All the small things…

One really effective strategy to getting through an episode of depression and anxiety is behavioral activation and it’s really not that complicated.  It usually involves looking at some of the things we let go of and, in  some cases, picking the least overwhelming task then doing a small task within the task.

For example,  just do one basket of laundry today.  Do that for a few days and eventually shoot for two.  What normally happens is that we feel a little more productive, gain momentum and end up doing more without having to set a formal goal.

This is also helpful when we’re feeling alright.  Let’s imagine you’re having a tough time starting an exercise routine.  Shoot for a ten minute walk every day.  It may not sound like much but it gets us in the habit of dressing up and setting time aside for exercise.

The key is to let go of the expectation of doing it “the way I used to do it” or “the way it should be done” and to just do something.