Have you ever encountered such a group of people: obviously living conditions are good, but always with a furrowed brow; obviously a good career, but can’t find the meaning of life; obviously a happy family, but always feel very helpless.
These people may be suffering from depression. Depression is like an invisible hand, making people feel depressed, in pain, and helpless.
Sometimes, unhealthy lifestyle habits can gradually lead to the onset of depression.
1. Constant self-denial
Miguel de Cervantes said: “You are what you think you are. Everyone is their own masterpiece.”
I found that many people are always in the habit of denying themselves, holding a negative attitude towards their abilities, appearance, and other aspects.
They always feel that they are not good enough in all aspects and not as good as others no matter what they do. This habit can trap people in a negative thinking pattern, which can lead to depression in the long run.
When I first entered the workplace, I was afraid every time the company had a meeting, afraid that the leader would ask me to speak, worried that I would not speak well and would be laughed at by colleagues. When I had to go on stage, I mustered the courage to say a few words.
Afterwards, I would repeatedly recall whether I said anything wrong. I remember that at that time I lacked self-confidence, thinking too much affected my work efficiency, and eventually fell into a state of depression.
Later, I realized that instead of focusing on my shortcomings, it’s better to discover my strengths.
Try to affirm yourself positively, even for small things, such as “Did well in presenting the report at work today” or “Helped a colleague solve a problem today,” etc. Doing this helps build your confidence.
2. Indulging in social media
I think many people are used to scrolling through their phones before bed, checking social media, watching short videos, etc.
Seeing others’ colorful lives every day while feeling one’s own life is mundane can gradually create a sense of imbalance, leading to anxiety and self-doubt, and can easily lead to depression.
I have a friend who used to be very cheerful and confident. However, ever since she got hooked on watching short videos and dramas, she completely changed, almost becoming obsessed, staying up late watching dramas until dawn.
She spends a lot of time on social media every day, watching others travel, show off luxury items, and watching stories of domineering CEOs and Cinderellas in dramas. Compared to her mundane life, she became moody and lost interest in life.
Instead of wasting time envying others, why not spend more time enriching your own life.
We can try to reduce time spent on social media, go out more, and find things we enjoy doing. There are many things worth doing and paying attention to.
3. Irregular sleep habits
Many people overlook the importance of good sleep for the body. Nowadays, many people stay up late for work or entertainment. Sleep times are often irregular, seriously affecting the body’s biological clock, leading to hormonal imbalances and consequently causing depression.
I had a student who developed mini-programs. In order to meet deadlines, he stayed up very late every day to work. He didn’t get much sleep during the day either. The long-term irregular schedule made his mental state bad, with the most obvious sign being significant mood swings.
Once, he lost control of his emotions due to a minor mistake, which made him realize that his mental state was off.
I suggested him to first develop a regular routine, set specific times for sleep and wake up, and treat weekends the same as workdays. 30 minutes before bed, try to stay away from electronic devices as much as possible.
You can listen to music you like, read an interesting book. Good quality sleep leads to better mental state the next day, higher work efficiency, and effectively helps prevent the onset of depression.
William James once said: “The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.”
Many of our worries come from bad lifestyle habits. If we can identify and correct these habits in a timely manner, we can reduce the risk of depression.
