Major Depressive Disorder

Routines help me a lot; granted, I also have anxiety so this may have more to do with not get overwhelmed but I look at certain points of the day as dedicated to a particular task which allows me to regain spoons because I'm not focusing on other things. Even if it's just one task for each day, I can – say – do an hour shower at 6, each day; I shut off my brain, just enjoy the hour because I've put aside time for just that. Once I've done that for however long I needed (that can be up to months or even a year; no race), it becomes easier to add something else because it's just routine I'm prepared for, now.

It also builds confidence, over time, which I think helps.

There's a few things I depend on - self-care, animals, and friends/family/regular socialization.

Shower, wear clean clothes. Eat something, healthy if possible. Clean your living area a bit. Accomplishing these basic things helps me feel better and feel better about myself for the basic self care.

Aside from that, for me, being with my animals helps immensely, but I know that isn't an option for everyone. That freely offered love can be a lifeline of its own.

Keep in touch with your people, your friends, family, community. If you don't think you have people, try to find some. I'd wager more people care about you than you would know or acknowledge. Might take a while to find them but they are there.

I'm getting up there in years and the friends I made in my 20s and 30s are my dependable people, in addition to some family.

I keep them close with discord and weekly d&d games. That means one day a week I am forced to socialize and have creative fun with the people I care most about in the world. (That's one family d&d game and one friend one.)