Recovery from depression means going back to the basics. For me, boring self care is a huge part of the journey to recovery.

I am not an expert, but can only write based on my own experience and research.

What my depression is like

The thing about depression is that it just sucks away any and all motivation that you have to do anything. The most simple tasks become impossible, every muscle feels like lead and your head is so clouded with thoughts, or it is absolutely empty.

While everyone experiences depression in different ways, this was how I felt every single morning when my depression was at its worst. I couldn’t get out of bed, if I could, I couldn’t choose clothes, or muster up energy to put them on. I couldn’t shower, because that meant walking to the other end of the house. Sometimes, I couldn’t even eat food when it was brought to me, because swallowing became the most difficult task.

The feeling of not being able to do anything, to not be able to function is even more crushing.

Get back to the basics

On the journey to recovery, a huge part was being able to do these every day tasks. All those things that people do regularly, people do without giving a second thought, I had to really put effort into doing.

On social media, this self care has been dubbed #boringselfcare . And this is exactly what I did.

This is what’s on my list

• Breakfast

• Lunch

• Dinner

• Brush teeth

• Shower

• Drink water

• Take pills

• Go outside

• Get dressed

• Talk to someone

And that was it. That was my list of 10 basic things that I aimed to do every day. You see, when you aren’t doing the fundamental things, there is no way that you can turn up at your job, study for exams, or pursue your dreams.

Artwork by Hannah Daisy from @makedaisychains