Get busy!

"Activity and sadness are incompatible."

-- Christian Nevell Bovee

Depressed? Get your ass in gear! There's always stuff to do, people to help, trash to pick up, games to play, activity infinitum. Activity, any activity, can act as a refocusing device. You put your mind on the actions you're taking rather than the temporary emotions you're feeling, and, like magic, those emotions fade.

I had a friend in college who anytime he was feeling down just went out and played whatever sport was available. His mantra was "Give me a ball, any ball." He'd kick a soccer ball around, shoot hoops, practice kicking imaginary field goals, hit a tennis ball off a wall, go bowling -- he didn't care what sport it was. He didn't even care if he had anyone to play with. Give him a ball and all was right with the world.

It's easy. Try it. Next time you're feeling down, get up and do something, anything. And keep doing it until the blues pass. Motion changes emotion. Play your way to mental health.