Find out how sleep, diet, and exercise help with depression from Dr Andrea Pickering.
Lifestyle and depression
When experiencing depression, daily routines can easily become disrupted, which can make symptoms harder to manage. In this video, Dr Andrea Pickering shares practical lifestyle strategies that can support recovery, starting with setting consistent routines around sleep and meals. Going to bed and waking up at regular times, as well as eating three balanced meals a day, can help stabilise energy levels and improve overall wellbeing, even if it feels difficult at first.
Andrea also highlights the importance of movement and gentle exercise, beginning with small steps around the house and gradually building up to walks outdoors, ideally in nature. She emphasises being compassionate with yourself when things don’t go to plan, reminding us that living with depression is challenging and progress takes time. By focusing on small, achievable changes, it’s possible to create healthier routines and gently widen your world again.