Sometimes Joy Is the Holier Choice
The Baal Shem Tov taught that when sadness has made a person ill, he should deliberately take the path of eating, drinking and rejoicing.
The Midrash on the opening of Bereishis reads "there was evening" as the deeds of the wicked and "there was morning" as the deeds of the righteous, and concludes that Hashem prefers the righteous. The Baal Shem Tov finds this surprising: who would imagine that Hashem wanted the deeds of the wicked? He explains that the Midrash is describing two ways of acting. One is eating, drinking, joy and laughter. The other is fasting, weeping and mourning. When a person has been worn down by sadness and harsh self-affliction into a dark, heavy mood, he must deliberately take up the first way, to eat, drink and rejoice, in order to heal. At other times, when the evil inclination is growing stronger, he may need seriousness. He must weigh this with his own mind, and if he cannot decide, he should turn to a Torah scholar, a physician of souls.
Source: Keter Shem Tov 2:1
If you have been feeling weighed down lately, do not assume that more strictness is the answer. Today, take care of the basics: a proper meal, a short walk, a call with a friend, a niggun you love. Joy is part of avodas Hashem, not a break from it. If the heaviness keeps returning, speak to a wise rav, mentor or friend who can help you weigh it honestly. A healthy, cheerful heart can carry far more Torah and mitzvos.