“What activities help with depression?”

Activities that promote movement and social interactions can be helpful. Although it may feel exhausting and/or daunting, the more one pushes themselves to engage with their environment the better they can start to feel, Activities should be related to personal interests that foster a sense of achievement or personal satisfaction.

Social activities and being around your support system, doing activities that bring you joy and pleasure, self care activities, and making sure you are generally taking care of yourself (showering, getting up and dressed in the morning, brushing teeth, exercising, eating healthy, etc.)

Both exercise and social involvement are helpful. I would also recommend cognitive-behavior therapy with a psychologist.

Depression leads to inactivity, typically. Trying to activate yourself, even when you don't feel like it, can help in fighting back against the depression, and lead to more hopeful feelings. Activities can also distract a depressed person and get them away from moody ruminations that reinforce the depression. Activities do not need to be especially strenuous or time-consuming. Light exercise, especially with a friend or family member, is almost always a good move. When doing it, resist the tendency to reflect on how out of shape you are now compared to how you used to be, etc. That is the depression trying to talk you out of doing something good for yourself. Just concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, looking around, feeling your breaths.