Here’s a project asking people to list five things they do to stay sane. I’m going to arbitrage and ask only for one thing you do to stay sane. Please leave your answer in the comments.
I try to listen to beautiful music at least once a day, I don’t check my portfolio even in the best of times, I hug a loved one at least one more time than was expected (with adaptive expectations this is hard to sustain over time but I have my tricks), and also I avoid television advertisements as much as possible. That’s four, you need only offer one.
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If I read something annoying on a blog, I close the browser tab rather than click on “Post a Comment.”
During stressful patches I write down 5 things that surprise me in a good way each day. Small things like a cute baby seen on a train count too. This simple exercise makes me peek out of my shell of my stressed out self.
I loaf a lot and shirk inane duties such as writing memos at work or doing the dishes at home.
Jiu Jitsu
I second the reading of G.K chesterton, along with basically any christian theology…and lots of econ blogs as well.
Call someone I love(and hope they pick up), drink fresh coffee
, or read MR.
I go long on hemp!
.
Who wants to stay sane?
Sane is for the booring.
I read your blog!
In the mornings I go for a long row, in the afternoons I attend rowing practice, and in the evenings I study for your class. Although I’m becoming more fond of relieving stress in the evenings through drugs, drinking and watching either southpark or the life and times of Tim.
I smoke a joint and masturbate, in that order. It seems longer.
I work the New York Times crossword puzzle every day. If I have to miss – say because I am in a foreign country and can’t access it by e-mail or I am unable to find an International Herald Tribune – the day is a real downer.
Make someone laugh. Make myself laugh. Either one works, but the first is better than the second.
Barbque. There is something hypnotic and primal about watching fire cook meat.
This morning I volunteered at an urban kindergarden class. I will probably not have kids myself, but playing and helping kids learn is refreshing.
I shoot paper targets full of holes. Then I clean and oil my guns, which takes about as much time as shooting them. In the winter, when it’s too cold for shooting to be fun, I build models.
Drinking coffee and watching the dog sleep are good, too.
I take the slow scenic route instead of the faster congested route.
I used to run.
I gave up sanity in 2000 and embraced crazy. I know that doesn’t seem quite right but it helps. My blood pressure went down, I stopped yelling at the TV and the computer and I enjoy sex more. I then became addicted to WOW and the blogosphere. (I now enjoy sex as a nightelf as well) I also pretend to be a Stepford wife when my husband and kids are around. So that works
oh, also…screaming at the tv on saturday morning/afternoon while 18-21 year olds run into each other seems to help. my poor family
I ride my skateboard. Falling on concrete keeps you grounded.
Take my dog to the dog beach. Go hiking.
NOTHING I DO SEEMS TO WORK!!!!!!!
Ah. I feel better now.
I draw or paint something every day in a small sketchbook, and post the pictures on my blog.
The process is a daily chance to begin again, to reflect on something ordinary, to let go of words and play with line and color.
Also:
1) Enough alone time.
2) Enough together time.
3) Listening to enough weird electronic music (Autechre is like a deep tissue massage for your brain; it’s slightly painful but feels great; consider the song “P.:NTIL”).
4) Listening to enough non-weird non-electronic music (M Ward’s “Transistor Radio” for one)
For evening sanity maintenance, any combination of exercise, alcohol, books, and old-school video games will do the trick. The weekend is just a matter of endurance: solitude until it becomes intolerable, then crowd-immersion until that becomes intolerable; rinse, repeat and pray for Monday.
I’m not sure what I do to stay sane.
I guess my answer is, “have a good time.”
I breathe. In and out. (Srsly, I tried just in for a while, but it didn’t work out so well.)
Crosswords, cocktails and cooking.
Travel! (Can’t believe nobody has mentioned this)
Note: does not include domestic air travel in the US as that is bound to cause insanity.
Portfolio? I don’t have any portfolio.
My life is the exactly the same as before the stock market went crazy. Yes, some of us live like this ALL the time. Now you know how it feels.
Unfortunately, this means I don’t have extra cash to partake in any of the above activities everybody else does to stay sane.
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Get rid TV.
Stop reading The Economist” magazine, most importantly the Middle East section.
Play basketball.
Sex (solo as a fall back positions)
Eat at an ethic restaurant that allows you to transport out of current local.
Consider how lucky I am. If you are in the U.S., you are lucky.
Drink while shooting pool.
Do anything as long as it is with passion.
I take classes from Brad DeLong.
Chat with strangers in online dating forums.
watch the Daily Show
cook
cuddle the cat
… but I don’t think anything is actually working.
I continue to rely on the happy neurological accidents of birth and upbringing that have so far restricted me to the reasonably broad range of thoughts and behaviours that are social acceptable enough for those exhibiting them to be considered sane. (On a related note, I think anyone trying to take credit for their own ostensible sanity is just kidding themselves.)
Target shoot with a 1911.
Work through lists. The 1,001 Books are a gift from heaven for me.
i cross stitch, keeping my mind concentrated on counted cross stitch blocks any other thougths
Remember we are all going to die and one day the earth will be destroyed by natural forces beyond our control.
I think of stars, far far away.
The gym or Chimay, depending on the time of day.
play classical guitar
Remembering that the difference between me and Dali is that *I* know that *he* is mad.
singing
listening to good music
playing with my children
petting my cat
kissing my husband
scrapbooking
painting my toenails bright colors
Wintergreen lifesavers
I should make a list every day – it really does kind of put things in persepctive
Two anti-depressants and an anti-ADD med do it for me.
I don’t read the newspapers.
I find that taking a long drive with no exact destination, playing the radio and enjoying some tobacco greatly soothes me.
I can in no way claim to a permanent grasp on sanity. However, getting rid of the TV has been an immense blessing.
I still watch the occasional quality show/doco/news/quiz on iplayer etc. Giving up the all too dominant presence of the TV which most of us have too willingly succumbed to over the years, has freed up time to talk, be with quietly, enjoy meals, cook and laugh with my partner in a much more meaningful way than before. I highly recommend a TV ban to all.
smoking herb and listening to quality tunes. breathing and meditating.
In addition to several other things, I take a sauna twice a week at home.
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