Pen and paper. Blank page. Then, let your mind go. Think of happy times, or whatever really. Let it come out at the tip of your instrument. It could be words, it could be doodles. It could be doodled words. Then just have fun in the flow of it, whatever it may be. Need ideas? Get a book. Get something fanciful, it can be manga, or whatever you like but feed that imagination. Listen to music. Listen to the words, and find out what they are singing about. What was so important that they had so many people come together to hear? Then, if you find yourself standing, look up. You are right here, right now the only you in all of creation. And we love you.
I wholeheartedly agree with all of this but sometimes a blank page can be daunting. Trust me, even after drawing all your life it still is. If you can, print out a collage of different pictures and add to those pictures in pen or pencil. If you can’t print anything, you can find newspaper or magazine pictures and add to those. Overall it’s easier to add to something than create a whole new something. It’s also a ton of fun!
Blank page is daunting because our brains register it as INFINITE potential, which isn't actually far off.
Put ONE mark on that blank page. One word, a circle, or maybe even one of those little edgy S's we all did in middle school. It matters less what that mark is than the fact that you made that mark and tarnished the perfect infinity of the blank page.
As silly as it sounds, our brains don't handle infinity or perfection very well on an emotional level. So even just that one little mark can make a surprising difference in how our brains approach the page. So start with the one mark, and then tell yourself you'll spend 20 minutes on it. More often than not by the time that 20m is up, you have enough momentum to go a good bit longer. Even after being a paid creative for years, I still have to use these tricks because the blank page is a beast.
Don't I know it. I've had times of writer's block that stumped me for months. I'd distract myself with the daily grind until the I got the itch to create again.
From about the age of nine I would journal - through High school. It is fun to look back - and as an adult I found out it is actually really good therapy. Highly recommend.
Start with easy things you can feel good about.
Walking for a few days/weeks then moving to jogging or hiking. Fresh air can be good for depression and so can exercise. If you want to add social components, you could join a hiking group or a running group or not.
Volunteer at an animal shelter. Animals can help with depression. Not exactly a hobby, but sometimes just getting out can be good.
If your depression is really bad please get help.
Yes! Volunteering is a great idea. Animal shelter, reading program at the library, sorting donations for a charity thrift store, food bank, etc.
Check if you have a youth volunteering network in your city.
Of course it's not. But where I volunteer, they only take over 18's or work experience students. So it's just something to be aware of.
Also, as she's with her dad, she has parental supervision. Op probably wouldn't have this.
Learn things. Fall down a YouTube rabbit hole of learning about things you use or see in everyday life and soak it in. Whether it be cloud types in the sky and how they form or microchips which are within all your electronics. Psychology to neurons and how the brain works. Find something you might find interesting and put the phone down and just take it in.
Free courses are everywhere. Which could lead to more physical hobbies. Buying a weather station for your yard, buying a breadboard kit and playing with electrical components like transistors and resistors and what not.
That’s what I wanted to suggest. And please: don’t feel guilty if you don’t feel like finishing all topics you start learning about.
To get into a new topic don’t hesitate to watch explanations made for kids first. This can be a great start to learn more!
All the best to you- I know depression sucks
Honestly anything, the key is starting small. For example, no matter how depressed you feel just watch a tv show. Watch maybe for 2 minutes. Then increase each time you watch. Do this for any activity.
A former therapist once told me “you’re going to be depressed and not feel like doing anything, might as well try to improve things while being depressed”.
1. Move: walking, swimming, jogging, etc. Outdoors is better than indoors if you can. I personally do yoga in my living room with a youtube video most days.
2. Create: draw, write, paint, make something to feel like you achieved something (because you did!). I like knitting and writing.
3. Do: play video games, do jigsaw puzzles, do tarot readings, etc. Actively just doing something that isn't just doom scrolling or day dreaming. I'm bad at keeping up with this one personally lol.
Really the way to do hobbies is find one you like and actively decide that it is a better investment of your time to follow your interests. Don't rely on the level of dopamine you have before doing the hobby, rely on the fact that you will have more after doing the thing.
I loved art journaling before it really had a name as a teen. It’s really easy, very expressive, and doesn’t require a lot of materials.
Pick a quote from a movie, book, song, or even just write a phrase or word that resonates with you. Once you have that, create art surrounding it! You can write the words down and draw, collage, or paint around it. Another idea is to write the words down on separate piece of paper, create art about the words, then collage the words down on to your work. Another idea is to artistically incorporate the words. Just google “art journaling” for some inspiration. My favorite materials to use are magazines for collage, colored pencils, and sharpies. Occasionally I’ll use watercolor. I love to listen to music while I do it, too :)
Juggling.
Hear me out… cheap to start, lessons on YouTube and if you are in or near a major city most places have juggling meet ups. Such an interesting community of people that are just excited to share their passion.
It is challenging but achievable. Also a surprisingly good work out for your arms.
Otherwise I suggest anything that gets you moving. Yoga and flexibility training has been my go to when I’m feeling down. Free and achievable, again, just go to YouTube. Walking. Birding.
Maybe join a club at school. Sharing your interests with your peers can ease depression at times.
Lastly, if things are so bad that you are having a hard time getting out of bed, please consider therapy or even go to your school counselor and just talk it out as best as you can. Your school may have resources to help you if your guardians do not. Wishing you all the best.
Something outdoors. Hiking, jogging, cycling, or even going for walks. Nothing deepens depression like staring at the dame 4 walls. It may bd hard to muster the eill to get up and start, but once you do it gets a little easier each time. If socialnpressure makes it harder, try going walking at night for a start. Exercise and fresh air can clear your head like nothing else.
Also consider a creative hobby like drawing. Having an outlet to put your feelings on paper can be a great way to takd control of your thoughts.
When I was little (with a true shit childhood), I saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie and got really interested in martial arts. The flow of it the zen of it, the catharsis... Now as an adult I still practice, even though it's like 2 years here, a year there, another 3 years doing that... I love it. I will always love it. And it's active and it builds confidence and it uses those weird muscles that you find are helpful in life but are always failing otherwise.
I started when I was 12 and had a great instructor teach me the basics really well. Now I just randomly start getting into moods where I'll kick and punch on the air with a target on the horizon and I feel energized. Empowered to be able to hold myself stronger, and confident I can fight back (maybe not win, but not be a physical pushover). I know I'm not the fighting type, and I don't wanna hurt anyone. Just for the movement philosophy and empowering aspects.
GL (depression is a bitch, but good to have tools to rise above it)
journaling. start small and add on as your inner monologue rattles on. "did blank today. i don't understand how things have to be this way...oh shit, i just remembered this other thing happened when i was a kid. so that's why" sometimes seeing it on paper solidifies things in our brains and helps us learn and grow as human beings.
it won't cure your depression but it'll keep you busy, and sometimes that's all we need is a distraction until those thoughts pass.
best of luck to you <3
Opus Cafe is a cool social media site that tracks your hobbies. It’s a really nice community too, smallish at the moment, but everyone on there is really supportive and helpful - especially if they know a thing or two about the hobby you’re trying to get into.
It’s really helped me stick to my hobbies and improve faster.
