What do you do for you?

[TD]

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[Mark]

So in another thread I mentioned mental health and the importance of it. One of the things that I've been doing is figuring out what I do for me that I enjoy - and to make sure you make time for it.

For me, it includes things like:
- Hiking, snowshoeing, general time outdoors
- Spending time with my two cats
- Spending time with family (wife, mom, sister, her kids, my wife's family)
- Going out to eat somewhere, even if money is unstable
- Stop micromanaging what I eat so much, eat what makes me happy (within moderation)
- Playing and talking about video games with friends

What are the things that you do for yourself?

I picked up playing guitar when I was 14, and it has been that one hobby that I turn to for “me” that has remained pretty consistent… with the exception of times where I just didn’t have that spark to play. Thankfully, with a change of environment, I’m gradually getting that spark to play back. I’ve recently restrung and tuned up my primary guitar, so I’m trying to sink some time into it when I get the impulse to.

Beyond that, my girlfriend and I tend to make it a nightly ritual to squeeze in about a half hour to an hour of gaming a night. It became our way of decompressing at the end of the day, and it’s a pretty fun way to wind down for us.

Lately, I’ve been really enjoying the time we all spend outside. It has been a long time since I’ve lived somewhere you could just sit outside and hang out without dealing with some bullshit.

 

[Crystal]

For me it's things like:

-Walking while listening to audiobooks (currently off the table because of physical issues with my legs, but hoping to get back to that again soon)
-Reading
-Shutting down projects and just listening to music.
-Playing video games with friends (even though I suck and lose at everything, the playing is the fun part)
-Talking on forums (can't think of anything I enjoy more than being on forums and just having fun with good people)
-Spending time with my animals (who can't find joy in animals? So cute)
-Writing (one of my therapists tells me to write when depression kicks in so I can be honest about what's causing it in the moment, I also try to write when I'm looking to focus on getting my head right)
-A nice drive to nowhere in particular.

 

[TD]

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[Crystal]

I love that you two do that. A while ago I mentioned I can't get my wife into games. But last weekend I convinced her to try Worms WMD and she loves it, to the point she'll actually ask me if we can play. It's such a great thing when you can do it with your partner. Step one complete.

Gamerfication in progress

Again, love this too. Three and a half years ago I moved to a rural forest area and spending time away from all the nonsense is just relaxing.

Definitely one area I wish Arizona was just a little better about. There are some gorgeous places to just...be, but it's always so damn hot it's hard to enjoy being there.

This is an interesting one for me. My therapist has me doing a daily mood tracker and has me write down what I'm feeling and why - it's early so I don't know how I feel about it yet but nice to see you enjoying this.

It does take a little bit to warm up to the idea, most definitely, but once you get into it it's really therapeutic. I even bought a fancy journal and a nice pen just to sort of make myself feel almost obligated at first, because I spent money on it, but now it's something I look forward to, not the depression ones, but the times when I'm just trying to find a little balance in my brain. Hopefully you can get to that point, as well, because it does genuinely help.

I love doing this through the different seasons. Fall and Winter have oddly become my favourite and as a kid I never would've thought this.

Absolutely, it's so nice just to go somewhere quieter and drive. Even better when the temps are right and you can put the windows down, radio off and just really enjoy it.

 

[Mark]

I love that you two do that. A while ago I mentioned I can't get my wife into games. But last weekend I convinced her to try Worms WMD and she loves it, to the point she'll actually ask me if we can play. It's such a great thing when you can do it with your partner. Step one complete.

I recommend games like It Takes Two, Sackboy, and Rayman Legends. They’re REAL easy to get someone who doesn’t play into games. They opened the doors up for some of the other games we’ve played.

Again, love this too. Three and a half years ago I moved to a rural forest area and spending time away from all the nonsense is just relaxing.

I never realized how much a change in the environment would make to me, and I notice it every day.

This is an interesting one for me. My therapist has me doing a daily mood tracker and has me write down what I'm feeling and why - it's early so I don't know how I feel about it yet but nice to see you enjoying this.

