15 Ways on How to Make Myself Happy When Depressed

(Last Updated On: August 21, 2021)

How to make myself happy when depressed? You will be able to realize how empowering being alone can be if you can discover and engage in the things that make you happy, practice self-care, maintain positive habits, and give some room to push yourself and step out of your comfort zone. You can be happy and reject feelings of loneliness on your own, and this will help you live a complete life.

How to make myself happy when depressed

Let’s take a look at 15 suggestions for activities I can do on my own to find answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.

1. Accepting yourself for who you are

Now that you know how to be content on your own, it’s time to accept yourself as you are and look forward to whatever comes your way. Because you know what’s best for you more than anybody else, you should value your own viewpoint over anyone else’s.

Reach out for assistance if you genuinely require it. But before you go searching for help, consider turning to yourself. The more you do it, the less you’ll rely on the opinions of others.

You will gain confidence and be able to take on difficulties that you previously felt were beyond your capabilities if you can trust yourself to tackle your problems.

You’re average, and it’s your peculiarities that set you apart from everyone else. Your world will grow brighter and your chances will be limitless if you adopt these concepts in order to find answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.

2. Commit to Self-Love

Many of us are the harshest critics of ourselves. We frequently take aiming for excellence and doing our best to the next level, i.e., perfection. As a result, we excessively punish ourselves for our faults. When you’re dealing with an inner bully and don’t have a partner to remind you that you’re actually quite great, it’s easy to go into a downward spiral of despair and negativity.

According to research, there are three key components to feeling compassion for yourself:

When you fail, be kind to yourself, which means treating yourself as kindly as you would a buddy in your circumstances.

Having a feeling of common humanity, which means you understand that all humans are flawed and that everyone’s life is filled with ups and downs, so you’re not alone in your suffering. We frequently feel alone in our difficulties, which makes them much more difficult to overcome.

Recognizing and acknowledging your thoughts and emotions, but not dwelling on them to the point of creating a negative self-concept. Being aware of your feelings can provide you with a sense of clarity and perspective, allowing you to treat yourself with kindness.

There are several strategies to improve your love for yourself, which will keep you from blaming yourself for events beyond your control and boost your life’s happiness.

Use affirmations that are positive.
Stop relying on other people’s approval.
Make a diary on the aspects of yourself that you admire. Concentrate on your assets and build on them.
Recognize when you’re thinking negatively. You will never be able to let the sunlight in if you are always thinking with a dark cloud overhead. Reading this book can assist you in training your mind to project good results, allowing them to occur naturally.
Surround yourself with individuals who are upbeat.

To get you started, consider the following suggestions:

Accept that you are not alone and that many others have been in your shoes. If you don’t give a damn about what society says you “should” do, you’ll understand that it’s perfectly acceptable to be enjoying life by yourself–give yourself a break.

Work on your confidence. Learn to be self-assured in your accomplishments without relying on outside approval. When you make a mistake, instead of feeling upset with yourself, look for the lesson.

You will be more aware of your thoughts and environment if you spend some time alone. You will be able to experience happiness and tranquility, knowing that you already own all you require to be truly pleased.

If you’re feeling sad, make an effort to go out of the home and spend time with friends and family who care about you and will help you distract yourself from whatever it is that’s bothering you.

If you have trouble establishing plans, consider committing to anything ahead of time. Pay for a 10-week kickboxing class or sports league, for example. You’ll be less inclined to back out when the time comes to really execute it if you’ve made that upfront commitment.

3. Discover what truly makes you happy.

You must conduct some real self-reflection and get to know yourself in order to figure out what makes you happy.

“I do know myself,” you’re presumably thinking now. What makes you think you don’t know yourself?” But, if you’re reading this post in search of advice on how to be happy and live a full life, chances are you haven’t yet discovered what makes you tick.

Being alone has the advantage of allowing you to be selfish with your time and prioritize your wants, desires, and aspirations above everything else (as these being alone quotes suggest).

Being alone has the advantage of allowing you to be selfish with your time and prioritize your wants, desires, and aspirations above everything else (as these being alone quotes suggest). It’s time to put your short-term to-do list aside, take a break from your usual “getting things done” routine, and think about the following questions:

What would you want to accomplish or be in life if you knew there was no danger of failure? How many times have you dreamt of changing occupations, relocating to a new location, or becoming an expert in a field you love, only to be put off by the possibility of failure? Consider your ideal circumstance, in which you are certain to succeed.

