This is my recommendation. Seeing your job as a separate negative entity is bad for your mind. It is easy to stress over showing up on time, doing well, but it can help to enjoy your job while your there, whether it be the people, the mission, the environment, or its contribution towards you and your future. My job right now isn't the best ever, but it's funding my goals, like going to the gym, sweet treats, and education. When I go to work, I realize I am still me there, I can still daydream and enjoy the day. And when I am off, my day is filled with even more purpose because what I do is entirely decided by me. It helps to pre-plan things I truly want to do. In the moment, having free time after work can just feel exhausting, so writing out "I need/want to go on a walk or visit a coffee shop" helps a lot. It may seem unappealing but once you get yourself doing what you really want to do, it feels amazing. trying to change your lifestyle can be very hard, but baby steps make all the difference. Personally, just going to the gym after work does really make me feel better. One day, I left work so exhausted and pissed off just because of coworkers and exhaustion. But I forced myself to go to the gym and felt glad that I didn't let outside circumstances hold me back from my other goals.
Pretty much what I am saying is you have to consciously do everything, whether it is planning your after-work activities or enjoying your day at work.
Work in society is programmed to be 'bad' in our minds but it doesn't have to be.
Obviously you may not feel great every day or even after a while of trying to make changes, but ultimately working towards improving your own mental health will always be worth it, even if you know you may fall back into stress a month later. Just keep pushing!
May 28, 2025
Related Recs
š
Try not to completely give into depression and let everything in your life go. If you have an LSAT coming up and need a job, maybe you just need to prioritize one to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Having a singular focus is really helpful because itās less overwhelming and confusing. And making some sacrifices is better than burning out and failing everything. Can the job possibly wait? If not, I would say its really helpful to create a schedule for yourself. Youāll see that you can get a lot done in a day and still have tons of scheduled time to relax and rot in bed. But remember that rotting in bed feels soo much better when you know you spent some time making your life better. Doing nothing will make your day feel empty and meaningless. And it gets harder to get out of because you get used to it. Even spending an hour on a goal is an accomplishment. Even if you spent 10 hours on your phone, and one hour on a goal, in a year you would have way more going for you than if you spent all day on your phone. Most people are awake for 16 hours, so you could spend 8 hours being productive and still have around 8 hours to relax in bed. Schedule your day so you get a lot of relaxing breaks, so work doesnāt feel so painful. Stick to a predictable schedule. Make sacrifices in any areas that arenāt a priority. Like definitely say no to plans you donāt have time/energy for. And donāt see days that donāt work out as a failure. Like I said, even if you spent 10 hours in bed, just get 1 hour in and count that day as a success. Then you can at least say to yourself that the day couldve been worse. Donāt wait for yourself to have more energy, just use the small amount of energy you have because it kind of regenerates itself and the more productive you feel the more energized youāll feel. I also recommend taking as many not destructive substances as necessary to get yourself going like even something like drinking more coffee than usual can give you that initial boost. And antidepressants can really help if you think you might be depressed and arenāt on them already
Aug 22, 2024
š
Iāve had periods where Iāve really struggled with this too. Before I give my rec, I want to emphasize that I think we all experience cycles in our behavior where we āmake progressā (whatever that means for you!) and then we donāt - and thatās really okay. I would start by figuring out if your body is physically okay. Lethargy/fatigue is a biological response to a lot of different things and it may be the result of unexpected health stuff! So donāt discount a doctorās visit. But mental health/stress really contributes to this for me, and it is often the biggest thing that breaks my healthy routines. This is where the loop comes in: healthy routines combat stress, but stress breaks up healthy routines. So that first day you start the healthy routine cycle is really important! For me healthy routines start with good sleep hygiene. If youāve been rotting in bed a lot and your sleep cycle is screwed, re-establishing that may be difficult. I would recommend supplementing your body with physical movement - preferably something rigorous (for your level) but also gives you joy!! No boring gym time - do whatever gives you endorphins. Consistent activity is really key for your body to not fall into a doom loop. And lastly, do the things you need to do to combat your stress. Set yourself up so that you feel you are taking meaningful steps towards progress. Start with the small stuff and donāt discount them!!! Often the small tasks are the ones that break us because they seem innumerable (for me itās always been folding laundry). But just remember, every small thing you do is progress and that will build your momentum.
I believe in ya! You have the power to change this, slowly but surely.
May 13, 2024
š
once I realized that most days I spent entirely at home made me feel awful when they should make me feel rested, I started making a point of getting out of the house on days where I have nothing planned. you can really go anywhere as long as it's a place that you're comfortable and can waste some time in. I would usually go to a coffee shop and do homework/browse the web on my laptop, which I could just as easily do at home but it felt better than doing it there because I actually had to get up, get ready, get outside, and interact with people even if minimally. it just helped me stay grounded.
nowadays if i have to stay home I make a point to force myself to get up at a normal time (sleeping until past noon will make you feel like you can't do anything because it's already so late you migh as well just stay in) and do something creative, usually that helps the time fly if you get engrossed in it for a while. having a hobby is a great timesink that actually feels productive.
if the weather is nice, just go outside and take it in. if you can walk around your part of town, just putting on music an meandering can be a good way to get familiar with your area or find something new to try. I'm a fan of biking so if there's a pedestrian trail in your city just get on and ride. I've found that putting on music and going at a chill pace I can end up wasting hours taking in the sights and vibing and actually get some excercise too.
in general, moving around and getting out are huge. you don't even need to be doing anything ""productive"". but if you must stay inside, get out of the bedroom and find an activity you can get lost in for a while, stimulate your mind a bit.
May 6, 2024
Top Recs from @tyranno-rex
š
Pull ups are so freeing and I feel jacked
May 27, 2025
š
I love reading and writing yet I'm missing out on both?! I feel pretty ashamed.
But I gotta give you something, so my book rec: Leviathan Wakes by James Corey
This book is an adult fiction set in the future in space. It is really good and tackles a lot of deep issues I think. If you like good writing, sci-fi, and switching povs, I suggest this book.
May 27, 2025
š
Pretty upbeat, it makes me wanna jig out
May 28, 2025