When Depression Affects Work
Depression can strike anyone at any time, though it is more likely to affect you if you’ve recently been under some stress such as a divorce, death, or other traumatic life event. Sometimes, though, depression can begin because you are simply bored with your life. Humans are complex beings and we need emotional and intellectual stimulation. If you aren’t getting those in your life, eventually depression is bound to set in.
One source of this kind of depression can be your job. The harsh reality is that not everyone has a fun and exciting career. Sometimes it may feel as if you do the same dull tasks, over and over and over, every single day. A lack of vacation days or funds to go on a vacation can compound the problem, because you don’t even have a break to look forward to.
To break out of your rut, try finding some inspiration. Find some hard work quotes that inspire you and use them to decorate your office. Get some exercise and sunlight each day, or take up a discipline like yoga. Remember to balance your life so that work does not always take center stage. Do something nice for yourself each night after work, even if it’s just reading a chapter in a good novel or taking a long bubble bath.
Also, if you can’t afford an expensive vacation, you still need something to look forward to. Schedule a day or two off work and make plans to do something you rarely have time to do. You don’t have to go far; just the nearest big city will do. It’s even better if you can get a friend or significant other to join you (unless you’re craving alone time). You can make it feel like a vacation even if you don’t go far; take yourself out to a nice restaurant, visit a museum, see a movie or a play. The point is to do something new that you can look forward to, and that will leave you feeling rejuvenated from having a unique experience. You’re sure to go back to work feeling renewed, or at the very least, not dreading the day.