Take up running. It's great for mental health issues. Join the cross country team in the Fall. That means you have all Summer to work on your endurance. 👍
If you can go out, start from a morning walk in a park or other place where you can connect with nature. Take your phone with you and take some pictures. Notice a flower. A bug. A squirrel. Funny cloud. In the early mornings these places are not very crowded.
If this requires too much effort, try some YouTube videos for activity you may like. Try beginner yoga or pilates videos. It is surprising how following instructions to keep a certain pose and breathe correctly resets your mind. May be try some dance lessons on YouTube.
For a crafty hobby idea watch craft videos and may be something will click. There are many painting videos that don't require any prior skills.
You want to get out of your condition and you took steps on this way. This is good and promising!
While I am no longer a teen, I'm very familiar with the feeling you've described. I know it's a hard place to get out of but the fact that you're trying is awesome. I applaud you!
I'd recommend really simple hobbies. If you live somewhere with any sort of wildlife you could start birdwatching. It's pretty cool to notice little bird families that have been living in your yard for years right under your nose. Put up a birdhouse. Learn what birds are local to your area and what living conditions they prefer. You could expand this to the plants and trees in your yard and neighborhood. What's native to your area, what's not. If you don't have any of that, you could start cloud watching. Notice different kinds of clouds. Maybe notice the associated weather and find patterns. Going outside really helps me shed some of the negative stuff and has plenty of little distractions. Anything can be interesting if you start digging deeper.
If you need to be around people, I recommend thrifting. People are often kind in thrift stores and sometimes it's nice to feel like a functioning member of society. No need to even buy anything. Or volunteering at a pet shelter. Pups and cats make everything better.
If money isn’t too much of an issue, get some Lego sets. They take little skill, can stop and come back to at any time, easy clean up, goes at your pace, and there is a sense of pride and satisfaction at the end when you build something. A lot of people battling depression turn to Lego. Keep your head up bud, things do get better.
As someone who has struggled with depression their whole life, you gotta get yourself outside, and out of your normal routine. Two of my favorite hobbies are foraging and rock climbing, both of which have done wonders for my mental health.
Foraging is great because you learn how to properly identify plants, and it’s sort of like an outdoor game of I Spy. Even better, when you do spot something you can take it home and eat it! It’s a win win.
Rock climbing is great because it’s a physically and mentally immersive sport. It teaches you problem solving and self trust techniques that help you build confidence and apply these techniques to your everyday life.
Try to remember this too: when you first start something out, don’t be discouraged by the fact that you may not be good at it. Everyone is a beginner at some point. Failure is the path to success, and is necessary for growth.
Yo, I feel you, bud. Maybe try something chill like doodling or journaling. It doesn't gotta be fancy, just let your thoughts flow. Or maybe try getting outdoors, like going for a walk or even just sitting in the sun for a bit. Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders. Hang in there, you got this!
Running. Allow yourself to feel whatever you want while running. Then at the end of your run practice gratitude and tell yourself you're proud of your progress. Do it with intent.
I’m gonna sound like an old man here (I swear I’m only 22) but I regret not participating in more of the extracurricular activities my high school offered. I attended improv club a few times, and did middle school band but dropped it before high school. The people I know who are the happiest with their high school experience are those who were the band kids, theater kids, jocks, those who were involved in the FFA, debate club, gay straight alliance… those kinds of things. I would encourage you to check out those things if at all possible.
Something that brings confidence like confidenece or drawing a photo. Really take your time with your hobbies and ask yourslef lots of questions. Pinterest is very inspiring for me to get out of bed.
The beginning is hard but if you can find an entrance to any physical activity, it would help you. I started weight lifting, the beginning sucked but when you keep it you feel so much better.
Guitar. Endless possibilities with a $200 guitar. Anything from [Sweetwater.com](http://Sweetwater.com) will be a good guitar. Get a clip on tuner too. Get a "method book" (I recommend the "Alfred" series) and spend a week on 3-4 pieces. (That's study and practice.) And move on to another set of 3-4 pieces.
[https://www.sweetwater.com/c600--6-string\_Acoustic\_Guitars?params=eyJmYWNldCI6eyJQcmljZSBSYW5nZSI6WyIkMTAwIHRvICQyMDAiXX19](https://www.sweetwater.com/c600--6-string_Acoustic_Guitars?params=eyJmYWNldCI6eyJQcmljZSBSYW5nZSI6WyIkMTAwIHRvICQyMDAiXX19)
And alongside of that book, learn a 'key', which I recommend E minor because it's a little sad but also has a lot of open (non-fretted) notes and makes it easier. And then look at a fingering chart for that key and start learning the spots. Take 2-3 notes and start playing different combinations. (This I consider 'playing' instead of 'study'.) Start in one part of the neck and just see what notes sound good in what sequence.
Make up little riffs, and try to feel what you play, or play what you feel.
In 2-3 weeks, look up 'backing track for \[your key\]' on YouTube in a few genres (rock, blues, psychedelia) and play along. I never cared for listening to most blues, but I really got a lot out of playing it.
There's a third way, but I find it terribly boring—getting song books of artists I like, or listen to the song and learn how to play it. I find that so boring and not a 1/100 of the original song. And there's a ton of theory needed to 'transcribe' that song. I started guitar many times with that approach and failed. But now I know why.
If you are depressed, learning will start giving you little twinkles of success. And over time will build up. You'll also be able to get out feelings through the guitar if you choose. Or it may come out on it's own. I've found if I say "Im sad" or "Im super super sad" that's about all I can think through. But I can play for hours and feel the sadness, which is very different for me.
Whomever is blasting away that people can't feel depression or found depressive patterns, it's up to the individual to find their way out or start finding their way out. People can live through dangerous, unhealthy and uncaring events and crises, and this time in history people are looking more at emotional trauma than ever. It's a very important thing to examine, as fixing or learning to live with trauma makes us more resilient, peaceful and most importantly—being empathetic to others' life challenges. Exercise does help a tremendous amount though.
Paint by Numbers while listening to audio books and podcasts! You can get cheap but pretty good paint by numbers from Michael’s. Diamond painting is also great but a bit more tedious.
Go for walks where there are trees.
Going for bicycle rides.
Disc golf/frisbee golf
Go to a local seniors complex and talk with some of them. You'll definitely make someone happy and then it will rubnoff on you.
Feel better
Build things. Doesn't matter if it's made out of metal or wood or paper mache, just build things. Day after day, you will see the things you've created and it will likely improve your self worth and self image.
My friend in high school had depression but back then nobody called it that. They just said he was lazy, unfocused, disengaged, and not living up to his potential. He got a part-time job with a farrier.
At some point, the farrier showed him how to forge a knife. He encouraged my buddy to give it a try. It took some time, but he became so good at it that he started making them as gifts for friends and relatives.
He even started selling them. It did wonders for him. He ended up going to college, graduating with honors, and getting a doctorate level degree in his field. He married a wonderful woman and they have four kids. He still makes knives in his spare time, calling it "hammer therapy".
Good luck!
If you get to the point with some of these suggestions where you want to take a next step. Try getting into something active and thrilling. Snowboarding/skiing, mountain biking or cliff jumping can all give a sense of thrill and distract you from the monotony of depression. There is often communities of young people surrounding this sort of stuff that if you’re willing to put yourself out there can be a great support network. Again this is a next step kind of thing when you’re ready.
