I go fishing.

Watch funny movies or videos. I hit you tube. And funny animal pictures. I try to distract myself with work or hobby stuff. I like to color.

I do exercise by running and going to the gym. But the thing that I can count on to get me out of those blahs is that I walk my nieces dog 3x a week on Mon, Wed and Friday mornings. I go along a route that runs along the river and is popular with other people walking their dogs. I don't want to own a dog but honestly people who own a dog are so friendly and they really get me out of whatever funk I might be in.

So perhaps walking in an area popular with other people who are also walking. If you can do that on a regular schedule (not everyday but...) then you do start to see the same people.

it could be a vitamin D deficiency.

Make a list of all the things that need to be done. Clean your closets? Sort and purge your clothing? Organize the basement?

Then, pick one and start to do it.

Or, what works for me can be, NOT doing it. Having the choice to not do that long list of things is empowering. How can you be in a funk if you feel empowered?

But all this aside, I do agree with exercising and walking. Call a friend/relative and arrange to meet for lunch or coffee.

I go to an exercise class 3 days a week. It took a long time for the "older" participants to start recognizing it each and them speak to each other. I have coffee with two of these work out buddies periodically. So, yes, as blfenton suggests, walking the same route where you might run into the same people.

What brings you joy? I get a smile from watching the squirrels in the yard trying to figure out how to steal the birdseed. Even sitting in the sun makes me feel happier. I love a walk at the nature center, get all of the nature perks plus exercise.

I get down when it's cloudy for too many days in a row. I would not do well in a foggy, damp environment.

Fishing is more fun than organizing the basement!. :)

I strive to add a chore to my monthly list. Keeping busy, along with accomplishing things keeps me happy.

This month I'm replacing the engineered wood transitions with real wood transitions. What a difference it makes in appearance and durability, and red oak costs less than the mdf/veneer junk. Yes, it has to be stained, but stain is a dime a stick.

I go to the beach if the weather permits. I got through my chronic winter blahs easier this year by horseback riding wet, cold, and in between. Monday I felt as low as one could yet still want to live, worked with a horse, came back feeling on top of the world. So for me it's the ocean or animals.

It's easy to want to just vegetate more often as we get older. My best friend and I have an agreement. If one of us calls the other to get out for a bit, short of really needing time off or a day of nothing, we cajole each other into getting off our duff and doing something, even something small like going out for a bite or a short drive and chatting in person. We always feel better for it.

Sometimes just a nice cup of coffee

Pets- it's hard to feel blah when you are out seeing stuff, walking the dog, or having the dog or kitty jump up on your lap and purr or lick your face

Walks, bicycling, exercise of almost any kind

Exercise is good, and it can just be a nice walk.

I've learned the last couple of years that sometimes I end up depressed because I'm exhausted and don't really even feel it. Naps and extra sleep are good, so long as it's regenerative feeling and not sinking further. I like to take a little nap and then go for a walk ;^)

A craft can be distracting and make you feel better. One therapist whose work I've followed says that some type of slow and steady task is good for the blahs. I try to keep a short list of not very challenging tasks on hand. Then if I'm not feeling great, I clean out the silverware drawer of reorganize the linen closet. If that seems unappealing, then I nap :)

I phone and talk to my funniest friends. Music, exercise, or just getting out and around ,other people helps. During the darkest winter months, buying fresh flowers, adds a touch of spring. My husband uses a light box, during the winter, for seasonal affective disorder.

I agree with music. Go to youtube and look up favorite songs and play them. A bonus is there will more than likely be some kind of video also. I really think music soothes the soul. I'm a 70's music girl all the way. I put on the 70's on 7 station and it takes me back to my carefree days before marriage, kids, etc.

Buy yourself a little something, anything, that will make you smile. Doesn't have to be big at all, a cute bracelet, pair of earrings, new sneaks, tea towels, a new planter, lotion whatever. Don't underestimate retail therapy!

Health/diet permitting, go get some ice cream!!! I mean it. A hot fudge sundae, or just a soft serve cone. Mmmmmm lol

If you are religious, just ask God for help.

I really hope you feel better very soon Dolly. Come chat with us.

I indulge my blues and curl up by the fire with a good book. Screw the world, I need some down time!

yayagal mentioned vitamin D, and whenever I start noticing that I'm feeling more down, it reminds me that I've forgotten to take my Vit D3 for a few days.

I watched this TED Talk https://youtu.be/H1T5uMeYv9Q and thought he had good ideas. I guess it's simply writing down your accomplishments large and small so that you feel more grounded in who you are perhaps. I'm always seeking ways to feel less blah and down so I look on TED Talks Etc to get ideas for how to deal with it.

