Daily Practices to Prevent Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are two words that are frequently used in order for people to describe their state of mind these days. Is this how humanity has been feeling throughout time? Or is it our daily habits that are plaguing our mind? A few years ago I entered my own state of depression. Drinking alcohol regularly, lack of time spent in nature and unhealthy foods are a few of the habits that used to be a large part of my life. After replacing some daily habits with more fulfilling ones I began to see my overall well-being improve. Let's talk about some changes that we can implement in order to bring more joy into our lives. 

Journaling

Ok, I know this one can be a challenge. The first thing I used to do upon rising was roll over and grab my phone. I wanted to see who attempted to contact me while I was resting, what were my friends posting on Instagram or Facebook? Eventually, I made the conscious decision to begin journaling in the morning instead of reaching for my phone. I dont give myself restrictions on what I can write or any specific topics. I just write whatever comes to mind. This can be a detailed description of my dreams from the night before, writing down my feelings or current events in my life, or just writing about how much I didn’t feel like journaling that morning. Whatever comes to mind, just let it flow. This allows us to connect with ourselves and it grounds us into our day. Checking our social media, texts or emails upon rising can make us very distracted going into our day. We can get caught up in the latest news story or the vacation posts of a friend. This can lead us to forget our own daily tasks of the day or dictate our emotions that morning which can lead to dictating our feelings for the rest of the day. 

Morning Meditation 

I cannot express how much this daily practice has changed my life! Meditation can be challenging in the beginning. Believe me, I have been there. My first time meditating burned into my mind because of how challenging it was for me. My life at the time was very fast paced and I never took the time to sit with my thoughts. Even sitting for two minutes felt more like 30. By making time to meditate each day I was able to sit for longer periods at a time and now I look forward to it each day! Guided meditations help tremendously and there are apps and youtube videos with thousands of options. By sitting each morning and focusing on your breath it leads to more gratitude and awareness within ourselves. Meditation has allowed me to bring attention to certain thought patterns I can improve on and better self-reflection. Meditation can be whatever you want it to be! Whether that be following a guided meditation or even sitting down and taking three conscious breaths. Just allow yourself a moment each day to sit in silence and seek within. 

Get Active

I love working out in the morning because it gives me more energy and endorphins to start each day. By getting your body moving in the am it will boost your metabolism, improve your memory and cognition, help you to make better choices throughout the day, among a long list of other benefits. Trust me, you will feel amazing if you make the conscious choice to add this to your morning routine. This can be going to the gym, going on a walk or run, attending a yoga or pilates class or heading out on a hike, you have options. I highly recommend putting together a playlist of your favorite songs and putting your body to work! 

Cleansing your space 

This probably isn't the first type of cleansing that comes to mind, although keeping your space tidy is important. The type of cleansing I am talking about is burning specific dried plants, also called smudge sticks, in order to cleanse your space of negative or stagnant energy. It’s a simple process that includes burning the herbs until smoke appears and setting the intention of getting rid of unwanted energy within your space. There are a variety of different plants that you can burn and some of those include: sage, cedar, rosemary or palo santo. My friends have almost burnt their houses down by leaving burning smudge sticks unattended, so don't make the same mistake that they did!

Spending Time Outdoors

Once I began spending more time outdoors I began to notice a change in my overall mood without it. Spending time in nature boosts mood, decreases anxiety, improves sleep, helps with your breathing, among a list of other benefits! I make an effort to head out on a hike, go for a walk or head to the beach at least three times a week. If I am ever feeling anxious I find a patch of earth to sit on and take a moment to sit and focus on my breathing or just take time to notice my surroundings. The calming sounds of nature and feeling of the sun hitting my skin warms me up inside. The excuses of, “I’m too busy” or “That's never going to help me”, may arise but push them aside and do it anyway, it's a game changer! 

Those are just a few practices I have implemented into my daily life that have proven to be crucial in boosting my mood and wellbeing. I impel you to practice at least one if not all of these daily practices I have recommended. Enjoy!