This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, We Get Better: 48 Treatment Options for Chronic Depression.

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Treatment option 24: Staying busy

Though relaxation and self-care are undeniably important, sometimes, staying busy helps, too. Some psychologists assert that people often overestimate the amount of enjoyment they will derive from an increase in free time and underestimate the amount of pleasure that challenging, competitive and creative pursuits provide. Many video games even include work-like tasks.

At times, staying busy can distract you from overthinking and allow you to put some space between your more contemplative, emotionally heavy moments. Of course, the benefit of staying busy largely depends on the activities you choose to fill your time. Consider engaging in a variety of healthy work and personal tasks–some of which are mentioned in this book–during a given week in order to reduce monotony, increase your sense of accomplishment and find balance. 

If desired, add “staying busy” or “creating a balanced weekly schedule” to your depression treatment plan. Then decide on next steps and write them on your to-do lists.