I sort of am using a combo of things now.

One I tell myself that my thoughts aren't me they happen without my permission. Next I tell myself that maybe I've missed something nutritionally so perhaps it's my body reacting to not getting enough of some kind of food or vitamin like d as mentioned above. Also I write down anything I can remember around when the depression strikes. It can be a very minor trigger but our brains are always trying to make sense of everything without working too hard.

If it carries on for more than a few days definitely get it checked. it is so worth it to talk to a professional if it is a regularly occurring thing even if it's 3 months apart. Get everything checked that's what I did. I was good on everything besides magnesium and I can't take magnesium as it is bad for my kidney condition. So I soak in Epsom salts. that hasn't changed my depression but other people are helped quite a bit. They call my type of depression situational depression. I tell myself no matter what the situation I can choose not to react that way. Sometimes it works. Good luck

Baking and cooking. Creating new recipes, not really caring what I put in. Most of the time it works, other times it doesn't! I fell 'blah' a lot during the night, but when it hits during the day, I like to:

Play basketball with my kids, or by myself!

Read a really interesting book to keep my mind off of sad things (mine is the Bible)

Bake, cook and bring baked goods to neighbors

Call a friend who is available and just talk. About everything. Why I feel bad, what's going on, and then I really listen to them.

I'll be praying for you!

I guess I am fortunate because I don't get depressed unless I am dealing with something depressing. When that happens, I try to force myself to do something that I either love to do or needs to be done. I remember one time quite a few years ago, I was very depressed and I went to bed for three weeks. I would take my daughter to school, take care of my horses and go back to bed until it was time to pick her up and fix supper. I laid there, totally miserable and broken out in hives, and I finally said to myself, I am not going to let this drag me down any more, and I got up and went on with my life. (Actually, as I lay there, I was plotting to kill someone....but I decided my life was worth more than that. I was becoming a little deranged, I guess you'd say.) I have always had animals to take care of, so have always had to be outside a major portion of the day if the weather was decent. I think the fresh air and being outside has helped me more than anything else. I have never taken medication for depression, but I have suffered from it until I am able to get a grip on myself. I realize that isn't possible for everyone.

When I was younger and feeling down, I'd go talk to my MIL. She was not a person to bare your soul to or anything, but conversations were always social, breezy, chatty. By spending time with her, I'd be forced into being more upbeat just to interact with her, and I'd find that afterward, I did feel more upbeat.

It's like the studies they did on all the muscles of the face. When they were working on the smiling muscles making all kinds of smiling faces, the researchers felt happy. When they were making sad and upset faces, they started getting depressed. So they learned that the link between the brain and the facial muscles is a two-way street...we not only smile when we're happy, but if we're are smiling, the brain interprets it as being happy and reacts accordingly.

They do say one way to raise one's level of happiness is with a gratitude journal...write down 3 things to be grateful for every day and your happiness will improve. Pretty simple. No bad side effects.

I get depressed when it's cold and dreary which it is almost the entire fall and winter season here. I stay active and am outside as much as possible, dog park and walking the dog. I am much worse on days that I can't walk outside because the weather is too bad to walk. I don't have an answer for a cure, I wish I did!

Not being one either to get the BLAH's, I am at odds when I do. However, I can usually pick myself up by going on a bike ride, or walk. I know, the outside fresh air, sunshine dispel the BLAH's. But sometimes, it isn't nice out, and I go swimming (in an indoor pool of course) but sometimes I even do:

Have your vitamin D and your DHEA checked. Both can make a world of difference!

Vitamin D3 and B12 greatly helped one of my SIL's.

How are you feeling Dolly?

Katlan, I am feeling a bit better. I think it helped to post and to read and reread the suggestions. I expect to be back to normal in a day or two. Thanks for asking.

Very good to hear that. I hope you bounce back quickly and completely.

Of course, the restorative, medicinal qualities of chocolate can help.

Absolutely Lucille! and wine......"grin"

and cheese and good bread!

but nothing beats chocolate ice cream! :)

Glad you are feeling a bit better, and hope all is well really soon.

Moni

"Of course, the restorative, medicinal qualities of chocolate can help" I agree, sometimes you just need to grab a Snicker Bar!!

Restorative medicinal chocolate:

Snicker bar

See's

Godiva

Chocolate ice cream

Chocolate mousse

Hot chocolate with a blob of whipped cream on top

Hot fudge topping

2 layer home made chocolate cake

Old fashioned real chocolate shake

M&Ms

Chocolate liqueurs

ok THIS will make anyone smile. go to youtube and search for Norbert the dog. He is the cutest, cutest litrls thing ever. He will make you smile.