When you're dealing with depression, sometimes it can be hard just to take care of yourself. However, in order to feel better, you'll have to practice healthy habits even when you don't feel like it. Tracking your sleep habits can help you make sure that you're getting the right amount of rest. The right amount of sleep can help ease symptoms of depression. Try to make a point of going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at roughly the same time each morning. Write down the time you go to sleep and wake up each day. If you find yourself sleeping in or feeling like you can't get out of bed, take a look at what happened the day before. You might see a pattern of certain activities causing you to feel drained. It's not a given that changing your eating habits will help your depression. However, certain foods can help ease some of your symptoms. And eating healthy foods can help you feel better overall. Certain carbs can help calm you down. Go for "smart" carbs such as whole grains and sweet potatoes. Avoid foods such as cakes and fruit juices. Look for healthy proteins. Good proteins can actually increase alertness, which can make you feel better. Try lean meats such as chicken, fish, and Greek yogurt. When you're dealing with depression, it can be difficult to handle household chores. Write down what needs to be done, and then write down when you will do it. Sticking to your schedule can help you feel more productive and less overwhelmed. For example, you might write: "Monday--dust living room" or "Tuesday--do laundry". Even though it might feel like a challenge, take the time to keep up your hygiene. Take a shower and brush your teeth everyday. Make sure to keep your hair clean, your nails clipped, and use deodorant.

Summary: Monitor your sleep schedule. Eat a healthy diet. Create a cleaning schedule. Practice good personal hygiene.

As there is no exact cure for narcolepsy, doctors recommend patients ease symptoms of fatigue by better managing their sleep schedules. Try to develop solid sleeping habits to help minimize the excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden muscle collapse (cataplexy) associated with narcolepsy. Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Try to get up and fall asleep around the same time each day, including weekends. Your body's circadian rhythm may start to adapt to the schedule you've set and you'll eventually start to feel tired naturally around the same time each night and may wake up with less fatigue in the morning. Practice some kind of relaxing bedtime ritual each night. Pick low key activities, like reading or taking a warm bath, that will calm your mind and body in preparation for sleep. Avoid activities like watching television or using electronics, however, as the blue light from screens has a stimulating effect that can keep you awake. You may benefit from wearing amber-colored glasses at night. These may be able to block out the disruptive blue light from screens. You can download an app on your phone that will help you track your sleep quality. Some may even provide exercises to help improve your sleep. While napping is generally not advised for coping with sleep problems, people with narcolepsy tend to benefit from daily naps. Scheduled, brief naps throughout the day can help manage the fatigue associated with narcolepsy. Schedule 20 minute naps throughout the day, focusing on the times you're most likely to feel tired. If you tend to have flare ups mid-afternoon, for example, try to fit in a short nap around this time. While 20 minute naps work for most people, you may need to sleep more or less depending on your symptoms. You might have to experiment with sleeping in different intervals for awhile until you find a routine that works for you. Keep track of your naps in a journal or with a sleep-tracking app. Make sure to record when you fell asleep, how long you slept, the quality of the sleep, and how you felt before and after. This can help you create an effective nap schedule. Having a good environment in your bedroom can help promote restful sleep. Making certain alterations to your bedroom can help with your sleep.[Image:Ease the Symptoms of Narcolepsy Step 4.jpg|center]] Make sure your mattress and pillows are supportive and comfortable. If you consistently wake up with a sore neck or sore back you may need to replace your pillow or mattress. Make sure linens, comforters, and other bed supplies are free of allergens that might disrupt sleep. Try to separate your waking life from your sleeping life. Laptops, televisions, and phones should be kept out of the bedroom area. If you live in a noisy area, consider putting a white noise machine in your room to drown out unwanted sounds. Make sure your room is cool. The ideal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If your room is usually warmer than this, consider lowering the temperature in your room or turning on a fan. If you do not have an air conditioner, you may want to consider installing one. If too much light is coming in from outside your window, you may want to install blackout curtains. These are useful if there are street lights outside or if you live in a northern locale with long days in the summer.

Summary: Improve your sleeping habits. Nap. Create a comfortable sleeping environment.

Food coloring is optional, but it may make the slime more fun! This will allow the mixture to reach the desired consistency. This slime keeps very well in an airtight container. Make sure you store it away from direct sunlight and heat.

Summary: Add a few drops of food coloring (if desired). Let the mixture stand for up to an hour. Keep the slime in an airtight container.

Sometimes you can't put a physical barrier up to keep your cat out of a room. In this case, you will need to make the room uncomfortable for it to be in. Make loud noises whenever it enters the room or shoo it away. Note that if you do this, the cat may associate the noise with you and start to avoid you. You can even employ stronger methods in some cases. For example, spill a small amount of water on the floor of your bathroom if you don't want your cat in there. A cat may hate to get its feet wet on any excess water on the floor. Another example is to make sure the cat has nowhere to hide in a room. Sometimes a cat likes going under beds or in corners to feel safe. With this type of cat you can block off access to under the bed or any other hiding spaces. This will make your cat uncomfortable in the room. Every time it goes near the room, have a spray bottle ready to spray a little water at it. This will make sure it knows that its actions are unacceptable. However, only use this method if you are prepared to accept damaging your relationship with the cat. It is highly likely the cat will associate the water spray with you, the sprayer, rather than the room. Thus, the cat is more likely to flee and not want to spend time in your company. You simply place the device in the doorway to the room and let it deter your cat from the area. Put a small amount of vinegar at the room's entrance or in areas of the room. This usually helps, as most cats hate the odor of vinegar. This advice is anecdotal, however, as some people find it helps while for others it makes no difference. Alternatively, fill a spray bottle halfway with vinegar. Fill the other half with lime or lemon juice. Spray at the entrance to the room and on beds and other places the cat usually goes. This will deter many cats from scratching on furniture or spending time in the room. If you go this route, the vinegar spray needs fairly constant reapplication. Make a different room more comfortable for the cat. Make another room cat-appealing so the cat will go there instead. Offer the cat several nice sleeping places (although it's likely to chose its own) including a high perch. Provide food, water, and a litter tray, as well as toys. This involves making a big fuss of the cat and making being in the room you want it to be in a pleasant experience. The goal is to make sure your cat associates the room with good things and wishes to return there. You may want to scatter extra tasty treats around the room so that it seems a more appealing place.
Summary: Make the room physically uncomfortable for the cat. Spray the cat with water from a spray bottle. In addition, there are commercial electronic cat deterrents that will spray a cat with a burst of air when it approaches the room. Place smells in the room that your cat doesn't like. Redirect your cat's attention. Use positive training.