When I was going through a difficult period with depression, I noticed that my usual routine slowly started disappearing. Getting out of bed, answering messages, preparing meals, or even taking a short walk could feel harder than it normally would.
One thing that helped me was having something that gave structure to my day. Taking care of my pet meant I still had reasons to get up, go outside, and maintain some kind of routine, even on days when I had very little motivation.
I also learned that depression does not look the same for everyone. What helps one person may not work for another, and having support from a mental health professional can be an important part of understanding what you are experiencing.
Looking back, I realized that recovery was not about suddenly feeling better. For me, it was more about finding small things that made difficult days a little easier and gradually rebuilding my routine.