You always work best in your peak hours, but when is that really? For some people, it may be the moment they wake up, and for night owls, it can be straight into the A.M. I've been on a "Mood Stabilizing" medication for the past month dues to my depressive swings. In many ways it has opened my eyes on how I expend my energy and what I can do to better utilize the amount of it I'm able to muster on any given day.
Miami University
What I Was Previously Like
Before being prescribed Lamictal by my physician, I would have immense creative highs, but would be met with devasting lows—sometimes for weeks on end. What a normal day looked like when these episodes would occur, was that I would take about 4 hours, just to get out of bed. When I was behind on even one assignment for class, I would give up entirely, deciding that I was a failure before I even gave the chance to try.
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The First Week and The Cinderella Curfew
It took a few days for the stabilizers to begin working, and to be honest, it was sort of wonderful. I could do homework for 10 hours straight without a care in the world, but soon enough, I began getting used to them. Normally, your doctor would continually increase your dosage until the episodes ceased.
I cried hard one of the days, and lost it to an unproductive sleep instead. On the other days up until the week and a half mark, I had to be in bed by 8 or 9 pm, or the meds would have worn off, and I would spend the majority of the evening miserable. There was still the good side of getting more rest, but feeling like my energy was in some ways even more limited than before, made me feel somewhat apprehensive overall about this method.
Pexels
Up Until Last Week
I felt mostly okay again. However, I went up from 25 mg to 100 mg. I realized that the low energy bursts are still there. Could I have been going about this the wrong way all along? There were many things still draining my energy on a regular basis. Although I normally share on my other social media, I started to entertain significantly less those who wanted to have ongoing conversations throughout the day.
Singularity Hub
It has always been hard for me to focus on one thing at a time. I would always choose school first and foremost as my first priority, to give myself some direction. Another thing I've realized was that while I normally listened to music while I studying, I could cut my homework time in almost half (in terms of hours), if I didn't listen to anything at all. I didn't have to cue or search for any song. I revived my kitchen timer to further mitigate the wandering of my mind.
I gave a little more priority to where it was needed, and the episodes are beginning to become lessened due to it. I'm not leaking my energy as hard as before, but I feel that there are more ways that I have yet to explore on keeping my energy levels consistent throughout the days.
What do you think? Do you have a method that keeps you going until the day's done? If so, please share it below so I can improve my own strategy as well!
Thank you @bollutech for this art!
I'm designing a text-based game from scratch!
I am happy you are making progress! although I steer clear of meds it is good to see they help you somewhat.
when i was fighting with depression I chose to use psilocybin. The insights and trials that I went through on mushrooms helped me pass through the depression and reprogram my mind
it is helpful but remember those meds are just covering up the issue.
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I respect your answer, and thank you for your support while I'm going through this. I'm not going to stay on meds as any type of permanent fix. For now, they'll help while I develop better habits and routines.
The bandage eventually has to come off! 💕
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You have the right mentality! I always enjoy hearing about growth!
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Keep busy in what you are doing otherwise you will overthink the things and get tense. Thanks
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Gotta stay busy so there's no time to be sad c; Thanks for the advice!~
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You seem to be progressing well, this is after all almost like a quest to discover your homeostasis-your own nirvana even. By the way I wrote an article in recognition and dedication to both you and another dear friend who is also learning to adapt her mood disorder.
check it out when you get a chance, it's semi-inspirational and is a shout out to all my chronic people:
https://steemit.com/health/@puddinpaws/invisible-disease-i-see-you
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I shall find that balance 💓 although it will definitely take a while getting there. I have your post open and am gonna give it a read through. Thank you for always being there and supportive of the struggles of those around you c:
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a very good post I'm glad to be able to read your post.
by. @adit123
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Thank you!
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Personally, I find it trickier to get going and build momentum earlier in the day than keep it going later.
With my own energy cycles, I've found I'm not particularly functionally productive during mornings - that they're typically best spent just easing into the day, tending to small stuff that isn't all that important, then getting to work in the afternoons. Some afternoons, it can still seem like a struggle to try force productivity. Though usually, it's not until the evenings where I start to get into a sense of flow state when ready to really make the most of my time.
These cycles/patterns can vary slightly, although I've found that the best thing to do is simply not fight it and just roll with it.
I recall a friend/mentor once talking, about how it can be best to just submit to what we feel like - i.e. if not at all inspired/motivated to get out of bed, don't. If that last days, weeks, or months, oh well - eventually, the feeling would shift, and then when getting into action, it's not forced and there's no resistance, but comes naturally.
Granted, that might not be a strategy that's practical for everyone at all times. Though definitely some wisdom in there to take away, nonetheless...
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I found that mornings work the best for me in a logical sense, but creativity finds me during the nights, when the world is a little more quiet. When I get a few things done after waking up, I feel like I got off the right side of the bed and on those days I'm more productive.
I realized not too long ago that I couldn't do afternoons as well. I managed to mentally block myself, that too much of the day was gone to work on anything worth doing. This negative self talk is being transformed.
Feelings do shift over time naturally, but I see that my inaction may be due to fear. I am learning, however slowly, to be courageous and try. Not to the point of burning out, all while remembering to be kind to myself.
Sometimes and some days are going to be better than others, and it's okay to not be productive or 100% all the time.
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