When struggling with depression or just feeling down, it’s common to beat ourselves up for everything that we’re not doing or not doing right or not doing well. It often becomes routine to focus on the negative, which increases feelings of hopelessness and helplessness as well as aggravating other depression symptoms. You might feel totally stuck and unable to move forward.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Millions of people struggle to manage depression each year, and most wonder if they’re ever going to feel better. The good news is that there are effective steps you can take to manage and even overcome depression. In addition to working with a therapist experienced in treating depression, there is one simple thing you can do every day to help shift your perspective. Rather than focusing on all that you’re not doing, begin to recognize all that you are doing.

Bringing awareness to all the things that you are doing—even if they seem small—can make a difference in how you feel about yourself. While you may not be functioning at your optimal speed, give yourself credit for the little, important things you do, such as getting the kids to school or yourself to work each day. If you cleaned the bathroom, sent out a resume, picked your child up from school on time or made it to your therapy appointment, make note of that. At the end of each day, sit down and reflect on your successes. Make a list and put it in a journal. Periodically, go back and look at your lists from weeks or months before. This process can help you keep track of how much you’re doing and how much your life has changed since you began the process. This practice can not only increase awareness of your habits, but it can also help you to feel really good about your progress and everything that you’re doing well. It can build self-esteem and confidence.

The important thing to remember is that the small stuff really does matter. When dealing with depression, there is no need to make big changes immediately. But, as you gain momentum through building your awareness and shifting into an “I am doing” rather than “I’m not doing” perspective, you may feel inspired to take on a little more every day. I’ve had many clients use this practice and report how helpful it was to recognize all that they were doing. This simple practice can help you, too. You may slowly begin to stop wondering if it’s possible to feel better as you discover you’re on your way there.