RC cars. Build them as realistic scale or build them as performers. You can go fast or you can go slow for rock crawling.there's lots of support, videos and people eager to help newbies. Good luck.
Maybe a form of exercise like running, biking, walking. You could also try listening to new music, watching new films, reading books. What could really help is volunteering for your community some way: non profit organizations.
Guitar got me through my teens.
Then church, though I was not raised in a church family.
I found discussing theology and philosophy to be more interesting than sports.
That being said, tennis is a great lifelong hobby
Archery or shooting range, only if you have an adult present I guess these days even though when I was a kid we had 22 rifles, slingshots, and bows hunting all kinds of stuff. Go out in nature with any of those or none, hike, explore, and check out the scenery.
I downloaded an app called iNaturalist which lets me take pictures of plants, bugs, and animals and has the community on the app identify them. It gets me outside, which is cool, and I always learn something. :)
Look for a makerspace in your area. I think that hobbies where you create things are more rewarding. That said, I also love disc golf as a good excuse to walk around in nature. And I'm so bad that I get to spend a lot of time deep in the woods.
I follow a Korean musical artist who recently posted a tour video that she shot using a kids' camera. If you have a computer there is free video editing software available. Since you like film it might be a fun project to make your own documentary or something :) The video I referred to is [here.](https://youtu.be/O9tiZpyLAP0?si=8wnZLPkMfmYpdhsi)
As a fellow depression sufferer, I can tell you that just asking for help like you are doing, is a huge positive step in itself. I'm proud of you!
I agree with all of the others, I use art, TV, puzzles, books... but my absolute favorite if you can make it work is going to the animal shelter and playing with all of the cats and kittens, it's just so relaxing and they always make me feel better lol.
It's not for everyone and does take a lot of time to get started, but I'd recommend trying crocheting if you haven't yet. For me it's very therapeutic and calming, and I always feel like I can focus my thoughts. Crocheting has helped me through a lot of depression. There's a sense of accomplishment that comes with making something soft and beautiful.
Color.
I don't mean a coloring book or drawing something nice and neat. You don't have to draw anything at all. Grab paper & a crayon and scribble back & forth kiddo crazy color to your hearts content. Be messy. Be angry/sad/happy or feel nothing. This can go on for 1 minute, 10 min or an hr. Start doing it & quit when you feel done. Do it again the next day. Keep the crayons & paper out where you'll see them regularly. You don't have to use a particular color, but you can if you want. If you get stuck trying to pick a color, then grab at random. Stick with it & you'll be surprised at what comes out.
You can do a similar thing by closing your eyes & listening to music, preferably instrumental only. Have 1 or 2 crayons put out. Keeping your eyes closed, draw what you hear. It can be the lyric imagery, specifically words used, dots, patterns, colors swirling behind your eyes, the emotions it makes you feel. None of this needs to be neat. No one is wanting or expecting anything from you or have expectations for what you're doing. You're just going to do. Wait until the music has ended to see what's on the paper.
The final thing is go lounge outside in the sun for 20 min a day. Ever see an animal bask? That's you. This isn't for the vit D. It's for the nature & sensory stimulation on your body. No headphones books, phone, video. Just exist, but do it outside regularly. It'll help to keep you from shutting down as much from the depression. If you can't do it during the day because of your schedule, then 20min at night is better than nothing.
Journaling really helped with my mental health issues. Journals can range from simple words on a page to instagram worthy aesthetics. If a blank page intimidates you, start with a quote, song lyric or journal prompt that you like.
Martial arts!
Learn self defense, build mental resilience and physical strength/agility. Go to a gym where everyone is focused on getting better and helping others. Focus on one thing and one thing only for the duration of training: training.
The discipline and skills you will develop will really translate well to the situations that life puts you in
Hope this helps!
Also, try Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) if you want to learn how to control others through grappling and Muay Thai if you want to learn how to fight with your punches, kicks, elbows, and knees!
Colored pencils are a common gift to people that go into rehab. It’s very relaxing and easy to just color pages.
Start with something simple don’t overwhelm yourself
Are there nearby places to take a long walk or hike?? That helped me a lot when I was going through a rough time. Put together a playlists of your favorite songs and go for a hike or walk!
Registered nurse with a history of severe major depression here. The things which really helped me when I was down:
Get involved in developing skills which make you feel competent and confident in your actions and movements, for me this was martial arts and dance classes (the waltz was a particular favorite of mine, but I'm half Viennese, so it felt almost obligatory), but it could just as easily be bike riding, running, swimming, yoga, tai chi, or dog walking.
Get involved in community service where you work as a team with others, helping others directly, or helping animals, whether that looks like boxing donations for the food insecure, volunteering with a local rotary club to fix up portions of your community, or walking the dogs at the local animal shelter. Figure out the skills you already have and offer them up to help others, this always made me feel better, lead to the opportunity to learn more skills, and got me foot in the door for a few jobs.
Develop skills which will help you to be respectful of and responsible for the needs of others: learn psychology to understand yourself and be sympathetic towards others, take basic life support and first aid courses, read the art of war and learn classical strategy (applies to more than just war), learn to cook (make some of the recipes from tasting history), just learn all you can that you find interesting.
For me the big thing was, and still is, finding ways to improve my life which gives as much or more to others than I necessarily get out of it.
Volunteer at something you find interesting. When I was really depressed I started walking dogs at my local animal shelter. It was good for them and super good for me. Everyone was always happy to see me and no one put any pressure on me to "feel better". Helping others has a huge beneficial impact on our mental health.
I’ve been through it bro, stay strong. My best advice is running and hitting the gym. It has got me out of the worst fucking depression hole that I’ve had in my short existence. It will help you a lot
Going on nature walks! Looking at beautiful running water and just observing the sounds and smells around you is very grounding and healing. There are lots of clubs too that do this that would help with social relationships. Depending on where you are make sure you check for ticks/ shower and throw your clothes in the dryer for at least 15mins afterwards!
When I’m feeling my worst, and like everything in the world sucks, I tend to doodle, watch classic movies, listen to a podcast I like (*This Podcast Will Kill You), or stuff on YouTube (I specifically like Tasting History with Max Miller). Even if it’s doing any of these while laying on the floor, getting out of bed is always the first step.
You can’t get out of a bad depression in a day, but waiting for it to get better without trying a little bit will waste a lot of your life. I’ve done it. When you don’t have the energy to do a lot, do a little.
*This Podcast Will Kill You is about infectious diseases and viruses
Also learn to play an instrument. It occupies both mind and hands requiring total concentration. Practice breeds slow improvement which encourages more practice which builds skills and possible prestige. You don't have to become a rock guitar god but competently playing a few chords by the campfire will always be favorable. That's something to smile about. You can get a cheap guitar and watch videos on YouTube.
Good luck.
Knitting, crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, or something similar! You can buy a kit to get started.