In a similar spirit, how would you live if you had unlimited funds? People frequently mistake wealth for happiness, but studies show that wealth has only a minor impact on overall happiness–and that’s only if you live in extreme wealth that you earned yourself (which, by default, means you’ve been incredibly successful in your job, which more than likely means you enjoy what you do for a living).

You have 90 seconds to tell someone who you are and what matters to you in an elevator speech. Go to come out with answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.

What are your basic values as a person? What are your core values that influence your day-to-day decisions? Knowing your values will assist you in determining your priorities, allowing you to better match your everyday life with the things that matter to you. If you need help determining your values, here is an evaluation you may complete.

Answering these questions will not only help you discover what genuinely makes you happy, but it will also help you concentrate your energy in a new (and better) direction.

4. Make a New Beginning for Yourself

Yes, having a routine is beneficial. However, if you can’t tell the difference between 2018 and 2012 when looking back, you’ve pushed the “routine” thing a little too far. You must keep yourself engaged by events in your life and provide possibilities for yourself to grow and progress.

It’s time to re-evaluate your bucket list and pay closer attention to new destinations you want to see, skills you want to master, and life objectives you want to achieve. Turn off your autopilot and get enthralled by the possibilities that await you.

You may also start small. Changing something basic about your daily routine might sometimes be all it takes to feel refreshed and joyful. Perhaps it’s time to reorganize your belongings or remodel your home. You may start anew and get rid of feelings that your life is stagnant by altering anything about your surroundings or your day-to-day existence.

Remember that half of being content on your own is understanding that you’re just living for yourself. Do it if you wish to start a new pastime. If you want to go somewhere, go there. Paint your living room neon yellow if you want to.

5. Engage in physical activity and cultivate a healthy lifestyle

Starting each day with this healthy green juice, which provides your body with proprietary alkaline greens blend of organic wheatgrass, wheatgrass juice, and matcha green tea, provides your body with the nutrients and energy you need to get through the day, is one of the best ways to build a healthy lifestyle.

Perhaps it’s time to reconnect with yourself on a physical level by beginning a new workout routine that will help you get in shape, feel good about yourself, and provide you with various endorphin advantages.

Working out shouldn’t be a hassle, which is why there are some fantastic programs available, such as spinning, Zumba, and even Xbox games, that allow you to exercise with others while having fun. Other suggestions include:

Make a commitment to attend a class and invite a friend to join you. You’ll be less likely to stop if you have an accountability partner, plus you’ll get to see your pal as you work out.
Alternatively, start small by looking at morning exercise routines that can keep you feeling energized throughout the day. The best part about morning exercises is that you won’t have to think about working out for the rest of the day since you’ve already completed it!
Take your dog for a daily 20-minute walk or run if you have one. Your dog will adore you for it, and by reminding you that it’s time for your daily stroll, you’ll stay committed. You can’t say no to those adorable puppy eyes.
The other aspect of living a healthy lifestyle is to consider your nutrition, which may have just as big of an influence on your mental and physical health as your level of exercise.
Keep a meal journal for a week to obtain a fast assessment of your eating habits and make any required adjustments. Examine what you’re eating as well as how much you’re eating. You may help yourself stay healthy and happy by limiting your meal sizes and reducing feelings of tiredness.
Also, be aware of when you’re eating out of boredom or because you’re depressed.
Finally, don’t forget to have a good sleep pattern, which is an important element of having enough energy to operate well throughout the day.

One of the nicest things about sleeping alone is that you can take up the entire bed without being kicked or nudged. If you’re having trouble waking up in the morning, have a look at this tutorial on how to boost your energy.

6. Discover and cultivate your passion

You don’t have to care about anyone else’s schedule except your own when you’re alone. So choose something you’re passionate about and that will challenge you, and get started on it to find answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.

For example, if you enjoy animals, why not volunteer at a local shelter once a week? Alternatively, if there is a talent you’ve always wanted to acquire, go for it!

There’s no wrong in attempting anything new, and finding your passion might take some trial and error and experimenting. Trying new activities will get you out of the home, expose you to new and positive people, and re-establish your confidence in your ability to master new skills.

7. Make Future Preparations

In ten years, where do you want to be (both personally and professionally)? What would be necessary to achieve those objectives? Making a list of your goals will assist you in making daily decisions.

It’s difficult to feel good about yourself if you’re not moving in the right way. Your plans don’t have to be complicated or intimidating; they just have to exist. It’s simpler to be proactive in taking action once you’ve made your goals.

