3 Small Changes That Cut Your Risk of Depression Nearly in Half

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3 Small Changes That Cut Your Risk of Depression Nearly in Half

By Jessica Stillman | Inc Magazine | January 18, 2024

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Numbers vary by the study you look at or the expert you talk to, but just about everyone agrees entrepreneurs face a significantly higher risk of depression than the general population. Whether they are twice, three, or four times likely to be diagnosed with depression, there’s no doubt that mental health is a particular concern for business owners.   

No column on the internet can tell you how to make starting a company less volatile. The entrepreneurial mindset is what it is, for good and ill, while addressing the current mental health crisis is a job for an army of scientists and policy makers.   But that doesn’t mean there aren’t simple, science-backed interventions that can significantly reduce your risk of depression. Here are three. 

1. 1 hour of exercise cuts your risk of depression by 44 percent.  Everyone knows exercise is good for your body and mind. But adulthood is busy, and being a business owner is often downright frantic. Many people conclude they just don’t have the time for a meaningful amount of exercise. A massive recent study out of Norway might convince them otherwise.  The study followed more than 33,000 Norwegians for 11 years and came to a simple conclusion. “The researchers concluded that just one hour of exercise a week reduced the chances of developing depression by a massive 44 percent
2. Taking a vacation cuts your risk of depression by a lot.  Vacations offer an opportunity to bond with loved ones, welcome fresh ideas, and just lounge around and work on your tan. They even increase your chances of getting a raise at work, research finds. But those aren’t even the most compelling reason to make sure you find time for a proper getaway this year.  “Almost one-third (30.4 percent) of Americans with a vacation deficit demonstrate symptoms of mild to moderate depression, while 12 percent would be considered to be suffering signs of moderately severe to severe depression
3. Plant a tree and cut your depression risk by 40 percent.  The positive effects of spending time in nature on our mental health is incredibly well documented. But if your schedule and location makes it hard to take long hikes in the woods, don’t despair. Science shows that planting more trees within cities — or, for individuals, moving to a slightly leafier neighborhood — can have a big impact on your risk of depression too.  One study out of Germany recently published in the journal Scientific Reports showed that the more trees a neighborhood had, the fewer prescriptions for antidepressants among its residents.The effect was particularly strong among the less wealthy. 

2 key takeaways from the article

1. Numbers vary by the study you look at or the expert you talk to, but just about everyone agrees entrepreneurs face a significantly higher risk of depression than the general population. Whether they are twice, three, or four times likely to be diagnosed with depression, there’s no doubt that mental health is a particular concern for business owners. 
2. No column on the internet can tell you how to make starting a company less volatile. The entrepreneurial mindset is what it is, for good and ill, while addressing the current mental health crisis is a job for an army of scientists and policy makers.   But that doesn’t mean there aren’t simple, science-backed interventions that can significantly reduce your risk of depression. Here are three. 1 hour of exercise cuts your risk of depression by 44 percent. Taking a vacation cuts your risk of depression by a lot.  And Plant a tree and cut your depression risk by 40 percent. 

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Topics:  Entrepreneurship, Depression, Startups