5 Activities to Try When You Have Low Energy Due to Depression or Anxiety

If you are ever feeling really down, depressed, anxious, sad, or lonely here is a list of things you can do other than wallow alone in your room. Whenever I feel extremely down or anxious all I want to do is curl up in a ball and do nothing because with those feelings usually come with extreme exhaustion. I would sit (or usually lay) on my bed and get ever more down because I didn’t have the energy to hang out with someone, or leave my room. It can so lonely to feel this way but I have created a list of things you can do when you have low energy but you want to do SOMETHING to occupy your time.

1. Watch Netflix.

Binging on Netflix or any other type of TV or movie based system is okay. As long as you don’t do this literally all day, it can be a great way to relax your mind and unwind. This is a great thing to do when you first get home from class, work, or doing anything social to gain a tiny bit of energy to do something else.

2. Find a Low Energy Hobby

For me that is crafting or more specifically painting. You could pick up knitting, painting, watercolors, making jewelry, creating model cars or trains, or anything that you think you can handle. You do not have to be great at whatever you decide to do but if it gives you a bit of a purpose and something to look forward too than that is all you need. Painting or writing your feelings can be a great therapy tool when you are feeling especially down. When you’re in better moods you can create works of art that have a happy aspect that later can be a reminder that happiness is possible.

3. Reading.

I know I know we are in a time where reading can be considered boring but it actually helps. Unlike watching TV or a movie, a book forces you to imagine exactly what is going on so you feel like you’ve been sucked into its world. Reading the story allows you to fully escape and for me, when I read, I sometimes forget where I am because I have become so immersed in the book. If novels aren’t your things then try reading articles on topics that interest you. You can subscribe to a magazine that interests you or find random articles on the Internet. It doesn’t matter as long as it calms you down and allows your brain to take a break from worrying about what’s going on around you.

4. Go Outside.

Even just stepping outside and breathing in the fresh air can help brighten your day. Or at least get you up out of your bed. Just sitting outside can help but if you have enough energy then try to take a short walk.

5. Try out Yoga or Meditation

There are tons of yoga studios springing up but there are also tons of online videos that offer different levels of yoga. There are also meditation audio clips that you can download to see if meditation would work for you.