What Lifestyle Changes Can Help Fight Off Depression?
Eat right, exercise, be social – you know those. What other tips can help you cope?
By David Levine, Contributor |Jan. 12, 2018, at 1:55 p.m.
Caring for oneself is a key component in the battle against depression. Lifestyle choices such as exercising, avoiding alcohol and drugs, eating well and being social are well known. But there are a number of other ways to help brighten your mood.
Track your sleep. “Sleep is like the brain’s wash and rinse cycle,†says Dr. Drew Ramsey, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. “During sleep it deals with a lot of junk and waste products. The brain is just as active at sleep as during the day, it burns as many calories, and sleep lets it heal itself.†He suggests using a sleep app to monitor how much or how little sleep you're getting. “Eight hours a night is actually incredibly rare for most people,†he says. “When you see the digital data, it helps people enact behavioral change.â€
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-01-12/what-lifestyle-changes-can-help-fight-off-depression