Don’t put off your plans. Go pursue your goals, no matter what they are. As a result, you’ll be able to realize that you’re living your life on your own terms, giving you the confidence to attract new and fascinating individuals into your life.

Having definite plans (that you may certainly change as your life progresses) might offer you greater optimism and help you stay positive about tomorrow’s possibilities now.

8. Give of Your Time

Volunteering your time may assist others in a variety of ways, whether you do it in person or from the comfort of your own home.

It is satisfying to assist others, and it helps you to feel more connected to your community and other people.

Being “alone” does not imply that you are isolated from the rest of the world. It simply means that you have enough self-assurance to know that you are not reliant on others to make you happy. And one effective approach to stay connected with others is to surround yourself with positive people while focusing your efforts on a goal that matters to you.

Here are some helpful hints for finding a good volunteer position in your community that suits your abilities and interests. It’s critical to discover something that means something to you so that you don’t merely put in half of your effort in whatever you’re doing.

Make sure the organization’s requirements are a suitable match for what you have to give, and you’ll feel more content and satisfied with your life after you’ve found something.

9. Make the Most of Your Alone Time

Many individuals believe that finding happiness is as simple as doing activities that make them happy.

This is not the case, however, due to psychological relationships. You might want to eat a quart of Rocky Road ice cream. You might be able to watch a full season of Dexter in one sitting.

But, in the long term, would these things offer you happiness? No. They will make you feel guilty and remorseful. While watching useless TV shows or eating your favorite comfort food may seem like a wonderful idea at the moment, they are frequently detrimental in terms of attaining pleasure to discover answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t indulge yourself now and again, but you should make the most of the time you have by getting to know yourself better, learning something new, or pushing your intellect in some way.

Start a new business or develop a new website by reading a fantastic biography or seeing an inspirational documentary. Get lost in your art, music, crafts, cooking, or any other worthwhile endeavor.

Do you require some motivation? Spend the entire day in a gallery or museum, allowing your mind to be exposed to a variety of reactions and emotions to the exhibits or educational activities. Make good use of your time and make sure you’re happy with what you’ve done at the end of the day so that I can find answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.

You have the opportunity to build something important and spend as much time as you want to pursue the things that fire your interests because you are alone at this stage in your life. When you totally immerse yourself in your job, you will be proud of what you have accomplished, leaving you feeling pleased and content.

Making SMART objectives can help you stay motivated. Begin small and prioritize your most critical duties. Once you’ve established a good habit pattern, it will become second nature to you, and you won’t hesitate to put out the work necessary to build a great future for yourself.

Why not use this time to concentrate on one or two areas of your life that you’d like to improve? Don’t put your ambitions on the back burner, no matter which category they fall into.

10. Put an end to comparing yourself to others.

Sure, it’s easier said than done, but you never know what’s going on in someone else’s life behind closed doors. I recall several photos from years ago when I was out with pals, bar hopping, and staying up late.

Of course, I appear to be enjoying the time of my life, but I can assure you that I was miserable while living that lifestyle. And I was aware of it at the time! But, of course, I’d grin for two seconds for the camera.

If the social events you participate in every week aren’t making you happy, don’t keep track of them. To be honest, the finest sorts of social arrangements are oftentimes the ones that are canceled.

I don’t want to come out as a hermit, but having a last-minute free night to oneself rather than fighting traffic to get downtown after work to sit in a loud restaurant is liberating… 9 times out of ten, yes.

So, are you truly envious when you’re sitting at home going through social media and seeing images of your pals out and about? Because there’s a good possibility that a few of the folks in that photo would rather be in your shoes than their own.

11. Be grateful for what you do have.

Researchers have shown that taking the time to appreciate the wonderful things in your life may boost your happiness, enhance your sleep, help you exhibit more kindness and compassion to others, and even boost your immunity.

It’s so simple to take things for granted in regular life. It’s your home. It’s your vehicle. Your loved ones. It’s your responsibility. Your education is very important. Along the side of the road, there are fresh flowers blooming.

Whatever it is in your life that offers you delight is deserving of a second look. In fact, maintaining a thankfulness diary may greatly improve your life’s happiness.

But here’s the thing: there’s a catch. In principle, this appears to be a very simple path to a better life. Is it true that if I write down a few things I’m grateful for every night, I’ll be able to prevent acquiring a cold? Sure, I’ll do it–for a week or two at the most.

But once I’ve written ten times that I’m grateful for my family, I’m probably going to put the book down because I’m not getting the dopamine rush I was hoping for, and I don’t think I’ve become much nicer to others because I just provided unsolicited advice to a coworker that stated, “Your work stinks.”

