What’s the point ?

Molly you must force yourself out because when you go out it makes you feel better in your mind. No other reason. Even just a walk round the block in the rain. That is one of the reasons so many people get a dog- it is a good excuse to go out because the dog needs exercise. If you just stay home you can get more and more down and feel that you don’t want to do anything, it is a vicious circle. Really you have to trust me on this, I have seen it so many times.

I agree with nanna8. You have to force yourself to get out. vitamin D and some exercise will definitely help. Maybe get a fitbit or other step tracker and set a small goal.

Take a small part of the day to do something that uses your brain, whether drawing, stitching, music or languages. Staring at the tv all day can be depressing.

Chin up, spring is around the corner and we may hopefully start getting out more.

Well of course there’s somewhere to go your outside door isn’t blocked up ? it doesn’t matter where you go, round the block, to the nearest park, to a friends and talk outside the door, just a walk in your street say hello to dog walkers people at the bus stop No wonder you can’t sleep if you’re getting no fresh air
Is your husband at home ? Get him to go with you
Take yourself out for half an hour each day, talk to people if you get the chance, you will go into a deep depression if you don’t do something instead of sitting in watching TV
Have you any hobbies you can reinvent ?

Mollybest1, the point is that it's worth taking care of yourself. You'll feel so much better if you do.

Start with a short daily walk, then build up the distance, pick up your speed, do some hills if you can.

Just being out is good, being in nature is even better. If you can't motivate yourself, get somebody else to walk with you.

Well said CG! BB and nanna8! It is important to self motivate, no one else can do it for you! Sitting, or rather, moping, around all day is no good for your physical or mental health. Regardless of the weather take a walk every day, borrow a neighbours dog if possible and get out in the fresh air.

Find or resurrect a hobby, it doesn't have to cost you money. Do you have a garden? Do you have a camera on your phone?

If the weather really is too foul to be outside then turn off the TV put on the radio and dance like no one else is around - a boogie in the kitchen works wonders.

There is a point to every single day. Do make the effort to achieve something, however small, each day.

Well you won't sleep unless you're busy during the day and get tired. I felt like this for a short time recently and resolved to make a list of how I would divide my day up, as one day was simply merging into the next.
First thing is to shower and dress, this will waken your body up.
I've just been out to watch the most glorious sunrise. You could try that. You must make the effort. It's a shame to waste your day. Make yourself do things even though you don't want to..starting with that shower!

.... I met two men at the quay and we all had a brief distanced chat. Those little things are important.

I start every day before breakfast with a walk up the hill through the woods opposite my house. An occasional chat with a dog walking neighbour and enjoy the stunning views from the top. Every day is different with new things to see and hear and it sets me up for the day. I go out even in the pouring rain, ice and snow. There are days I really don’t feel like it but make myself go.
After breakfast I walk to town for any bits and pieces I need then the rest of my day is planned around my afternoon walk on the moors fo a couple of hours. Again in every weather. I listen to the radio and sometimes chat to friends and family on my phone whilst walking. Occasionally in the evening I will potter down to the park or canal just for some fresh air.
The thought of being cooped up in the house for more than a couple of hours at a time would drive me to severe depression very quickly. It is so important for our health and mental health to have exercise and fresh air. Please do try to get out even for a short while every day.

It sounds as if your body clock is a bit muddled, Molly, and to reset it you do need to do something in the daytime to distinguish if from night. A shower each morning, a little walk after lunch with a small treat to return home to - maybe a favourite biscuit of small cake. Give yourself an aim for each walk. Maybe a type of flower or tree to spot; allow yourself to really notice what’s around you as you walk, and the changes each day brings as spring approaches.
At night make sure you are comfortable. I find a radio play on bbc sounds helps if I can’t sleep and I often miss the end as I’ve drifted off! Even if you don’t sleep well, get up, shower and forget the loss of sleep if you can or you’ll brood on it.
If all else fails, talk to your doctor - it could be that you are suffering from depression.
Good luck.

Sorry, biscuit or small cake!

One good place to go to might be your GP’s surgery. There’s a fine line between being fed up and suffering from depression, and a discussion with your GP might help you find out which side of the line you are on. If you are suffering from depression, there are many therapies available, both talking therapies and medication.

We go for a walk every day, sometimes twice. If my DH goes on his own he is back in 30mins. If I go it usually takes me about an hour because I have talked to so many people! All socially distanced of course!
I have met so many people in our village that I have never seen before because everyone is doing the same thing.
Makes me feel so much better.
We are lucky because we have a circular route round the village.
Now I have had a thought- perhaps you can’t walk? In which case I am being insensitive and I apologise.

