Getting by on the hard days

[Roll Right]

Everyone has a few (or more) days when life just seems overwhelming and everyday activities appear to be larger than they truly are. What strategies do you use get by on those days?

[smg]

Everyone has a few (or more) days when life just seems overwhelming and everyday activities appear to be larger than they truly are. What strategies do you use get by on those days?

 

Beer and meditation.  Usually not at the same time.  Maybe a long walk.  However, sometimes nothing makes it better or more manageable and you just have to grit your teeth and keep on keeping on.  Some days are just hard. 

[wildviolet]

Strategies? More like denial. I'll usually do something else, whether it's stuff I have to do anyway, like laundry or grocery shopping, or stuff that interests me, like reading a book for fun or dancing. Then, when I feel up to it, I'll come back and address whatever it is that's bothering me.

[Chai_latte]

It depends.  On an "annoying" day, I'll go shopping after lab or treat myself to a nice dinner.  The "horrible" days get prayer, re-runs of Frasier and copious amounts of house cleaning until I regroup.

[1Q84]

It depends.  On an "annoying" day, I'll go shopping after lab or treat myself to a nice dinner.  The "horrible" days get prayer, re-runs of Frasier and copious amounts of house cleaning until I regroup.

 

Same except I watch old episodes of Simpsons. On a combined Simpsons-Frasier note, this one always makes me guffaw:

 

Cecil: When that pie hit your face, I saw my dreams explode in a burst of cream and crust. But I suppose I should thank you. After all, it lead me to my true calling.

Bob: Cecil, no civilization in history has ever considered chief hydrological engineer a calling.

[Cecil clears his throat meaningfully]

Yes, yes, the Cappadocians, fine.

To add to this: I think it's important to recognize that we all need some time to switch our minds to "off" and watch some dumb TV or engage in something mindless without feeling guilty. Strangely enough, despite being very critical of shows I watch and thinking more than I should about them (even things like Project Runway) I feel refreshed after and ready to get back to work.

Edited November 24, 2014 by 1Q84

[maelia8]

I often have days like this at certain points in the month hormonally, when I just feel super overwhelmed just doing the normal stuff that needs to get done that day. What helps me is telephoning with my sister, eating expensive "treat" snacks like dried fruit and fancy cheese, and watching TV shows or movies with superheroes in them. Another thing that I find helpful is doing simple "busy work" type stuff until I feel like I got something done and my mind is on track before I tackle the hard stuff.

[Roll Right]

Those sound like good strategies.

 

I find that on difficult days I enjoy junk food (particularly Tina's burittos), some cheap beer, statistics, and video games. For some reason I enjoy building statistical models or playing video games when I'm having trouble with other avenues of life.

 

I'm not sure how I've avoided obesity.

[Victoris]

I watch empowering YouTube videos as such: Lost but Won:

 

 

...lifts me up when I feel like giving up, I'm a failure, and just being lazy.  

 

 

Here's another good one too!  Why Do We Fall?

 

 

I watched at least one video a week.  

[GeoDUDE!]

Tinder is great for hard days, fwiw. 

[dr. t]

Tinder is great for hard days, fwiw. 

 

I'm trying to figure out if that pun was intentional.

[GeoDUDE!]

I'm trying to figure out if that pun was intentional.

 

Man, no wonder they let me into grad school, I'm pretty clever eh ? 

[Roll Right]

[dr. t]

Man, no wonder they let me into grad school, I'm pretty clever eh ? 

 

Man, I wish graduate applications factored in your ability to make puns. I'd be a lot less concerned about the whole process!

[dat_nerd]

I like to take the time to cook a nice dinner, watch some mindless TV, go for a run (if I'm feeling up for it), and then go to bed early. There's not much that going to bed early can't fix.

[geographyrocks]

I watch videos like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_mKY2CQ9Kk

I watch surprised kitty on really tough days. 

[Plissken]

Liquor and a nice workout at the gym.

 

Not at the same time.

 

A long sit in the park, or a hike in the woods, or writing about it also help.

[wildviolet]

^ That reminds me. I keep a journal (Moleskine), and I'll bitch about stuff in my journal. Stuff that I probably shouldn't say to anyone because it's not exactly PC. Like, how much some people's mannerisms annoy me (even though they're my "friends"). Writing in my journal helps me let the steam out. Then I can go back to being my normal, happy, friendly self.

[juilletmercredi]

Some of those days I just sit on my bed or on my couch and do nothing for a little while.  Like literally nothing (well, I breathe).  Normally I don't enjoy that, but it's nice to turn off your brain for 15-30 minutes and do nothing.

 

I also enjoy Netflix marathons and playing video games to decompress.  Now I also like to pet my dog or watch her do dumb stuff.  She always makes me smile.  Earlier today she was running in her sleep (chasing squirrels I guess) and she let out these two little soft barks in her sleep.  She rarely barks when she's awake, so I thought that was funny, lol.

[LittleDarlings]

Tinder is great for hard days, fwiw. 

Hell yeah!!

 

To relax I am a huge wine fan now.  I usually drink and watch Netflix or go to sleep.  Or text someone to see if they will take me out (but that has it's own stressful factors). 

[queennight]

Wes Anderson movies.

 

[St Andrews Lynx]

I head home early and try to get a good night's sleep. 

I also try to think about my goals (why I'm here in grad school) and my successes so far. That helps me keep on at it.

[rockhopper]

I go home and clean the shit out my apartment, because then I feel like I accomplished something. Sad, but it works. 

 

I'm also a fan of going on a weekend trip somewhere to get out of your current environment. 

[Chianti]

A Studio Ghibli film with a glass of wine, calling a friend, walking around the city, or sitting in a cafe with a coffee and people watching.

[dr. t]

A Studio Ghibli film with a glass of wine, calling a friend, walking around the city, or sitting in a cafe with a coffee and people watching.

 

Being in Italy is a pretty decent cure for most life stress. 

[Chianti]

I'm not arguing with that ahah!