What are you doing to cope right now?

[konapoppy]

Everything going on in the country is overwhelming right now. And the division in the country is getting bigger it seems (even white female influencers who traditionally steer clear of politics and religion to keep their bases are unabashedly posting political views at this point).

What are you doing to cope?

[mysteriouswife]

H and I have been trying to go out once or twice a month individually. I have scheduled massages and pedicures only to have them canceled due to Covid within the facilities. On the weekends we go out for breakfast or coffee. After the rise in numbers I think that’s going to end too. Ordering lots of takeout to help offset the stress.

[eddy]

Exercise- It is always my go to. Peloton in the morning and walks with podcasts over my lunch/evenings.

Might I suggest a total escapism, silly/snarky podcast? Celebrity Book Club, it is so fucking funny. The two hosts are best friends and hilarious.

[fernweh]

Honestly for me it’s a fine line but I have had to step back from the news. I don’t want to be ignorant to what is going on in the world but the constant stream of shit was making my anxiety go nuts. I’m still trying to find the balance.

[aurora]

I've actually been doing a better job exercising these past few weeks, so that helps. Also taking my dog for more walks, which she loves. She (like most dogs) is so great about letting her joy at the simple things shine through.

For work, I'm learning some new things about new places, which helps to distract from local/regional issues at least part of the day.

[abs]

Exercise is definitely my go to. I am still very obsessed with the Peloton app and it has saved my sanity during the past 18 months.

DH and I started taking daily walks together in March of 2020. It's something we have kept up and has really helped our relationship. It's the one time of the day there are no other distractions and we can just vent and chat about life.

Write it down. I am a huge list person and feel more organized and in control with them. I will write down my worries and then throw away the ones I can't control and make a plan for the ones I can. It's silly maybe but helps.

Definitely limit my news and social media consumption.

Puzzles or reading at night to help wind down.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I bake a lot. I also watch one TV show just for me every day. I'm currently making my way through Big Love.

[eddy]

Oh also when life feels out of control I start organizing shit. I have a car load of stuff to donate tonight. I have been reorganizing our laundry room which kind of becomes the catch all for all of our junk. I have a whole list of things I want to tackle. This helps me not doom scroll.

[chickadee77]

Planning our move to GTFO of Florida.

[Gato]

I am living in this weird island of normalcy right now, even as COVID is exploding in other parts of my state. Same with politics, everyone around me is unabashedly progressive. So I guess I could stay in my bubble and be fine, but my impulse is to help somehow, sending $ to the Gulf states, and now with this Texas abortion mess. Last night we were cooking up an area code 806 protest (where my H is from) with some friends. Making trouble for the bad guys always feels good.

[rupertpenny]

I've had to take a break from depressing books. It's helping, but I wouldn't say I am actually coping very well.

I also cry a lot, which temporarily makes me feel better.

[candreco]

I was just joking that instead of therapy I do a Cody ride if I need to laugh or CDE if I need to cry. Peloton has seriously saved my sanity over the last 18 months, I didn't realize how much I needed something other than family/work/news to focus on for 30-40 minutes a day, and having an option in my house with someone talking at me the whole time really helps.

House projects like purging crap, reorganizing, little updates. All of that feels like something I can control, and again, something else to focus on.

Other stuff that requires my attention but not a lot of thinking, that's been puzzles, cross stitch, games with the kids, etc. at different times.  Lots of romance novels, because one, they're good and escapist, and two, I just can't read heavy stuff right now.

Not looking at news or social media after a certain time, and going to bed earlier.

[breezy8407]

Early summer it was planning vacations and trips we missed out on, but now that makes me sad. H and I wanted to go on a trip in October, but we haven't booked anything.

As with most of the pandemic, its exercise. I like planning my workouts and journaling what I do each day. I've been using the Peloton app with a non-Peloton bike and treadmill, and despite me resisting the Kool Aid, I really enjoy it. H and I actually talked about getting the Peloton bike last night and will probably get one in the next month.

Other than that, not much. Sometimes I watch stupid reality shows on Bravo.

[TR]

Arguing with people on the internet, is that not a healthy coping mechanism?

[erbear]

My husband and I sit on our back porch and have a glass of wine or a beer most nights. He’s been working from home and was struggling with balance of ending his work day, so this is the routine. It’s been really nice to just sit and chat and watch the neighborhood.

[zelda25]

I'm considering having t-shirts printed with my new motto: Everything Is Terrible. In comic sans, which I think perfectly captures the absurd awfulness of it all.

Not what you're looking for?