If you live in an urban environment, go for a walk and look at the buildings round you. Even if it is an estate, gardens are different you can see different decors through the windows. You will see neighbours and can give a wave or wish them a good day

It is so easy to slip into a 'the less I do, the less I want to do' state of mind and body. We call it 'clockwork mouse syndrome' in our house. Remember those clockwork mice that used to turn up in Christmas stockings?, Wind them up and they whizz round the floor as the spring slackens the mouse s l o w s r i g h t d o w n a n d s t o p s. That is what you are doing.

So set the alarm tomorrow for your usual time. Once you are up and dressed, go for a walk. as you walk, look around you. If you have trees and a park nearby listen to the birds look for signs of spring, swelling leaf buds on trees, ducks having quacking competitions.

When you get home browse recipes online for something new for lunch, walk out (if you can) or car to the supermarket and buy any new ingredients you need and while you are at it buy yourself a couple of bunches of daffodils to lighten and cheer the house up.

After lunch, if you have a garden start to think about the summer planting, perhaps meanwhile put a couple of packs of bedding plants in your basket or visit a garden centre and walk around and choose a few plants to brighten your garden now.

Mollybest1 so many helpful suggestions on here already. I hope you’ve seen something that might help. I’d back up geekesse’s suggestion about seeing your GP if you can.

I am not able to walk more than a few yards. But do go out, when the weather is dry, on my mobility scooter. Love the fresh air, and seeing people. Watch the dogs being exercised on the beach and laugh at their antics. Go round my local park and admire the work being done by the volunteers there.

Also in dry weather open my windows to bring the fresh air indoors into my bedroom and living room.

At home, I keep busy, ensuring I have at least one definite thing to tie each day around. Maybe a zoom meeting with a group, or a particular housekeeping job. At one time last year I did get involved in on-line courses run by Futurelearn, but really do not have enough spare time for these now.

Tv goes on about 4.30 each afternoon, during the day I prefer radio or quiet reading.

I do find that if I have short 'power nap' each afternoon, directly after I have eaten my light lunch, I actually sleep better that night than the days I miss that nap out.

Sorry you feel like this Mollybest I'm sure you are not alone. It's a vicious circle isn't it, the less you go out the less you want to. As others have said you do need fresh air and exercise, try going out for a few minutes walk and building on that each day, treat yourself to something nice when you get back home. If your mood continues to be low do talk to your Dr and get some help.

Nadateturbe would that were true about sleeping, we have been decorating, I've been spring cleaning, I walk the dog and still I can't sleep. Only three hours last night. I will try the power nap idea Franbern and see if it works.

Thank you for all your messages. Sorry for such a depressing post, sometimes things just get to me. I would have deleted if I could, you dont need to read my midnight moaning.
The sun is trying to shine and my dog is looking at me for a walk so here I go. Positive head on.
Note to self : only happy messages from now on.

Getting out is, I agree, a very good thing. I cannot walk any long distance, but I do get out each day for as far as I can manage. I think I too would feel a bit "stewed" if I did not get out a bit. In order to sleep at night it does help to fill your day and to move around lots.

I watch |TV whilst walking round he room sometimes if I have not managed to get out because of the weather.

Truly, if I sat watching TV all day I would go nuts! Husband is right! - go out; just anywhere!

Best wishes Mollybest1. It's easy to feel depressed in the middle of the night. I hope you have a better day today.

It’s all about building some structure into your day so that each morning when you get up, you have some idea of what you will be doing.

If you have been sitting watching tv most of the day then you should promise yourself that that is going to stop !

You need to plan activities which will give you a sense of achievement.

Start small like for instance clearing out a few drawers or a cupboard. Having a good clear out can be very therapeutic.

Then go out for a walk, taking in the sights, daffodils in gardens, trees and shrubs in bud (spring yay!).

When you get back make yourself a coffee and sit quietly savouring every sip. Don’t put the tv on or you will slip back into your old habits.

After a few days of building more activity into your days your mood should improve then perhaps you could set yourself a longer term goal, which might possibly be to lose weight if you need to which would have a huge impact on your general health.

The idea is to be firm with yourself, to be self disciplined in deciding that the tv will not go on until the evening when you can relax and reflect on a day in which you have actually achieved something.

Just seen your update!
Pleased to see you are feeling better!
You and your dog will enjoy the walk

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better this morning, things always seem worse in the early hours I find. I lie there and worry about everyone and everything. Luckily it is a nice bright Spring day today ( well, it is here!) so that combined with a dog walk will lighten the heaviest heart.

Good on you, Molly. Enjoy your day!

Great to know you are feeling better. We all have these down days, and better to post and get it out of your system than sit there and stew.