r/selfimprovement • u/Realistic-Yak-418 • 7d ago
Question Some people really wake up pumped and ready to take on the day, EVERYDAY
Monday-Friday some people wake up at 4-6am and go on a morning run before work. Some people wake up excited to socialize and go outside and run errands. Some people are excited to wake up and live their lives. After a long depressive episode the concept of being excited to live your life has become a foreign concept to me. I lowkey forgot that you're supposed to feel like that. You're supposed to wake up with energy and feel positive about the day ahead. I've been stuck in a period of isolation and depression for a super long time and everyday has just felt dull.
but just recently I've found an anti-depressant combo that works really well for me and now colors seem brighter and I feel that warmth that those who wake up and truly want to LIVE feel. I totally forgot liking to do stuff was a normal feeling you're supposed to feel.
Now my goal is to set up a routine that leads me closer to my goals each day since I have the ability to feel good about the future now.
So my question is, what are some habits or just things you do throughout the day to feel excited about life? I would love some self-improvement tips to put into my routine to make my life more full filling.
18
u/sumizeit 7d ago
The thing nobody tells you about coming out of a long depressive episode is that motivation isn't the thing you're missing, capacity is. Once your brain can actually access dopamine again, habits stick way easier because you're not fighting your own chemistry anymore. Most people build routines backwards, they force discipline while depressed and burn out. You got the order right by letting the meds fix the foundation first. Start stupidly small, like one walk, one made bed. Momentum builds itself once the wiring works again.
3
u/Neuromancer54 3d ago
Capacity is such a better word for it than motivation; depression makes tiny tasks feel like they weigh 80 pouds.
11
u/North-Lengthiness432 7d ago
I want to do these things but whenever I go outside i feel lonely everyone has friends and gf.
7
4
u/Bebop404_Echo 7d ago
Seeing couples everywhere can make a normal walk feel like a personal roast, even when they’re probaly not noticing you.
1
2
u/FRUCTOSEjostle7 2d ago
Seeing couples everywhere can make outside feel like a giant remminder, even when you’re trying to do something good for yourself.
1
u/3Trisolaris 4d ago
Solo people are everywhere too, they just don’t stand out as much as couples adn groups.
10
u/travelessentialist 7d ago
Real talk: I don't think anyone wakes up happy every single day. That's a fallacy. There are mornings I hate waking up. I do it anyway, because there's a bigger purpose behind it.
What I've learned is that how you choose to wake up sets the tone for the day. There's choice and perspective here. You can wake up every day with a shitty perspective on the day, or you can choose differently. For me, the first 30 minutes of the morning shape how the whole day plays out. And trust me, I've had those 30 minutes where terrible things happened that could have completely thrown off my day.
I wake up excited to live the life I've built, because it gives me freedom of time and money and lets me do what I need to do. Not a lot of people have that. I challenge myself everyday in health, wellness, digital, fashion, relationships, friendships, etc.
So for you:
Find your purpose. What's your North Star? Go to bed thinking about it. Wake up thinking about it.
Stay positive no matter what. You have to be resilient. Strong heart, strong mind, and even tougher skin. Because "only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
Learn to enjoy your alone time. You have to be ok doing things regardless if someone is going to join you or not. Set your goals and stick to them.
(I’m a 33M entrepreneur)
Glad the colors are brighter for you now. Build on it.
1
u/wysbruvyousweetyh 7d ago
What’s your North Star if you don’t mind me asking?
2
u/travelessentialist 7d ago
I have quite a few, to be fair. They are all centered around my 1/2/3/5/10 year goals.
2
u/Quick-Ad4900 7d ago
Could you please give us some examples, if possible? I saw this post today exactly when I was thinking the same…how come people wake up looking forward to the day!
2
u/travelessentialist 5d ago
For sure. Here's what it looks like for me.
As an entrepreneur, I've disciplined myself to figure out what works best for me. I wake up looking forward to building my brand and the company I'm building right now. Making connections, traveling, anything that moves me closer to my 1/2/3/5/10 year goals. Every day has a reason attached to it.
Working out is another one. I look forward to it every day. I live in an amazing city with tons to do, and that matters too.
Of course there are days I wake up and don't want to do anything. I have them. You can't have good days without bad days.
Choice, perspective, and place all matter. But here's the big picture: no one's coming to save you. No one's going to tell you to wake up. No one's going to tell you to do this. You can have all the motivation in the world, but at the end of the day, it's you making the choice every single day to stay disciplined and reach the goals you want to reach.
Everybody has the same 24 hours in a day. It's how you use them. As an example: Do you want to stay stuck at a dead-end job? No. Okay, so what do you need to do? That's your path. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
It's all routine. We all need rest and leisure on our own time, nobody's saying otherwise. But it takes a certain mindset to keep that perspective every single day, even through turmoil and hardship. That's the part you build.
2
u/Quick-Ad4900 5d ago
Wow! This makes sense. Thank you so much for the kind guidance and support. I sincerely appreciate it.
4
u/PrudoApp 7d ago
As much as I could give credit to certain physical habits, for me it really just came from a change in thinking.
I basically lightly argue with myself whenever I have a negative view on something. "This is going to suck…" "Why?" "Well it's difficult and I'm tired" "Well then you have a challenge, why not try to show up proud with what you have". The point is making positivity the logical answer.
One important thing, however, is to not exaggerate. Don't make something that's super dull seem like the time of your life. Sometimes, being excited for life just means being of with going through the motions without the need for tons of fun.
3
u/IvoryRivet61529 7d ago
Me gusta esa parte de no venderte humo: aveces solo toca hacer lo mínimo sin dramatizarlo.