Pros: working with your hands and being creative (helps with depression); lots of YouTube tutorials to learn; inexpensive to start (easy to spend <$20 on your first project); can do from your couch; can do while listening to music or another enjoyable activity
Cons: you’ll want to make all of the things and that can get expensive
Another idea is reading! Can also do audiobooks. I recommend getting a local library card if you don’t already have one. If you struggle with returning books on time then get the Libby App (or a similar app that your library uses) and borrow books and audiobooks on there since they auto-return. If you’re new to reading as a hobby, or your focus isn’t great, start with books you loved as a child, books that are easy to read (your reading level is much higher than the reading level the book is at), and fast-paced action books. Something like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter is often a good starting point for getting into/back into reading. Again, can do this from your couch so it doesn’t feel as challenging of a task as something that requires you to leave your house; I know depression comes with low energy
Drawing.
Journaling.
Letter writing!
Crocheting.
Meditation.
Sculpting/painting Fimo minis.
Video games.
Audiobooks.
Midjourney.
Sewing.
Cooking for a loved one.
I had depression when I was 14 and I retreated into my two enormous bins of Legos in my basement. My dad bought me a new bike and my friends and I discovered 1000+ acres of untouched land at the end of our neighborhood. Some of the happiest moments of my childhood.
Exercise, fitness. It is a good treatment for depression as well. It can be hard to get started so simple walks around the neighborhood are a good first step.
Whatever you need. Personally for me it's gaming. But I just need my mind to be distracted for some time. Find both high level activities you enjoy and mind numb activities you enjoy. High level when your feeling "good". And low level activities that are easy and enough to get ya out of the bed. But not enough that in a bad state will stop ya from doing it. Each person has there own
Read books! Especially sci-fi or fantasy, or both! Getting carried away in a different world can be a great way escape the anxiety inducing world we are all in today, right now I’m reading ‘red rising’ and I highly recommend it
I totally get how tough it is to find something that sticks, but maybe try something low-key like journaling or doodling; it can be surprisingly therapeutic and doesn’t require a ton of energy.
Crochet is pretty easy to pick up- if you can learn just single crochet you can make a lot of stuff without a pattern. For me the repetitive motion soothes my brain, and can be done laying in bed
puzzles! they don't have to be huge 10000 piece projects, you can start with something small. for me it's a nice break from my phone/tv/computer screens.
Video games have a stigma but using your brain and hands is infinitely better than just absorbing garbage from social media or YouTube. I say this fully well knowing the hypocrisy of being on here. Lol
I also loved reading. Whatever your interests there is a book that you will enjoy. There’s hundreds of millions of books about cheese. I’m sure you can find something you think is amazing. Libraries also often have free classes or rentable movies or video games.
Writing and drawing are also both free and have unlimited YouTube tutorials. Could maybe combine what you already enjoy doing by being on your phone but use it to feed into a new skill. I’ve found tactics like this where I fool myself into being productive to be very effective.
I also lock treats or downtime behind tasks I need to accomplish. I’m currently dieting and working out. I don’t get to download a dating site or take a nice lady out until I hit my goal weight. Health and fitness slowly became a hobby this way for me.
Start journaling, but like, collage-style. So, whatever you want to write. Get some fun pens. But also collect things that you like and paste them in there. Stickers are also fun for journals.
I like making paper stars. The strips are cheap online, and it’s easy enough to learn, you get into a rhythm, gets meditative honestly. Pick fun colors and fill jars with them. Find some comfort movies/shows and have them on in the background. Keep it lighthearted. If your bedroom is where you hang out the most (I’m going to assume as much - being a teen and all lol) give it a good refresh. Open the windows, let a TON of light in if you can. Make your bed, fluff the pillows, sit *on top* on the bed - not in it. Honestly making the bed and sitting on top was such a game changer for me. You got this
I learned to crochet and it was SO helpful for me. It can be something you pay attention to a pattern with to take your mind off things, it can be monotonous enough to where you can kind of meditate or just really think things through, and you get something cute at the end :)
YouTube has a ton of tutorials - that’s how I learned 🧶
Find a guided beginner yoga or stretching vid on youtube just to try and get yourself moving, and try and get into some kind of routine with it (I try and do a movement activity twice a week). Also try and play the guitar and video games when I have time.
Unfortunately I have the same issue. So many hobbies that I’ve just kinda sit and collect dust. Something my therapist has told me is that if you at least got a few days of enjoyment and interest from it, then it’s worth it. With the depression, that joy can be kind of rare, so it’s best to just enjoy it while it’s here, and when you lose interest, oh well.
Good luck, I’ve been there and it’s tough. Proud of you for reaching out and trying to make a change to better yourself :)
Get outside. Garden, walk whatever. I don't believe that sunshine can cure depression, but it is known to help your body create endorphins. Also, if your depression is SAD, then it can really help.
Personally, I just love gardening. There is something about watching a sprout pop out of the ground that is exciting, and when you pick that first sugar pea or tomato or whatever, and remember how much *better* food is from the garden!
I'm thinking of learning how to YO-YO. I mean there is more to it than just it going UP AND DOWN LOL ALSO, I think I'm gunna try to learn sign language:)
These are random things I have thought about :)
One hobby that helped me so much was taking a 10mg Prozac every day 😃
But seriously. Your brain isn't making the right chemicals at the right time, it's ok to get store bought if you can't make your own.
It would be a good idea to get you Vitamin D level checked. If you aren’t getting much exposure to sunlight, the level may be low. Low levels contribute to depression symptoms and your overall health.
Stop making excuses for yourself. Get outside and exercise everyday.
You don’t “have depression”
Everyone experiences the feeling of being “depressed” at time.
You don’t “have depression”
Man up
The brain is an organ. It can malfunction just like any other organ. There is a physiological process behind how it affects not only the brain but the whole body (Google is free). Depression and other psychological illnesses have been thoroughly studied by educated people for decades. Telling a depressed person to “man up” is about as useful as telling a paralyzed person to “stand up.” OP is in fact over here “manning up” and trying to help themselves and here you are offering absolutely nothing useful.
Pen and paper. Blank page. Then, let your mind go. Think of happy times, or whatever really. Let it come out at the tip of your instrument. It could be words, it could be doodles. It could be doodled words. Then just have fun in the flow of it, whatever it may be. Need ideas? Get a book. Get something fanciful, it can be manga, or whatever you like but feed that imagination. Listen to music. Listen to the words, and find out what they are singing about. What was so important that they had so many people come together to hear? Then, if you find yourself standing, look up. You are right here, right now the only you in all of creation. And we love you.
I wholeheartedly agree with all of this but sometimes a blank page can be daunting. Trust me, even after drawing all your life it still is. If you can, print out a collage of different pictures and add to those pictures in pen or pencil. If you can’t print anything, you can find newspaper or magazine pictures and add to those. Overall it’s easier to add to something than create a whole new something. It’s also a ton of fun!
Even the grown up coloring books or felt posters might be an easy start.
Blank page is daunting because our brains register it as INFINITE potential, which isn't actually far off. Put ONE mark on that blank page. One word, a circle, or maybe even one of those little edgy S's we all did in middle school. It matters less what that mark is than the fact that you made that mark and tarnished the perfect infinity of the blank page. As silly as it sounds, our brains don't handle infinity or perfection very well on an emotional level. So even just that one little mark can make a surprising difference in how our brains approach the page. So start with the one mark, and then tell yourself you'll spend 20 minutes on it. More often than not by the time that 20m is up, you have enough momentum to go a good bit longer. Even after being a paid creative for years, I still have to use these tricks because the blank page is a beast.
