Most people, at some point in their life, will find themselves in a situation where life and its events seem to have the upper hand. This may be due to illness (physical or mental), stress, family or friend dilemmas, or a consistent stream of unfortunate events.

Throughout these difficult times, it's important to recognize that we need to allow ourselves time to heal, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Often, this indicates that we need to go easy on ourselves, not expecting too much from oneself and celebrating the steps to recovery that have been achieved.

Tasks that may have been "easy" before might be difficult now, but it's still important to celebrate them as progress on your road to recovery, no matter how small they seem.

1. Taking a shower.

Depression and physical illnesses/health conditions may render this relatively simple task difficult. This means that is it absolutely worth celebrating the days you're able to get out of bed and are able to wash your body, hair, and face.

Wanting to be clean and fresh is a huge step towards personal recovery, and often delivers a dose of confidence that'll help push you through the remainder of your day.

Additionally, being able to take that first shower by yourself when recovering from health-related complications is a HUGE DEAL! It's concrete proof that you are healing, and are making progress from what's holding you back.

Just think: if you were able to take a shower today, but weren't able to five days ago, that's incredible improvement - imagine what you'll be able to do in another five days!

2. Cooking a meal at home.

When you aren't feeling the greatest, cooking is often the last thing on your mind. After all, it's far more convenient to heat up a can of Spaghettio's or toast some Poptarts than it is to prepare a full meal, right?

If you can, try and find the energy to prepare yourself a real meal, on a stove top, with protein and fruits and vegetables and color. Your body will thank you! It takes an incredible amount of concentration to be able to dedicate an hour or more to cooking a meal, and you should definitely pat yourself on the back for making it happen.

3. Making your bed.

This point is such a milestone because it requires that you get out of bed first (maybe to go cook that meal?), and then requires that you take steps to organize a bit of your space.

The organization is important because it will allow you to spend time in an uncluttered area, potentially allowing you to be more productive and inspire you to continue the trend of uncluttered-ness.

Also, it takes TONS of energy to be able to do any sort of cleaning when you aren't feeling your best. even if it is "just" making your bed, and you should recognize this as nothing short of a win for you.

4. Initiating a conversation with somebody.

In my personal experience, isolation seems to come very naturally when life is testing you, which is why it's beautiful when you initiate a conversation with somebody. Be it messaging or calling, reaching out to somebody in a time of need takes guts, even if you don't discuss what it is that's on your mind.

It can be something as simple as a photo the other person might find funny, or a, "Hey, how are you?" message. Reaching out will (hopefully) prevent you from isolating as much as you initially wanted to, and you can congratulate yourself on stepping out of your comfort zone for starting the conversation.

5. Stepping outside

Did you take your dog outside? Did you take a walk around the corner to grab your mail? Take the garbage out? Step out onto the porch with a cup of coffee? Run to your car to grab something out of the backseat? All of it is important!

Just the thought of going outside when you aren't 100% can be exhausting, and that's why celebrate your time in the outdoors, even if it was brief! Getting a whiff of fresh air, feeling the wind on your skin, and having to shield your eyes because the sun is just a little bit too bright are all excellent ways to rejuvenate yourself.

And, it's usually pretty gorgeous outside, regardless of where you live and the time of year it is - it's a gentle reminder that you're alive and get to experience the elements.

6. Wearing a nice outfit.

Any day you're feeling less than your best and still manage to put clothing on that isn't a fresh pair of pajamas is definitely a day you are #winning. I find time and time again that my clothing reflects how I'm feeling; trying to "dress up" when I'm not feeling great often results in extreme discomfort. But, it doesn't have to go that way!

Dig out your favorite outfit and wear it around the house. Take a look at yourself in the mirror and allow yourself to feel happy that you look nice in an outfit you like, instead of wearing mismatched pajamas for the third day in a row. This relates to point 4 above in that sometimes, all it takes is a second of confidence to step out of your comfort zone to make a huge difference.

And, don't be afraid to celebrate your nice outfit! Take a selfie and post it on social media! Change your profile photo on your Facebook page, put it on Snapchat, or throw together a few hashtags for Instagram. Take pride in the way you look!

7. Telling a joke.

Humor is central to my personality, as it is for many, many people I've met throughout my existence. However, it isn't always easy to crack jokes when you aren't feeling the best, and that's why acknowledging the first joke you've made in a few days with a chuckle is totally acceptable!

Maybe you made a pun, or are able to squeeze in a reference of sorts into one of your conversation; or, perhaps you're able to create and tell jokes spur of the moment. That's all wonderful! Make sure to give yourself a high five for putting forth the effort to overcome your sadness, stress, or illness.

You're sure to crush whatever is weighing you down if you make sure to take everything one step at a time. In most cases, however, situations don't get better overnight; so, in the meantime, you need to be sure to take care of yourself (again, physically and mentally) in order to quickly become the happiest and best you that you can be.