This post was published on JustPlainCooking.ca
Mild depression doesn’t always look like what you see in movies. Sometimes it’s just lying in bed too long, forgetting to eat, or staring blankly at a to-do list you know you should care about — but don’t. These are five low-energy, practical ways I deal with mild depression when even brushing my teeth feels like too much.
This post is not medical advice. I’m not a therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or anything with a -ist. I’m just a neurodivergent woman with four kids at home, executive dysfunction, and a brain that occasionally decides to unplug itself and lie down in a dark room. Oh, and an inoperable brain tumour – I suppose that doesn’t help, hm?
Sometimes life is awful. Sometimes life is fine, but my brain tells me it’s awful anyway. That’s what I call “mild depression.” It’s not the kind that puts me in crisis, but it absolutely steals days from me.
These are the five things I do to keep going — not thrive, not glow up, just keep going. And some days, that’s enough.
I Get Vertical
Lying in bed all day makes it worse. But sitting up in bed? That’s a win. Standing in the kitchen staring at the wall while the kettle boils? Victory.
Sometimes I don’t shower. I don’t clean. But I do move from horizontal to vertical. And that, in this house, counts as progress.
Bonus – if you can do some cleaning, enough to prevent a pile up, Future You will be grateful.
I Do One Stupid Easy Thing
Usually, it’s “make coffee” (or carbonated water or whatever I know I’ll be doing anyway).
And I write it down after I do it, just so I can cross it off.
Seriously.
I’ll literally write:
☐ Make coffee
✅ Make coffee
Why does that work? Who knows. Magic executive dysfunction witchcraft – I’m sure there’s a psychiatrist out there who can explain. But it helps my brain say, “Hey, we did a thing today.” Weirdly, that’s often enough to get the dopamine.
I Move the Air
I don’t go for a walk. I don’t do yoga. I don’t “get fresh air” like Pinterest says.
I move the air around me.
Sometimes I open a window.
Sometimes I turn on a fan.
Sometimes I just flap my arms like a depressed duck.
It resets something. Again, I have no clue why. But it works.
After that, if I feel up to getting my butt outdoors to look at the sky and get some vitamin D, awesome. Because yes, we’re basically houseplants with anxiety and we do need the sun.
I Pet the Cats / Feed the Kids
Feeding another living thing — even if it’s just tossing kibble into a bowl or reminding Eve that toast exists — reminds me I still exist too. That I still matter, even if my brain is yelling otherwise.
Pets, plants, kids, sourdough starters — they keep you grounded. They don’t care if you brushed your hair. They just want you there.
I Find Something to Laugh At (Even If It’s Dark)
Dark humour is a coping skill. (Fight me.)
I’ll scroll memes. I’ll watch weird animal videos. I’ll read one of my own snarky posts and remember that I am still funny, even if I feel like a sentient bathmat.
Laughter isn’t a cure, but it’s a tiny light. Even if it’s just for a minute.
If you’re dealing with mild depression — or the kind of neurodivergent shutdown that looks like it — I see you.
You’re not lazy.
You’re not broken.
You’re a person doing your best with a fried brain and a world that never stops asking for more.
None of this is medical advice. But it is lived experience.
And maybe — just maybe — it’ll help you get through today.
Where to Get Real Help If You Need It
If the fog isn’t lifting or things feel heavier than just “a bad day,” please don’t try to carry it alone. These aren’t affiliate links or sponsored — just good places to start when you need a hand, not a hashtag.
🇨🇦 For Canadians:
- Talk Suicide Canada (24/7): or call 1-833-456-4566
- Wellness Together Canada: free mental health resources and live counselling
- CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association): local support and programs
🌎 For Anyone, Anywhere:
- 7 Cups: free, anonymous chat with trained listeners. Not therapy, but helpful when you just need someone awake at 3am.
- The Mighty – Mental Health: relatable articles by folks who’ve been there
- You Feel Like Sh*t: An Interactive Self-Care Guide: cheeky, kind, and sometimes exactly what you need
- The Nap Ministry (Instagram): because rest is resistance, especially when capitalism is telling you to “do more”
Leave a Reply