.
Asklemmy
A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions
Search asklemmy π
If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!
- Open-ended question
- Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
- Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
- Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
- An actual topic of discussion
Looking for support?
Looking for a community?
- Lemmyverse: community search
- sub.rehab: maps old subreddits to fediverse options, marks official as such
- !lemmy411@lemmy.ca: a community for finding communities
~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~
Working out
try programming. starting to learn python is easy and then if you like it keep on learning.
Therapy is the best hobby.
If you're looking for something you can do while watching YouTube, origami. It lets you ease into a hobby, without completely taking away your vice.
Here's some i made yesterday while watching schadenfreude vids about the Netflix Cowboy Bebop disaster...
How do you feel about finding things difficult and failure? Because that's really important to consider when thinking of suggestions. It also depends how dedicated or how hard you are on yourself.
For me its gardening. If you don't have a an outdoor space, get yourself a couple of pots and plant some veggies and place them by the window.
Reading books. I enjoy it so much because it distracts me from depression, but depending on the book, it also can be enlightening in some ways and doesnβt require me to really do much or go anywhere.
Knitting. The basics are really easy to pick up and you get something out of it surprisingly fast. As an added bonus knitting supplies can be gotten for around $10 at walmart all in
@QuietStorm
Group activities. People who are depressed should endeavor to be around people even if it is not what they want. Loneliness in a depressed person will turn to self loathing. Playing card games and board games with friends is a great activity because it forces you to be socially active and think about something other than what is depressing you.
Uninstall/disable the YouTube app. Trust me you will be a happier person
Go swimming in the sea
Ultimate Frisbee
Try martial arts.
Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.
I say martial arts because it sounds like you're having trouble being self-directed and finding motivation. I also have trouble being self-directed. I don't go to the gym because I get there and I'm overwhelmed by the options and don't know how to use the machines and get really self-conscious about everything. I don't like outside sports because I live where it's hot. Martial arts classes are set up to teach you in structured lessons, with instructors to plan what you're gonna do and keep you motivated.
Plus, you get to hit stuff.
Anything creative, as a lot of people have suggested. It's highly satisfying to see a finished product you crafted yourself. And they really make you get in the zone and hyperfocus.
Scrapbooking is a good one. Sift through your photos, find some that bring back good memories and get them printed. Invest in a small spiral bound scrapbook, some acid-free coloured paper and decorations (you can get these from poundshops/dollar stores). Look at other people's scrapbooks online and shamelessly copy their designs until you can come up with your own.
Maybe you could even make some for the people you care about. Added bonus of being able to go over good memories with them. Maybe you can bring a smile to both of your faces.
Another cute one is making models out of greyboard (the grey cardboard on the back of refill pads).
Best of luck, I hope you feel better soon!
Meditation.
It's been shown to be a very effective remedy for depression. It's also a useful tool for getting in control of your mind. If you meditate regularly, you'll find more enjoyment in the things you're already doing.
Also, since it's just you and your thoughts, you may discover something you're interested in and find a hobby that way.
I play a video game (usually a retro one) on a low difficulty level. Then beat the computer over and over again. Bonus points if itβs a game I usually avoid because itβs too hard.
Gives a constant feeling of satisfaction at beating the computer over and over.
My hobbies change with the seasons. Woodworking, tinkering with electronics, amd gaming in the colder months. Biking in the summer months. Anything that requires your undivided attention helps forget about depression.
Dancing. There were dark times in my life where the dance practice was the highlight of the week. You get to know people too and when you choose a style of music you like it's almost impossible to feel bad. I know of people I met there who need it as well to stay positive.
Also it's physical and mental exercise in one. Perfect.
Since you mentioned that you want to create something to share, then art of any kind, including music, is what I'd suggest too. Pour yourself into whatever art or music you are creating and it will turn out well. The key word there is "creating." Art and music, when you are creating it, forces you into the present. There's no room for you to wonder out into the past or the future, which don't exist except in your head. Art forces you into the present and the present moment is the only place you will find peace, joy, creativity, and love.
Learn programming?
ive have been wanting to make games but im not sure what language or engine to learn, also it seems very daunting.
Just learn how to use unity (older c#). Once you start getting into that, you will probably know where to go from there.
Right now Iβm trying chess. I absolutely suck at it, but I can play it on demand at any time online and getting better at it. Donβt really play against live opponents often, but rather play bots or solve puzzles mostly. It helps get the mind to think about something else and makes me want to learn due to how bad I was initially. Still bad, just less so.
but im probably dreaming too big
No you're not. You underestimate yourself. There is not "too big" when it comes to having a hobby. You don't need to prove anything, just do something you enjoy and that makes you feel good about yourself. The difficult part is getting out of the house, not the actual activity. I won't recommend anything specific here because lots of people in this thread have already, and also the activity does not really matter, only that you do something that engages you.
Honestly winemaking and brewing are great for depression. Can't find the willpower to take care of it for two weeks? That's fine! It's just aging, you can do the next step whenever you feel like it. And then you get to share and everyone is pressured to say nice things, it's great.
I have started to knit. I usually will watch TV or listen to a podcast and as I become better, I try more complex projects that force me to put more thought in what I'm doing.
I started out not doing anything specific, basically different lengths of squares and rectangles, because I also struggle with motivation to do anything. It was really just so I would have something to do and keep myself busy with. Then I started to include more simple techniques and then motifs and now patterns. If it's something that interests you, I think it's a great way to get distracted and at the end of it, you get a "reward" (being whatever you knit).
I hope you find something that helps you and that eventually you overcome depression.