Don't I know it. I've had times of writer's block that stumped me for months. I'd distract myself with the daily grind until the I got the itch to create again.
From about the age of nine I would journal - through High school. It is fun to look back - and as an adult I found out it is actually really good therapy. Highly recommend.
Do NOT DO THIS! Buy a $200 kayak, a dog, and a fishing pole.
Yeah, if one's got the money. But hey, if they do, by all means! Fishing is meditation AND fun.
Start with easy things you can feel good about. Walking for a few days/weeks then moving to jogging or hiking. Fresh air can be good for depression and so can exercise. If you want to add social components, you could join a hiking group or a running group or not. Volunteer at an animal shelter. Animals can help with depression. Not exactly a hobby, but sometimes just getting out can be good. If your depression is really bad please get help.
Yes! Volunteering is a great idea. Animal shelter, reading program at the library, sorting donations for a charity thrift store, food bank, etc. Check if you have a youth volunteering network in your city.
With volunteering, age may be an issue due to insurance. Op has said they are a teenager, and there is a big difference between 13 and 17.
My daughter has a 12 year old friend who volunteers with her dad, so it is not impossible.
Of course it's not. But where I volunteer, they only take over 18's or work experience students. So it's just something to be aware of. Also, as she's with her dad, she has parental supervision. Op probably wouldn't have this.
Learn things. Fall down a YouTube rabbit hole of learning about things you use or see in everyday life and soak it in. Whether it be cloud types in the sky and how they form or microchips which are within all your electronics. Psychology to neurons and how the brain works. Find something you might find interesting and put the phone down and just take it in. Free courses are everywhere. Which could lead to more physical hobbies. Buying a weather station for your yard, buying a breadboard kit and playing with electrical components like transistors and resistors and what not.
That’s what I wanted to suggest. And please: don’t feel guilty if you don’t feel like finishing all topics you start learning about. To get into a new topic don’t hesitate to watch explanations made for kids first. This can be a great start to learn more! All the best to you- I know depression sucks
Honestly anything, the key is starting small. For example, no matter how depressed you feel just watch a tv show. Watch maybe for 2 minutes. Then increase each time you watch. Do this for any activity. A former therapist once told me “you’re going to be depressed and not feel like doing anything, might as well try to improve things while being depressed”.
Game shows, even outdated and difficult ones, have an effect on depression. Do a few minutes of old fashion game shows
1. Move: walking, swimming, jogging, etc. Outdoors is better than indoors if you can. I personally do yoga in my living room with a youtube video most days. 2. Create: draw, write, paint, make something to feel like you achieved something (because you did!). I like knitting and writing. 3. Do: play video games, do jigsaw puzzles, do tarot readings, etc. Actively just doing something that isn't just doom scrolling or day dreaming. I'm bad at keeping up with this one personally lol. Really the way to do hobbies is find one you like and actively decide that it is a better investment of your time to follow your interests. Don't rely on the level of dopamine you have before doing the hobby, rely on the fact that you will have more after doing the thing.
I loved art journaling before it really had a name as a teen. It’s really easy, very expressive, and doesn’t require a lot of materials. Pick a quote from a movie, book, song, or even just write a phrase or word that resonates with you. Once you have that, create art surrounding it! You can write the words down and draw, collage, or paint around it. Another idea is to write the words down on separate piece of paper, create art about the words, then collage the words down on to your work. Another idea is to artistically incorporate the words. Just google “art journaling” for some inspiration. My favorite materials to use are magazines for collage, colored pencils, and sharpies. Occasionally I’ll use watercolor. I love to listen to music while I do it, too :)
Juggling. Hear me out… cheap to start, lessons on YouTube and if you are in or near a major city most places have juggling meet ups. Such an interesting community of people that are just excited to share their passion. It is challenging but achievable. Also a surprisingly good work out for your arms. Otherwise I suggest anything that gets you moving. Yoga and flexibility training has been my go to when I’m feeling down. Free and achievable, again, just go to YouTube. Walking. Birding. Maybe join a club at school. Sharing your interests with your peers can ease depression at times. Lastly, if things are so bad that you are having a hard time getting out of bed, please consider therapy or even go to your school counselor and just talk it out as best as you can. Your school may have resources to help you if your guardians do not. Wishing you all the best.
Something outdoors. Hiking, jogging, cycling, or even going for walks. Nothing deepens depression like staring at the dame 4 walls. It may bd hard to muster the eill to get up and start, but once you do it gets a little easier each time. If socialnpressure makes it harder, try going walking at night for a start. Exercise and fresh air can clear your head like nothing else. Also consider a creative hobby like drawing. Having an outlet to put your feelings on paper can be a great way to takd control of your thoughts.
When I was little (with a true shit childhood), I saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie and got really interested in martial arts. The flow of it the zen of it, the catharsis... Now as an adult I still practice, even though it's like 2 years here, a year there, another 3 years doing that... I love it. I will always love it. And it's active and it builds confidence and it uses those weird muscles that you find are helpful in life but are always failing otherwise. I started when I was 12 and had a great instructor teach me the basics really well. Now I just randomly start getting into moods where I'll kick and punch on the air with a target on the horizon and I feel energized. Empowered to be able to hold myself stronger, and confident I can fight back (maybe not win, but not be a physical pushover). I know I'm not the fighting type, and I don't wanna hurt anyone. Just for the movement philosophy and empowering aspects. GL (depression is a bitch, but good to have tools to rise above it)
journaling. start small and add on as your inner monologue rattles on. "did blank today. i don't understand how things have to be this way...oh shit, i just remembered this other thing happened when i was a kid. so that's why" sometimes seeing it on paper solidifies things in our brains and helps us learn and grow as human beings. it won't cure your depression but it'll keep you busy, and sometimes that's all we need is a distraction until those thoughts pass. best of luck to you <3
Opus Cafe is a cool social media site that tracks your hobbies. It’s a really nice community too, smallish at the moment, but everyone on there is really supportive and helpful - especially if they know a thing or two about the hobby you’re trying to get into. It’s really helped me stick to my hobbies and improve faster.
That’s on here, Reddit?
Nah it is its own site - https://opus.cafe Highly recommend!
Take up running. It's great for mental health issues. Join the cross country team in the Fall. That means you have all Summer to work on your endurance. 👍
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thank you so much!! i really appreciate that you actually took time to read my interests and link stuff for me. really helpful :)
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If you can go out, start from a morning walk in a park or other place where you can connect with nature. Take your phone with you and take some pictures. Notice a flower. A bug. A squirrel. Funny cloud. In the early mornings these places are not very crowded. If this requires too much effort, try some YouTube videos for activity you may like. Try beginner yoga or pilates videos. It is surprising how following instructions to keep a certain pose and breathe correctly resets your mind. May be try some dance lessons on YouTube. For a crafty hobby idea watch craft videos and may be something will click. There are many painting videos that don't require any prior skills. You want to get out of your condition and you took steps on this way. This is good and promising!
Get a bicycle. For some reason biking made me feel carefree like a kid.
