Struggling with Depression and Motivation

Oh and I forgot to say I had to move furniture around too

I found this article helpful about how external rewards can ruin motivation. It goes a bit into intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation. But to simply it, don’t use rewards to motivate you, instead, ask yourself how you can make the act of exercise more enjoyable. This will then link that enjoyment to the physical activity to more easily build a habit (but it sounds like you already have a habit of working out). So I’d say take away things from your work out to get back to the enjoyment of the activity. So for example, if you record yourself with a health watch, or track your strength training, take a couple weeks where you leave those at home. Maybe just listen to some fun music and go run around or do whatever for fun. If you always listen to music, maybe leave that at home too, and play a game with yourself of how long you can stay present in the moment before you get lost in thought. Best of luck! https://www.getsupporti.com/post/intrinsic-motivation

A lot of times people suggest to have a buddy system. So if you have a friend who also needs to get some exercise then why not have a goal of walking so many minutes each day. Or every other day help each other out. There are some parks that have water and there's ducks that you can feed, some people tried different trails, go to a zoo, go to theme parks, walk apartment complexes that they live in, borrow somebody's dog and help them walk it etc

My response got cut off but I was also gonna say for me when I get really really depressed that forces me to have to exercise. But it usually helps to remind myself that after doing exercise I never regret it. No matter how hard it was to get myself to do it.

Better to do a little exercise than not do any. Maybe your fitness routine can be adjusted that you take baby steps until you can do it again. What kind of diet were you doing? A diet to lose weight or a diet to feel better? What was making you feel better? Make sure you're not self medicating with the wrong stuff that's actually putting you down in the dump and losing your motivation to make the right decisions. Sometimes I'm doing a chocolate binge to self medicate when I'm down on the dump but catches up with me

I was reminded that there's a difference between temporary sadness and chronic depression. So medication could be used temporary due to the situation or it may have to be used continuously and tweaked. Periodically. It is always good to eat healthy and keep active and not be a couch potato. It is better to have quality protein to eat and it helps with depression. My go-to proteins they're best for me are cheese, pinto beans, raw nuts and bean and cheese from takeout. I don't do normal exercise. I walked the dog several times and our complex and I'm a housewife that has chores to do in the house and that is exercise.

I don't really have any advice, but I am in the same situation right now. I really hated meds because they almost always caused an adverse reaction but now I'm struggling

Meditation may help, it’s a low energy activity that can provide a feeling of rest and rejuvenation, it may help put your mind back on what’s best for you, sending love x

Look up SMART goals! It's a way of making small, manageable goals that are easier to follow and it's based in psychology and behavioral health! For my depression getting a service dog (I have him for other issues as well) really helped me feel motivated to do things for HIM. I have to get out of bed and exercise for HIM. Maybe find an outside source that you want to be/do better for!

I have to be medicated, but I find list making and giving small rewards helpful