Overcoming depression requires a decision to take charge of your life. An improved outlook and greater confidence are among the many advantages of a healthy diet and regular exercise. Doing nice things for other people will make you feel better by taking your mind off of yourself and your own problems. Making someone else happy when you are yourself unhappy is comforting to your heart and mind. Helping others is a path to greater self-discovery and staying busy is a great way to overcome depression. It is important to resist the urge to do nothing when depressed and force yourself to do more than being idle and obsessed by self-defeating thoughts.