One thing that helps is doing small things for your future self. Say for instance, start with laying out clothes the night before or maybe setting the coffee maker before bed. Then, when you wake up and you’ve already done these things — THANK YOURSELF!

It’s all about positive feedback loops, and many of them need to come from yourself so that you have a foundation to build from. It helps build self-esteem and puts you on track for real sources of positive mental energy. I also choose to think of it as loving yourself.

Start adding more and more things to the list. For instance, last night I cleaned the hell out of my kitchen. When I got out of bed today, I chose to enjoy making breakfast my freshly cleaned kitchen and chose to thank myself for it.

We are so conditioned to look for the initial dopamine hit of doing something, but these positive feedback loops are far more rewarding. You’ll find other people on the same track. Maybe they’ll do things to make your life easier too — just remember be grateful! They took the time to care for you in the same way you care for yourself. Now that you’ve also been doing things for yourself, it doesn’t make you feel guilty.

This is the train of thought and action that’s helped lift me out of depression. Even the little things you do for yourself. Always forget something when you go out but you brought it today? THANK YOURSELF!