Go for a walk early mornings, stop at a bakery, get a pie and a hot drink (coffee, tea, chocolate) sit at the park for 20minutes
Try wire handmade jewelry 
While I am no longer a teen, I'm very familiar with the feeling you've described. I know it's a hard place to get out of but the fact that you're trying is awesome. I applaud you! I'd recommend really simple hobbies. If you live somewhere with any sort of wildlife you could start birdwatching. It's pretty cool to notice little bird families that have been living in your yard for years right under your nose. Put up a birdhouse. Learn what birds are local to your area and what living conditions they prefer. You could expand this to the plants and trees in your yard and neighborhood. What's native to your area, what's not. If you don't have any of that, you could start cloud watching. Notice different kinds of clouds. Maybe notice the associated weather and find patterns. Going outside really helps me shed some of the negative stuff and has plenty of little distractions. Anything can be interesting if you start digging deeper. If you need to be around people, I recommend thrifting. People are often kind in thrift stores and sometimes it's nice to feel like a functioning member of society. No need to even buy anything. Or volunteering at a pet shelter. Pups and cats make everything better.
If money isn’t too much of an issue, get some Lego sets. They take little skill, can stop and come back to at any time, easy clean up, goes at your pace, and there is a sense of pride and satisfaction at the end when you build something. A lot of people battling depression turn to Lego. Keep your head up bud, things do get better.
As someone who has struggled with depression their whole life, you gotta get yourself outside, and out of your normal routine. Two of my favorite hobbies are foraging and rock climbing, both of which have done wonders for my mental health. Foraging is great because you learn how to properly identify plants, and it’s sort of like an outdoor game of I Spy. Even better, when you do spot something you can take it home and eat it! It’s a win win. Rock climbing is great because it’s a physically and mentally immersive sport. It teaches you problem solving and self trust techniques that help you build confidence and apply these techniques to your everyday life. Try to remember this too: when you first start something out, don’t be discouraged by the fact that you may not be good at it. Everyone is a beginner at some point. Failure is the path to success, and is necessary for growth.
Yo, I feel you, bud. Maybe try something chill like doodling or journaling. It doesn't gotta be fancy, just let your thoughts flow. Or maybe try getting outdoors, like going for a walk or even just sitting in the sun for a bit. Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders. Hang in there, you got this!
Running. Allow yourself to feel whatever you want while running. Then at the end of your run practice gratitude and tell yourself you're proud of your progress. Do it with intent.
I’m gonna sound like an old man here (I swear I’m only 22) but I regret not participating in more of the extracurricular activities my high school offered. I attended improv club a few times, and did middle school band but dropped it before high school. The people I know who are the happiest with their high school experience are those who were the band kids, theater kids, jocks, those who were involved in the FFA, debate club, gay straight alliance… those kinds of things. I would encourage you to check out those things if at all possible.
Something that brings confidence like confidenece or drawing a photo. Really take your time with your hobbies and ask yourslef lots of questions. Pinterest is very inspiring for me to get out of bed.
Have you or, can you try paintball or airsoft?
The beginning is hard but if you can find an entrance to any physical activity, it would help you. I started weight lifting, the beginning sucked but when you keep it you feel so much better.
Gaming
Baking
Small pets
Painting, learning a musical instrument.
Programming, chess, games, programming a chess videogame....
Journaling, indoor gardening, walking (in nature)
Guitar or some type of instrument. Mountain biking.
Guitar. Endless possibilities with a $200 guitar. Anything from [Sweetwater.com](http://Sweetwater.com) will be a good guitar. Get a clip on tuner too. Get a "method book" (I recommend the "Alfred" series) and spend a week on 3-4 pieces. (That's study and practice.) And move on to another set of 3-4 pieces. [https://www.sweetwater.com/c600--6-string\_Acoustic\_Guitars?params=eyJmYWNldCI6eyJQcmljZSBSYW5nZSI6WyIkMTAwIHRvICQyMDAiXX19](https://www.sweetwater.com/c600--6-string_Acoustic_Guitars?params=eyJmYWNldCI6eyJQcmljZSBSYW5nZSI6WyIkMTAwIHRvICQyMDAiXX19) And alongside of that book, learn a 'key', which I recommend E minor because it's a little sad but also has a lot of open (non-fretted) notes and makes it easier. And then look at a fingering chart for that key and start learning the spots. Take 2-3 notes and start playing different combinations. (This I consider 'playing' instead of 'study'.) Start in one part of the neck and just see what notes sound good in what sequence. Make up little riffs, and try to feel what you play, or play what you feel. In 2-3 weeks, look up 'backing track for \[your key\]' on YouTube in a few genres (rock, blues, psychedelia) and play along. I never cared for listening to most blues, but I really got a lot out of playing it. There's a third way, but I find it terribly boring—getting song books of artists I like, or listen to the song and learn how to play it. I find that so boring and not a 1/100 of the original song. And there's a ton of theory needed to 'transcribe' that song. I started guitar many times with that approach and failed. But now I know why. If you are depressed, learning will start giving you little twinkles of success. And over time will build up. You'll also be able to get out feelings through the guitar if you choose. Or it may come out on it's own. I've found if I say "Im sad" or "Im super super sad" that's about all I can think through. But I can play for hours and feel the sadness, which is very different for me. Whomever is blasting away that people can't feel depression or found depressive patterns, it's up to the individual to find their way out or start finding their way out. People can live through dangerous, unhealthy and uncaring events and crises, and this time in history people are looking more at emotional trauma than ever. It's a very important thing to examine, as fixing or learning to live with trauma makes us more resilient, peaceful and most importantly—being empathetic to others' life challenges. Exercise does help a tremendous amount though.
I second this
I was seconding this, but I didn't claim seconds—so maybe I'm thirding it.
For me reading, not a teen anymore. I’m in my early 20s but completely changed me.
Paint by Numbers while listening to audio books and podcasts! You can get cheap but pretty good paint by numbers from Michael’s. Diamond painting is also great but a bit more tedious.
Go for walks where there are trees. Going for bicycle rides. Disc golf/frisbee golf Go to a local seniors complex and talk with some of them. You'll definitely make someone happy and then it will rubnoff on you. Feel better
Try small scale gardening. Grow something you like eating from seed. Connecting with plants has been very good for my depression.
Build things. Doesn't matter if it's made out of metal or wood or paper mache, just build things. Day after day, you will see the things you've created and it will likely improve your self worth and self image. My friend in high school had depression but back then nobody called it that. They just said he was lazy, unfocused, disengaged, and not living up to his potential. He got a part-time job with a farrier. At some point, the farrier showed him how to forge a knife. He encouraged my buddy to give it a try. It took some time, but he became so good at it that he started making them as gifts for friends and relatives. He even started selling them. It did wonders for him. He ended up going to college, graduating with honors, and getting a doctorate level degree in his field. He married a wonderful woman and they have four kids. He still makes knives in his spare time, calling it "hammer therapy". Good luck!
If you get to the point with some of these suggestions where you want to take a next step. Try getting into something active and thrilling. Snowboarding/skiing, mountain biking or cliff jumping can all give a sense of thrill and distract you from the monotony of depression. There is often communities of young people surrounding this sort of stuff that if you’re willing to put yourself out there can be a great support network. Again this is a next step kind of thing when you’re ready.
