Move

Get up and go. Now.

When you feel blue or outright depressed, when you feel anxious or worried, or when you feel beaten down by the world, your mind reaches for this answer: take a break to do nothing.

That's the wrong answer.

In the moment, sadness and hopelessness feed on self-focus. "I'm worried about things so I'll stay in today instead of going out" will almost always propagate that bad feeling, not make it go away.

Instead, do something physical. The most concentration it takes, the more relief you will feel. Pick something that requires you to move your arms and your legs, and get started as soon as possible. In most cases, when you're dealing with the typical downs of just living, the mood will lift quickly because the distraction breaks the cycle. The longer you stay at it, the longer the good feeling will stay after you stop. Get moving.