Don't dwell on the past

It's pretty pointless to tell yourself you should have done this or shouldn't have done that. You can't change the past, but you can live in the present. 

Just accept that you made the best decisions you could have made with the information or resources you had at the time. Hindsight is always 20/20, so best to try to just let it go and don't beat yourself up for perceived missteps. 

And do a rumination check; ruminating about the past can generate anxiety, just as worry about the future.

Reach out to others

A hallmark of depression is isolation. It can happen easily if you're not working, or you're avoiding people because you're depressed. But reinvigorating or expanding a social network provides an opportunity to get support, perhaps even from people in the same or a similar situation, says Rego. 

"Once you start reconnecting with people, you get a sense they understand," he says. "You get positive advice and encouragement and it's often done in activities that end up being fun." 

Staying home alone will perpetuate the depression. Getting out with other people—even a little bit—will lift your spirits.

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