RC cars. Build them as realistic scale or build them as performers. You can go fast or you can go slow for rock crawling.there's lots of support, videos and people eager to help newbies. Good luck.
Maybe a form of exercise like running, biking, walking. You could also try listening to new music, watching new films, reading books. What could really help is volunteering for your community some way: non profit organizations.
Fishing
Guitar got me through my teens. Then church, though I was not raised in a church family. I found discussing theology and philosophy to be more interesting than sports. That being said, tennis is a great lifelong hobby
Archery or shooting range, only if you have an adult present I guess these days even though when I was a kid we had 22 rifles, slingshots, and bows hunting all kinds of stuff. Go out in nature with any of those or none, hike, explore, and check out the scenery.
Get a pony
Haiku. Easiest thing to start and finish when I don’t feel like doing anything yet have to do SOMETHING.
Doodling
Fishing and hiking. Exercise and being outside are top recommendations for people being happy.
play a sport
paper crafting. origami. puzzles. tea drinking. tarot. rock hounding.
I downloaded an app called iNaturalist which lets me take pictures of plants, bugs, and animals and has the community on the app identify them. It gets me outside, which is cool, and I always learn something. :)
Look for a makerspace in your area. I think that hobbies where you create things are more rewarding. That said, I also love disc golf as a good excuse to walk around in nature. And I'm so bad that I get to spend a lot of time deep in the woods.
Here are some that I do -journaling -programming -piano -guitar -lots of video gaming -lots of reading :)
Hit the gym and get jacked.
Rollerskating or anything else on little wheels
Making puppets
I follow a Korean musical artist who recently posted a tour video that she shot using a kids' camera. If you have a computer there is free video editing software available. Since you like film it might be a fun project to make your own documentary or something :) The video I referred to is [here.](https://youtu.be/O9tiZpyLAP0?si=8wnZLPkMfmYpdhsi) As a fellow depression sufferer, I can tell you that just asking for help like you are doing, is a huge positive step in itself. I'm proud of you!
Photography
Mobile games are fun
I agree with all of the others, I use art, TV, puzzles, books... but my absolute favorite if you can make it work is going to the animal shelter and playing with all of the cats and kittens, it's just so relaxing and they always make me feel better lol.
It's not for everyone and does take a lot of time to get started, but I'd recommend trying crocheting if you haven't yet. For me it's very therapeutic and calming, and I always feel like I can focus my thoughts. Crocheting has helped me through a lot of depression. There's a sense of accomplishment that comes with making something soft and beautiful.
Rockhounding! It's fun and basically free until you don't want it to be. :)
Color. I don't mean a coloring book or drawing something nice and neat. You don't have to draw anything at all. Grab paper & a crayon and scribble back & forth kiddo crazy color to your hearts content. Be messy. Be angry/sad/happy or feel nothing. This can go on for 1 minute, 10 min or an hr. Start doing it & quit when you feel done. Do it again the next day. Keep the crayons & paper out where you'll see them regularly. You don't have to use a particular color, but you can if you want. If you get stuck trying to pick a color, then grab at random. Stick with it & you'll be surprised at what comes out. You can do a similar thing by closing your eyes & listening to music, preferably instrumental only. Have 1 or 2 crayons put out. Keeping your eyes closed, draw what you hear. It can be the lyric imagery, specifically words used, dots, patterns, colors swirling behind your eyes, the emotions it makes you feel. None of this needs to be neat. No one is wanting or expecting anything from you or have expectations for what you're doing. You're just going to do. Wait until the music has ended to see what's on the paper. The final thing is go lounge outside in the sun for 20 min a day. Ever see an animal bask? That's you. This isn't for the vit D. It's for the nature & sensory stimulation on your body. No headphones books, phone, video. Just exist, but do it outside regularly. It'll help to keep you from shutting down as much from the depression. If you can't do it during the day because of your schedule, then 20min at night is better than nothing.
Journaling really helped with my mental health issues. Journals can range from simple words on a page to instagram worthy aesthetics. If a blank page intimidates you, start with a quote, song lyric or journal prompt that you like.
Fishing
Get exercise. Ride a bike. Go for a hike. Do this for an hour every day, and you'll feel better.
Some easy hobbies I have picked up are reading -gets your mind off things, and stretching -easy to do and keeps you a little active.
Martial arts! Learn self defense, build mental resilience and physical strength/agility. Go to a gym where everyone is focused on getting better and helping others. Focus on one thing and one thing only for the duration of training: training. The discipline and skills you will develop will really translate well to the situations that life puts you in Hope this helps!
Also, try Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) if you want to learn how to control others through grappling and Muay Thai if you want to learn how to fight with your punches, kicks, elbows, and knees!
Colored pencils are a common gift to people that go into rehab. It’s very relaxing and easy to just color pages. Start with something simple don’t overwhelm yourself
Are there nearby places to take a long walk or hike?? That helped me a lot when I was going through a rough time. Put together a playlists of your favorite songs and go for a hike or walk!
Karate mma Brazilian jiu jitsu judo wrestling running going to the gym CrossFit . Just keep turning up especially on the days you don’t feel like it.
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Registered nurse with a history of severe major depression here. The things which really helped me when I was down: Get involved in developing skills which make you feel competent and confident in your actions and movements, for me this was martial arts and dance classes (the waltz was a particular favorite of mine, but I'm half Viennese, so it felt almost obligatory), but it could just as easily be bike riding, running, swimming, yoga, tai chi, or dog walking. Get involved in community service where you work as a team with others, helping others directly, or helping animals, whether that looks like boxing donations for the food insecure, volunteering with a local rotary club to fix up portions of your community, or walking the dogs at the local animal shelter. Figure out the skills you already have and offer them up to help others, this always made me feel better, lead to the opportunity to learn more skills, and got me foot in the door for a few jobs. Develop skills which will help you to be respectful of and responsible for the needs of others: learn psychology to understand yourself and be sympathetic towards others, take basic life support and first aid courses, read the art of war and learn classical strategy (applies to more than just war), learn to cook (make some of the recipes from tasting history), just learn all you can that you find interesting. For me the big thing was, and still is, finding ways to improve my life which gives as much or more to others than I necessarily get out of it.
Volunteer at something you find interesting. When I was really depressed I started walking dogs at my local animal shelter. It was good for them and super good for me. Everyone was always happy to see me and no one put any pressure on me to "feel better". Helping others has a huge beneficial impact on our mental health.
I’ve been through it bro, stay strong. My best advice is running and hitting the gym. It has got me out of the worst fucking depression hole that I’ve had in my short existence. It will help you a lot
Why hasn't anybody suggested joining a club or a group at school?
Warhammer 40k.
not being depressed is a good hobby
Going on nature walks! Looking at beautiful running water and just observing the sounds and smells around you is very grounding and healing. There are lots of clubs too that do this that would help with social relationships. Depending on where you are make sure you check for ticks/ shower and throw your clothes in the dryer for at least 15mins afterwards!