Sent from my SM-G991U using proboards

[eddy]

breezy8407, My bike arrives next week..... I was a DIY rider for 18 months. I had to do it when they dropped the price again.

I should probably prepare everyone in my life for how obnoxious I am about to become talking about my stats and PRs lol.

Everything burning down and eddy is just over here talking about her epic ride this AM. :-)

[breezy8407]

Sept 2, 2021 9:02:15 GMT -5 eddy said:

breezy8407 , My bike arrives next week..... I was a DIY rider for 18 months. I had to do it when they dropped the price again.

I should probably prepare everyone in my life for how obnoxious I am about to become talking about my stats and PRs lol.

Everything burning down and eddy is just over here talking about her epic ride this AM. :-)

Well, I am here to talk about it with you anytime. Ha. (H is concerned I won't be able to sell my current bike. My confidence in saying it will sell easily might be misplaced, but here's to hoping.) 

[candreco]

Sept 2, 2021 9:02:15 GMT -5 eddy said:

breezy8407 , My bike arrives next week..... I was a DIY rider for 18 months. I had to do it when they dropped the price again.

I should probably prepare everyone in my life for how obnoxious I am about to become talking about my stats and PRs lol.

Everything burning down and eddy is just over here talking about her epic ride this AM. :-)

I feel very lucky to have the friend that gave me the heads up about the three-month free trial last year to talk Peloton with, plus I've converted DH and another friend and his wife, lol.

[snorky]

Sept 2, 2021 8:58:22 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

I'm considering having t-shirts printed with my new motto: Everything Is Terrible. In comic sans, which I think perfectly captures the absurd awfulness of it all.

Not what you're looking for?

Sent from my SM-G991U using proboards

My favorite band has a song called Everything is Awful (released when Trump was elected). They had it printed on a mask that I wore often throughout last fall/winter and put away after I got vaxxed and optimistic. It’s back out now.

As far as coping, I’ve been taking two Zzzquil gummies and going to bed early. I’ve never gotten so much sleep in my life.

[eponinepontmercy]

Online shopping.

I bought a new tv stand to replace the one I've hated for 15 years and rearranged the living room.

I got a tattoo I've been thinking about for a while.

Spend too much time on TikTok.

[eddy]

Sept 2, 2021 9:04:51 GMT -5 breezy8407 said:

Sept 2, 2021 9:02:15 GMT -5 eddy said:

breezy8407 , My bike arrives next week..... I was a DIY rider for 18 months. I had to do it when they dropped the price again.

I should probably prepare everyone in my life for how obnoxious I am about to become talking about my stats and PRs lol.

Everything burning down and eddy is just over here talking about her epic ride this AM. :-)

Well, I am here to talk about it with you anytime. Ha. (H is concerned I won't be able to sell my current bike. My confidence in saying it will sell easily might be misplaced, but here's to hoping.) 

I also am confident I can sell my other bike lol. Living in lala land? We shall see!

[konapoppy]

Sept 2, 2021 8:58:22 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

I'm considering having t-shirts printed with my new motto: Everything Is Terrible. In comic sans, which I think perfectly captures the absurd awfulness of it all.

Not what you're looking for?

Sent from my SM-G991U using proboards

Exactly what I am looking for. Let me know when I can order 🤣

[pixy0stix]

I have no idea. I think I'm broken.

[underwaterrhymes]

Honestly? While exercise helps, it’s not enough for me right now. I have an appointment tomorrow to discuss a low dose anxiety medication with my GP.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 2, 2021 9:13:13 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Sept 2, 2021 8:58:22 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

I'm considering having t-shirts printed with my new motto: Everything Is Terrible. In comic sans, which I think perfectly captures the absurd awfulness of it all.

Not what you're looking for?

Sent from my SM-G991U using proboards

Exactly what I am looking for. Let me know when I can order 🤣

This should be a board fundraiser.

[seeyalater52]

I’m not ok. I’m not doing enough to make that better but plotting my escape from a job that is sucking my soul is making things maybe marginally more tolerable to weather.

[omglol]

I’m not.

[AJL]

I'm in an MSW program right now and honestly meeting with my cohort and discussing these topics has been extremely helpful. Obviously so much of what is going is relevant to our education, so that helps.

[picksthemusic]

My cats and buying them random toys to see how they play with them, re-watching old procedural shows that are predictable (Bones is a favorite for me right now), video games have been a big one for me. I can escape and kill bad guys or explore new worlds. I have also tried exercising more and taking walks which has definitely helped.