Depression Busting.
Oct. 1st, 2003 11:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
swestrupOne of my standard ways of trying to deal with depression is to try and change something in my life. I've always said that before I seriously contemplate suicide I'll try being a Tibetan monk first. And if that doesn't work, I'll herd goats in Bolivia.
Anyway, in that vein, I awoke this morning, quickly washed my hands and face, got dressed and went for a ~3km walk. This was before having any coffee or juice or anything else other than water. I read once that when you first wake up your body is in fat-burning mode, since its already consumed the available sugars during the night. Your body stays in that mode until you ingest something with sugars. Ever since then I've wanted to try this, but I didn't really have any good places to go for walks.
That was before I discovered that I live only about 10 blocks from a lake surrounded by woods. (Yeah, okay, it took me living here 10 years before I figured it out. In some things, I'm kinda slow...) So, this morning I walked to the lake, circled it once and returned. It was a nice morning, if a bit chilly here, and I appreciated the near-silence around the lake. Real silence would have been nice, but the lake is surrounded by roads which get heavy use, lots of folks were wandering the trails chatting, and planes were flying overhead. Still it was a LOT quieter than normal suburban living.
It took me just over an hour and my legs didn't start complaining until I was just a few blocks from home. I'm sure I could do the entire circuit in much less time if I was in shape. I was being lapped by little old ladies with strollers during my walk...
So, this morning my first cuppa tasted much better than usual, I've worked off some nervous energy, and I have a vague feeling of having accomplished something before I've even sat down to work today.
I still haven't decided if I'll make a habit of this, but we'll see how I feel tomorow.
Anyway, in that vein, I awoke this morning, quickly washed my hands and face, got dressed and went for a ~3km walk. This was before having any coffee or juice or anything else other than water. I read once that when you first wake up your body is in fat-burning mode, since its already consumed the available sugars during the night. Your body stays in that mode until you ingest something with sugars. Ever since then I've wanted to try this, but I didn't really have any good places to go for walks.
That was before I discovered that I live only about 10 blocks from a lake surrounded by woods. (Yeah, okay, it took me living here 10 years before I figured it out. In some things, I'm kinda slow...) So, this morning I walked to the lake, circled it once and returned. It was a nice morning, if a bit chilly here, and I appreciated the near-silence around the lake. Real silence would have been nice, but the lake is surrounded by roads which get heavy use, lots of folks were wandering the trails chatting, and planes were flying overhead. Still it was a LOT quieter than normal suburban living.
It took me just over an hour and my legs didn't start complaining until I was just a few blocks from home. I'm sure I could do the entire circuit in much less time if I was in shape. I was being lapped by little old ladies with strollers during my walk...
So, this morning my first cuppa tasted much better than usual, I've worked off some nervous energy, and I have a vague feeling of having accomplished something before I've even sat down to work today.
I still haven't decided if I'll make a habit of this, but we'll see how I feel tomorow.