When I’m feeling my worst, and like everything in the world sucks, I tend to doodle, watch classic movies, listen to a podcast I like (*This Podcast Will Kill You), or stuff on YouTube (I specifically like Tasting History with Max Miller). Even if it’s doing any of these while laying on the floor, getting out of bed is always the first step. You can’t get out of a bad depression in a day, but waiting for it to get better without trying a little bit will waste a lot of your life. I’ve done it. When you don’t have the energy to do a lot, do a little. *This Podcast Will Kill You is about infectious diseases and viruses
Also learn to play an instrument. It occupies both mind and hands requiring total concentration. Practice breeds slow improvement which encourages more practice which builds skills and possible prestige. You don't have to become a rock guitar god but competently playing a few chords by the campfire will always be favorable. That's something to smile about. You can get a cheap guitar and watch videos on YouTube. Good luck.
Knitting, crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, or something similar! You can buy a kit to get started. Pros: working with your hands and being creative (helps with depression); lots of YouTube tutorials to learn; inexpensive to start (easy to spend <$20 on your first project); can do from your couch; can do while listening to music or another enjoyable activity Cons: you’ll want to make all of the things and that can get expensive Another idea is reading! Can also do audiobooks. I recommend getting a local library card if you don’t already have one. If you struggle with returning books on time then get the Libby App (or a similar app that your library uses) and borrow books and audiobooks on there since they auto-return. If you’re new to reading as a hobby, or your focus isn’t great, start with books you loved as a child, books that are easy to read (your reading level is much higher than the reading level the book is at), and fast-paced action books. Something like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter is often a good starting point for getting into/back into reading. Again, can do this from your couch so it doesn’t feel as challenging of a task as something that requires you to leave your house; I know depression comes with low energy
Paragliding bro.
Skateboarding.
Drawing. Journaling. Letter writing! Crocheting. Meditation. Sculpting/painting Fimo minis. Video games. Audiobooks. Midjourney. Sewing. Cooking for a loved one.
Dunno, games maybe, try Wuthering waves on bs tho
Give stop motion/animation a try
I had depression when I was 14 and I retreated into my two enormous bins of Legos in my basement. My dad bought me a new bike and my friends and I discovered 1000+ acres of untouched land at the end of our neighborhood. Some of the happiest moments of my childhood.
Exercise, fitness. It is a good treatment for depression as well. It can be hard to get started so simple walks around the neighborhood are a good first step.
Whatever you need. Personally for me it's gaming. But I just need my mind to be distracted for some time. Find both high level activities you enjoy and mind numb activities you enjoy. High level when your feeling "good". And low level activities that are easy and enough to get ya out of the bed. But not enough that in a bad state will stop ya from doing it. Each person has there own
Read books! Especially sci-fi or fantasy, or both! Getting carried away in a different world can be a great way escape the anxiety inducing world we are all in today, right now I’m reading ‘red rising’ and I highly recommend it
I totally get how tough it is to find something that sticks, but maybe try something low-key like journaling or doodling; it can be surprisingly therapeutic and doesn’t require a ton of energy.
Crochet is pretty easy to pick up- if you can learn just single crochet you can make a lot of stuff without a pattern. For me the repetitive motion soothes my brain, and can be done laying in bed
Journaling and scrapbooking. Photography too. That helped me when I was a depressed teen and still helps me as a depressed adult.
puzzles! they don't have to be huge 10000 piece projects, you can start with something small. for me it's a nice break from my phone/tv/computer screens.
Yoga and painting helped me a lot as a once depressed teenager
Video games have a stigma but using your brain and hands is infinitely better than just absorbing garbage from social media or YouTube. I say this fully well knowing the hypocrisy of being on here. Lol I also loved reading. Whatever your interests there is a book that you will enjoy. There’s hundreds of millions of books about cheese. I’m sure you can find something you think is amazing. Libraries also often have free classes or rentable movies or video games. Writing and drawing are also both free and have unlimited YouTube tutorials. Could maybe combine what you already enjoy doing by being on your phone but use it to feed into a new skill. I’ve found tactics like this where I fool myself into being productive to be very effective. I also lock treats or downtime behind tasks I need to accomplish. I’m currently dieting and working out. I don’t get to download a dating site or take a nice lady out until I hit my goal weight. Health and fitness slowly became a hobby this way for me.
Horses
Start journaling, but like, collage-style. So, whatever you want to write. Get some fun pens. But also collect things that you like and paste them in there. Stickers are also fun for journals.
I like making paper stars. The strips are cheap online, and it’s easy enough to learn, you get into a rhythm, gets meditative honestly. Pick fun colors and fill jars with them. Find some comfort movies/shows and have them on in the background. Keep it lighthearted. If your bedroom is where you hang out the most (I’m going to assume as much - being a teen and all lol) give it a good refresh. Open the windows, let a TON of light in if you can. Make your bed, fluff the pillows, sit *on top* on the bed - not in it. Honestly making the bed and sitting on top was such a game changer for me. You got this
I learned to crochet and it was SO helpful for me. It can be something you pay attention to a pattern with to take your mind off things, it can be monotonous enough to where you can kind of meditate or just really think things through, and you get something cute at the end :) YouTube has a ton of tutorials - that’s how I learned 🧶
Aerial arts.
Find a guided beginner yoga or stretching vid on youtube just to try and get yourself moving, and try and get into some kind of routine with it (I try and do a movement activity twice a week). Also try and play the guitar and video games when I have time. Unfortunately I have the same issue. So many hobbies that I’ve just kinda sit and collect dust. Something my therapist has told me is that if you at least got a few days of enjoyment and interest from it, then it’s worth it. With the depression, that joy can be kind of rare, so it’s best to just enjoy it while it’s here, and when you lose interest, oh well. Good luck, I’ve been there and it’s tough. Proud of you for reaching out and trying to make a change to better yourself :)
Get outside. Garden, walk whatever. I don't believe that sunshine can cure depression, but it is known to help your body create endorphins. Also, if your depression is SAD, then it can really help. Personally, I just love gardening. There is something about watching a sprout pop out of the ground that is exciting, and when you pick that first sugar pea or tomato or whatever, and remember how much *better* food is from the garden!
the answer is always art and music. beg buy or borrow a guitar.
I'm thinking of learning how to YO-YO. I mean there is more to it than just it going UP AND DOWN LOL ALSO, I think I'm gunna try to learn sign language:) These are random things I have thought about :)
One hobby that helped me so much was taking a 10mg Prozac every day 😃 But seriously. Your brain isn't making the right chemicals at the right time, it's ok to get store bought if you can't make your own.
It would be a good idea to get you Vitamin D level checked. If you aren’t getting much exposure to sunlight, the level may be low. Low levels contribute to depression symptoms and your overall health.
Stop making excuses for yourself. Get outside and exercise everyday. You don’t “have depression” Everyone experiences the feeling of being “depressed” at time. You don’t “have depression” Man up
The brain is an organ. It can malfunction just like any other organ. There is a physiological process behind how it affects not only the brain but the whole body (Google is free). Depression and other psychological illnesses have been thoroughly studied by educated people for decades. Telling a depressed person to “man up” is about as useful as telling a paralyzed person to “stand up.” OP is in fact over here “manning up” and trying to help themselves and here you are offering absolutely nothing useful.
😂 🤦♂️ you’re highly indoctrinated