Get It Done When You're Depressed

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When you read my bio in the back of this book and see my career accomplishments, you might think I no longer have depression and that must be why I can write and work successfully. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I’m still depressed more than I’m well. However, the key is that I’ve learned to work through my depression instead of letting my depression rob me of my ability to work or otherwise get things done. In reality, I can only work about half the time other people work. I can’t do a 9-to-5 job, and I get worn out if I spend too much time focusing on a large project. As a result, I have had to learn to be much more productive when I work.

I have had to teach myself certain strategies, which I outline for you in the following pages, for working through my depression enough to function, enough to get things done even when I’m depressed. Once I freed myself from the limitations of depression, I was able to create a system that works for me. Depression may take over my mind, but it doesn’t have to take over my actions. I have a lot of tough days, and I would love to have depression out of my life permanently, but until then, I’ll continue to use the strategies in this book to get things done.

Getting things done forms the basis of your daily life. You constantly have to take care of yourself and others (family, friends, pets), work, eat, drive, create, collaborate, meet deadlines, make decisions, give and receive love, tend to your health, manage your money, and so very much more. And all this takes energy. But depression robs you of this energy—and along with it, often strips away the hope and belief that you’ll ever get it back. That’s why it’s so essential that you have a plan in place for getting things done despite your down mood. I’ve been there; I know what you’re going through. And the good news is, I have a plan that will help you.

As impossible as it sounds, and no matter how depressed you are, you
can
create a plan to get things done when you’re depressed. It isn’t easy, and it takes time to create your own system, but it’s worth it when you can get into bed at night and feel good about yourself and what you’ve accomplished. When you think of your options—getting things done versus quitting jobs, rarely finishing projects, always feeling guilty and sad, and in general not believing in your own abilities—the choice is clear. You want to get things done. The strategies in this book help you do just that.

Before you get started with the strategies in this book, it helps to explore a few areas to really uncover the role depression plays and has played in your life. Life has a way of getting away from you when you’re depressed. By realistically examining your past, you can have a better idea of what you want for your future.

First, think about what happens when you don’t get things done. Which of the following problems have you experienced due to depression?