Keeping your sanity

[wafter]

If there's rage to be appeased the only thing that really works is a hard, fast ride with a suitable soundtrack (thrash metal, industrial, techstep etc).

I think kicking seven shades out of a punchbag would help, but alas that's not a luxury I possess.

As for decompressing under less severe circumstances; a gentle ride, a walk, some weights, rings, a kickboxing lesson usually makes me feel better

 

[Chief Broom]

Gardening in an insane world i try to express myself by creating my small island of peace and sanctuary [in a housing estate] of trees.shrubs,flowers and encourage the wildlife to visit. I recently found a hollowed out tree trunk on the beach which ive made 2 nesting boxes with and will site them on a wall amongst climbing roses.
Walking the beach is always restorative and do most days, lately there has been thunderous waves and wickedly bracing onshore winds that'll blow the cobwebs and your hat off!

*oh and i cycle a lot when weather permitting

 

[Chris S]

I've been teaching myself Morse code to keep my brain ticking over. It's almost obsolete these days. Radio navigation beacons use it to transmit their call signs and the Royal Navy use it when they want to maintain radio silence but that's about it.

Is the an app for that?

No - I just got a list of codes from the internet. I substituted a '1' for the dots and a '7' for the dashes and then arranged all the letters into a table like this:

I then learned one column at a time and wrote them out using dots and dashes instead of digits.
I now translate some random text into Morse code one day and then translate it back into English the next.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I don't really get stressed, small work annoyances disappear after the ride home.
Bigger life annoyances I chase away by either doing extreme gardening, like shoveling heaps of compost or weeding large areas by hand or by baking for the 5000
I like baking as a chill activity, because, all things being equal (your equipment must work, your recipe must be correct) if you follow the instructions all will be well .... opposite to real life
Oh, and I feel completely chilled after listening to very sad songs for a few hours!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Gaming. Not exactly a mindless activity, but very stress-relieving. Currently I'm playing Skyrim for the 4th time, wandering around the gorgeous mountains and tundra of Skyrim.

 

[teeonethousand]

Music through earphones while dancing 😂

 

[Reynard]

I do that too, although not to relieve anger.

I find that I end up in an almost zen-like state where time means nothing and I have not a care in the world. It's my favourite form of exercise. Okay, second favourite.

Lumberjilling and log splitting is my main form of winter exercise. That's because the heating must be fed (solid fuel heating here), and with seven acres of woodland to look after, there's always *something* that wants doing.

Even today - dismal though dry as it was, it was a pleasure to be outside. Especially when there's so many snowdrops out, not to mention fleeting glimpses of assorted wildlife. And working with a chainsaw, you have to concentrate on what you're doing, so you have to put other stuff out of your head.

 

[Reynard]

I don't really get stressed, small work annoyances disappear after the ride home.
Bigger life annoyances I chase away by either doing extreme gardening, like shoveling heaps of compost or weeding large areas by hand or by baking for the 5000
I like baking as a chill activity, because, all things being equal (your equipment must work, your recipe must be correct) if you follow the instructions all will be well .... opposite to real life
Oh, and I feel completely chilled after listening to very sad songs for a few hours!

Yeah, cooking is definitely a good way to destress. It's doing something enjoyable that results in a delectable end product. Swap baking for preserve making though...

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Swap baking for preserve making though...

Aye, but sadly I don't like preserves.
I give most of my baking away, but I like to keep a wee bit for me to enjoy too
There was a time I produced a lot of ferments: couldn't give the sauerkraut away for love or money, ended up eating it for months

 

[Reynard]

Aye, but sadly I don't like preserves.
I give most of my baking away, but I like to keep a wee bit for me to enjoy too
There was a time I produce a lot of ferments: couldn't give the sauerkraut away for love or money, ended up eating it for months

Hmmm, I don't make fermented stuff. For the very reason you mention LOL... I like sauerkraut (kapusta kiszona) but might only have it a couple of times a year.

But jams, fruit butters, jellies, marmalades, chutneys... Particularly since there's so much free fruit I have access to, be it from my garden, the community orchard or what I can forage from the hedgerows. A jar of homemade something makes a pretty nice Christmas gift - or a gift for any other occasion that might warrant one.

Last night I made a batch of quince & chilli jelly as I had some quinces that were looking a bit distressed and some fresh chillies that wanted using. It's banging on hot buttered toast (and hella addictive!) but would be lovely as a condiment for a chicken sandwich.

 

[Gwylan]

I'll also add that writing is another way of helping me keep my sanity. A totally different exercise from splitting firewood, but one that's equally as satisfying.

As the saying goes, do not annoy a writer, for they will put you in a book and kill you

I find I cannot write quickly enough. Being a bit obsessive, if I type I have to go back and correct the errors. That rather reduces the speed and hence relief

 

[Gwylan]

Aye, but sadly I don't like preserves.
I give most of my baking away, but I like to keep a wee bit for me to enjoy too
There was a time I produced a lot of ferments: couldn't give the sauerkraut away for love or money, ended up eating it for months

With you on the Sauerkraut. They can make their own.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

With you on the Sauerkraut. They can make their own.

Nobody I know likes it, not even my Polish friends

 

[Gwylan]

Nobody I know likes it, not even my Polish friends

Well, I do. The management feigns to like it, but I can tell it's a show after this long.

 

[lazybloke]

Said it before about work stress; the 22km ride home always sorted me out and gave back my grin. Even in miserable winter rain, sleet and storms.

At my new job, the builders have just closed most of the site, and demolished the showers & bike shed for a refurb, so I'm not commuting by bike in the near future!
So my current stress relief is either listening to music or reading. Recently tried audiobooks but hated them so have gone back to paper. Trying the Long Earth series (T Pratchett), then have the latest Dan Brown and a Jack Reacher.