If you can identify with this, you’re not practicing thankfulness properly. You must learn to pause and notice fresh things that make you joyful every day in order to get the benefits of thankfulness practice.

Gratitude journaling works because it gradually changes how you perceive events by shifting your attention. If you write down that you’re glad for your family every day, your brain won’t be tuned in to recognize the new grateful moments that you’re bound to have on a daily basis.

As a result, while practicing appreciation, be as precise as possible. “Today, on my way to work, I was able to contact my mother just to talk” or “This morning, my spouse left me a letter on the kitchen table wishing me a nice day.”

Also, don’t be afraid to expand your horizons beyond what’s immediately in front of you. Increasing your awareness of your surroundings will help you practice appreciation more effectively. Every day, try to notice something new in order to find answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.

12. Push Yourself Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Take advantage of the fact that no one will be able to stop you from trying something new every week while no one will be able to stop you. This will also assist you in meeting new people and forming new relationships. If you’re shy, this may seem tough at first, but there are certain measures you can do to help you overcome it.

When you’re seeking fresh possibilities to approach, don’t approach them with the intention of “finding” someone. Do things that will help your inner self instead. If you do wind up meeting someone romantically, it will be someone with whom you have real interests.

Trying new activities and stepping out of your comfort zone may lead to new friendships and entertaining encounters. Simply said, instead of waiting for things to come to you, you must be ready to put yourself out there.

Be proactive in your search for things to do in your city, and proactive in approaching new people when you’re out. Because it is contagious to see other people grin, if you start the smile train, others will follow suit, and you will both be in a good mood.

Every month, try a 30-day habit to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Make careful to do new activities that you wouldn’t normally do. You could even discover some activities that you like for the rest of your life.

13. Learn to Appreciate What You Have Right Now

Your life experiences have molded who you are now, but that doesn’t mean you should cling to the errors you’ve made in the past. The only aspect of your errors that should determine your future is the lessons you learned from them.

Rather than dwelling on the past, focus on the tiny victories you’re now experiencing and what they mean for your future. Also, arrange time in your hectic schedule to reflect on the things that surround you, your accomplishments, and the good elements of your life.

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, cultivate an appreciation for the things you do have–no matter how insignificant they are.

14. Accept that you are perfectly content to be alone.

You contribute worth to the world, and you don’t need anyone’s permission to see it. Remember to be alone when you’re alone since that’s what you’ve chosen. The world hasn’t forgotten about you.

It’s easy to spend your time with just anyone, but having high criteria for individuals you let into your life acknowledges that you’re better off alone than with someone who is only there for the sake of convenience.

15. Create a Strong Family and Friendship Network

You may notice that as you get more acclimated to being alone, you put less effort into socializing. While there’s nothing wrong with it, it’s still crucial to have a solid network of family and friends.

Maintain existing ties by scheduling visits with individuals you care about or calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time to catch up. Here are some suggestions for strengthening or forming new relationships to seek for answers on how to make myself happy when depressed:

Do things for the sake of doing them, not for the sake of getting anything in return. For instance, if you come across an opportunity that appears to be great for a buddy, tell them about it. Others will not value their relationship with you if you have the mindset that you constantly deserve something in return.
Make your connections more meaningful by going above and beyond the call of duty or going above and beyond what is required. It might be as simple as sending a birthday card or as complex as assisting someone in finding a new career. This will assist you in maintaining strong bonds and personal friendships.
Show your gratitude to individuals in a variety of ways, including a note, a modest gift, or sincere words.
If someone helps you and you don’t show gratitude, they’re less inclined to help you again because you could look entitled. Make it clear that you appreciate their assistance.
Don’t only call on someone when you’re in need. Maintain touch for various reasons to keep the connection developing. Small gestures, such as giving approval for something they publish on social media, can help.

Take away

Take advantage of your time alone by getting to know yourself via self-reflection and gaining the confidence you deserve.

It is quite possible to be happy and live a complete life without always having someone nearby. To set yourself on a favorable road toward living your greatest life, use the advice in this article.

Maintain a schedule that you enjoy when you’re alone, make an effort to keep connected with loved ones, and choose an activity that you enjoy. Being content in your own company entails making regular efforts toward self-improvement and feeling powerful enough to trust your own judgment.

Finally, if you want to enhance your life in a good way, read and learn something new every day to find answers on how to make myself happy when depressed.