I don’t have anything to look forward to in life except money entering my direct deposit every two weeks and back catalogs of podcasts. I don’t even want to listen to music anymore.
this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2024
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Just get gains, don’t overthink it.
You’re gonna be sad anyway, be sad while lifting something.
This. It's actually surprisingly simple, too. I think the hardest part is just committing to starting it.
bruh what part of
do you think is compatible with long-term regimented activity?
Stop thinking of it in terms of “you must do this specific thing in a regimented way every day until I die”
Maybe the issue here isn’t depression but perfectionism resulting in inaction?
Just pump some weights.
When I was depressed I watched YouTube in a kind of bored disengaged manner. I’m sure you having something like that too. Do that same thing but lifting something.
OP said they liked listening to podcasts. It’s perfect for OP.
i have a dumbell next to my desk, it does not become habitual.
it doesn't matter if the standard is daily or a few times a week if you do two days on three months off
It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking, than think your way into a new way of acting.
bootstraps
yeah its weird "advice", exercise does play a role in boosting serotonin levels and increasing longevity but a person doesn't need to become a bodybuilder to gain these benefits
even "just get fit lol" is fucking wild disregard for how depression does you.
It’s not easy, but mental fitness is possible with effort. Why is there so much stigma around giving people good advice? Sure well people can overstate how easy they think it is, but I’m pretty depressed most of the time and I still find interesting and healthy things to do. I know I’m lucky and it hasn’t cured me, but it’s possible to feel ok sometimes if you’re mindful and touch grass (I would never blame anyone for not doing those things, I’m just trying to help).
People are saying it's not good advice, not that good advice is bad.
Well, they’re wrong. Exercise objectively makes you feel better, like good food, socializing, doing things, and meditating. Obviously if you get too goal oriented (I don’t feel muscular enough etc) it can be bad, but generally such actions are good. I’m a big nihilist with executive dysfunction. When I do such things out of obligation, I still feel the benefit.
This is true. Not everyone who is depressed is sedentary, but everyone who is sedentary is depressed.
telling depressed people to magically come up with the willpower to do a bunch of hard work is completely unhelpful.
speaking for myself, if i had that effort to give and keep up consistently over a period of years i wouldn't have a problem in the first place and i'd be a good little PMC stemlord somewhere making the world worse instead of being a complete burnout.
I’m not saying it’s easy, but what you need is not motivation but to do things in spite of lacking the motivation.
yeah i'll just snap my fingers and make myself do stuff i can't make myself do
Again, I know it’s not easy. No one is motivated to do what is good for them every day. The key is habit. I didn’t feel like meditating, walking my dog, or climbing today, and I may have done them poorly, but I did them. I did them because I have to every day regardless of how I feel. I don’t feel good, but I would feel worse if I didn’t. I know it seens hopeless when you’re depressed, but I like being pessimistic because I keep trying and eventually something will go slightly better than I imagine and I’ll be pleased. I guess I’m lucky to have a little hypomania from time to time, but I promise things change eventually and the world isn’t so bad if you get out of your head and experience it sometimes (I’m usually miserably in my head, but it’s true).
i don't form habits or routines like that, and i always chafed against any kind of regular schedule
sounds like survivorship bias. the people who it doesn't improve for probably don't stick it out. It's been getting worse for 10+ years. Attempts to get treatment over the years ranged from useless to incredibly harmful. There's.... well, I'll skip the trauma dumping, tl;dr i need to be rescued, not bootstraps.
Change is the only constant. I know I won’t convince you of anything because you are committed to depression.
committed like a fluid is committed to the shape of a container. I can't will myself to succeed in capitalist and neurotypical society, i have no power over anyone else or my circumstances unless you're on some Sartre bullshit and i'm supposed to go kms.