I just read a quote online that said ‘Depression isn’t the opposite of happiness: depression is the opposite of purpose.’
So this is me, sitting in my office wondering where my mojo went.
I am not depressed but I find myself sitting at my desk today feeling a bit miserable. It has been hard to decide what to do first since I have often have no structure to my day.
For many of us at the moment we are confined to a solitary home office with an overwhelmingly long list of things to do, but with low motivation because we miss the interaction with colleagues that spurs us on to do our best.
One of the things I have often done is write a list of items in order of importance. Sometimes I write a list starting with the one I want to do least, to get it out of the way. Sometimes I write ‘timed’ lists; as in, ‘spend 30 minutes clearing emails’, or ‘spend 2 hours on that document’ and I can rattle through items no problem. But, somehow, the total lockdown has spread a certain amount of apathy in my approach.
And then a patient came. I knew he was coming but it wasn’t until he came through the door that I realised how much I really need human contact. I enjoyed our conversation so much that I felt energised to tackle other things on my list. Usually I don’t mind being on my own, but this lockdown has made me into a real ‘people person’. I need interaction with other people for my mental wellbeing…
An article in the Guardian recently said that 1.5 million children are at risk of anxiety and depression brought about or aggravated by social isolation, and that ‘this will have a profound effect on mental health.’ It was even stated that it would be the biggest hit to mental health since the second world war.
So, to rise up out of my low mood I have a purpose. My contribution to this sad state of affairs is to contact my friends more regularly with a little video clip saying Hi, and to tell them that I miss them.