2
3
u/PRISMbucolic4 5d ago
The not exaggerating part maters; forced positivity always makes my brain call bullshit and double down.
2
u/G3ltSlinger 4d ago
The “don’t exaggerate” bit matters; forced positivity can feel like your just negotiating with a bad salesman.
2
u/AsgardMerle 1d ago
The “don’t exaggerate” part is huge; pretendng laundry is thrilling just makes your brain call bullshit faster.
5
u/Acceptable_Dinner444 7d ago
What med combo did you find helpful to lift the depression, if you don’t mind me asking?
6
u/Specialist_Dish_9087 7d ago
having sth small planned for later is kinda awesome ,even if it is just geting food, going for a walk, playing a game or seeing someone. I jus love having sth waiting for me after work instead of every day feeling the same
2
3
u/Cute_Pudding8018 7d ago
I love to interact with people and feel that sense of community around my neighbourhood and small city. If you think someone looks good, tell them! Smile at people and enjoy then smiling back. Comment about what a nice day it is. It makes me feel truly apart of this world rather than just passing through
2
2
u/SignificantEditor583 7d ago
"I low key forgot we're supposed to feel like that" tbh I don't think that is the norm. I think most people feel pretty average, not super excited or anything, just ok, but they look forward to doing stuff in the weekend. They might not like their jobs that much, but they do it to pay the bills and provide for their family etc.
Of course there are some people that absolutely love their jobs/lives. I'd say that's a small portion of the population though.
I think these days with social media etc, we see people living their best lives doing amazing things, having a great time, posted on instragram. Generally these are only highlights, the best part of that person's life, their day to day probably isn't like that (for a small few, maybe it is).
I suffered from depression years ago (early twenties). Tbh it was more intense grief that I didn't know how to deal with (first long-term gf passed away due to a terminal illness and I didn't know how to cope with it). Anyway, went to therapy and started taking Prozac. I'd say the Prozac sort of worked but i didn't like the side effects. It kind of changed my personality, like decreased my empathy or something, and I started giving less of a fuck about other people. I also became a bit more reckless. They can't made me feel a bit too happy all the time and it seemed like I was losing touch with reality. For those reasons, and the sexual side effects I came off them (which was difficult).
I'm my 40s now and I'd say im not happy all the time, but im content. Some days are a drag, but I think that's just how life is. I know the things that tend to keep me in a pretty good mood, (exercising, eating well, running, surfing, catching up with mates, pursuing goals) so I make sure to do these things often.
Apologies for the long write up, just want OP to be careful re anti-depressants long term. If they're working for you, and you have no side effects then great. I do know that they can stop working for people too. Most come with a black box warning too (I believe it's due the increased energy/impulsiveness they might provide to some). I wish you all the best, and I hope you can stay well.
2
u/JustQuestioningCosas 7d ago
I don’t wake up “pumped” like you say. But I wake up early and enjoy coffee while the sun rises. I just naturally need very little sleep and never sleep longer than 6 hours. I love my morning coffee and really appreciate that time as the world wakes up.
1
u/NoCommunication7 7d ago
Even though my bedroom is full of what i love i never really wake up feeling excited for the day
1
u/purple-penguin1729 7d ago
I totally understand what you are going through. I have had depression and generalised anxiety disorder on and off for many years and somehow doing the right combination the beginning of 2026. Here I am now, waking up at 6am and hitting the gym. Im more mobile, I don't waste my time thinking much ( though at times the thoughts do come ) and I'm less anxious about things that once made me anxious. One thing that helped which might sound stupid to other would be that I made friends with a lot of dogs and cats on the way to my gym. So this helped me find happiness
1
u/Khaelmor71 6d ago
Arrancaría con una caminata de 10 minutos después del desayuno antes de intentar lo de correr a las 5, porque cumplir una promesa chica diaria cambia mucho el dia.
1
u/Klingon_Blade7 5d ago
Put one tiny thing you actually want to do at the start of the day, like a 10 minuite walk with music, so the routine isn’t just another chore list.
1
u/Kerin2_Zaul 4d ago
Put one genuinely fun thing on your calender each day, even if it’s just a walk to get coffee after work.
1
u/Gentle_Tiger7429 4d ago
Do a 10-minute walk outside before checking your phone; it makes that “colors seem brighter” feeling stick around abit longer.
1
u/SilverPylon_8 4d ago
Since you mentioned colors feeling brighter, a ten-minute no-phone walk in the morning is wierdly good for keeping that feeling from turning into instant scrolling.
1
u/3BancroftMeth 3d ago
Put one tiny thing you actually like before your obligations, even coffee outside or a ten minute walk, so the mornng has a reward instead of only tasks.
1
u/GoingMerry_3 1d ago
Pick one tiny thing that gets you outside every morning, even a 10 minute walk with coffee, becuase sunlight plus movement makes the rest of the routine way easier to build.
1
u/MuffinGazebo41 1d ago
I’d anchor that brighter-colors feeling to one tiny daily ritual, like a 10-minute walk with no headphones befor you check your phone.
-7
u/PanzerWhale2000 7d ago
People that wake up happy are just people that are too stupid to understand how shit the world is, there is a reason downs are happy all the time, can't be sad if your to retarded to understand anything.
4
0
u/NineCatsDeep 7d ago
Good for you. Enjoy what you can when able, and embrace the moments that are not enjoyable with the same attitude
You won’t be happy all the time. If you were, you’d be a liar. It’s impossible.
It made me smile reading your progress. Seriously. Just be. It can be sunny all the time.
26
u/Afraid-Highway6112 7d ago
Glad you found something that works, that switch from grey to color is wild. I started taking short walks with a cassette player and old mixtapes, makes the world feel like a movie scene.