It’s definitely a lot more cathartic than turning your mind off and sinking into a game, but the benefits are definitely there immediately and in retrospect when you look back on what you’ve written.

I love doing this through the different seasons. Fall and Winter have oddly become my favourite and as a kid I never would've thought this.

I was just telling my old lady that I can’t wait to see what winter is gonna be like out here.

 

[Crystal]

It's nice to hear such validation to it - it sounds like it's a common tactic or recommendation by professionals in mental health and it must be like that for a reason.

I used to write/record to vent when I was younger (like 13-14 years ago) but it wasn't so direct.

I guess there's some similarity though.

Yeah, it's just subject matter that's changing. Time to focus on you and digging deep, which is hard for most people, but in time it gets easier

 

[Quagmire]

Hiking with my son, and gym before work

Also some chocolate or sweets with my morning tea

 

[Kat]

I've been struggling with this lately because I feel burnt out and just want to do nothing, but that's not an effective way to recharge or feel good about life. I do make time to play games, but I spend my work day staring at a screen and prioritizing resources, so sometimes it feels like more of that instead of being relaxing.

I'm not a fan of fall or winter, and the rapid disappearance of sunshine has been affecting my mood. To combat that, I've recently gotten into swimming. I never knew how to, and taking lessons and practicing every day has been a giant mood boost. If I don't go for a day, I find myself regretting it the next day. I probably devote almost 90 minutes to it a day (driving each way, getting changed/showering, swim for 30+ minutes, sauna after), and if you'd asked me two months ago if I could've found that much time for any new hobby, I would've laughed in your face. But somehow I do, and I'm glad for it.

I used to have a nightly ritual with my cat where I'd smoke a joint in the garage with her while she ran around in there, but I gave up smoking and haven't felt inclined to hang out in the garage since then. Maybe I'll have to start doing that again while I wait for the edible to kick in. It probably sounds weird, but it was good bonding time.

 

[TD]

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[A Slightly New Used Server]

I read. I learn about things (mostly history, but also just random shit). I go for quick walks around the block.

Also I enjoy the routine of making my home fries every weekend and having a full breakfast of that plus whatever omelet my wife feels like making (this past weekend her omelet choice was made from leftover philly cheese steak).

 

[Smacktard]

So in another thread I mentioned mental health and the importance of it. One of the things that I've been doing is figuring out what I do for me that I enjoy - and to make sure you make time for it.

For me, it includes things like:
- Hiking, snowshoeing, general time outdoors
- Spending time with my two cats
- Spending time with family (wife, mom, sister, her kids, my wife's family)
- Going out to eat somewhere, even if money is unstable
- Stop micromanaging what I eat so much, eat what makes me happy (within moderation)
- Playing and talking about video games with friends

What are the things that you do for yourself?

I treat myself perhaps more than I should, but I also spent most of my time in Saudi living a pretty spartan lifestyle.

Some things I'll spend on, when I get the chance:

• Travel
• Craft beers (in conjunction with the above)
• Good restaurants (again, mostly when I travel)
• Video games (purchasing physical only)

Things I do for myself that don't cost anything (or much):

• Writing (though sometimes it feels like a chore -- mostly before start actually doing it)
• Game dev/art work (though it's taken a back seat while I work on my writing)
• Gym
• Spending time with the wife just chilling

If I were home in Canada, add "hanging with friends" and "hiking" to that list.

"Relaxing travel" isn't really for me. If I end up on a beach somewhere roasting in the sun, I usually get bored almost immediately. I need to be balancing on some precipice. That's how I enjoy myself.

 

[TD]

(this past weekend her omelet choice was made from leftover philly cheese steak).

And just like that I'm now hungry. That sounds great.

I treat myself perhaps more than I should, but I also spent most of my time in Saudi living a pretty spartan lifestyle.

I don't think there's a such thing as treating yourself too much - good for you.

 

[Kat]

This resonates all too much with me. It may not be effective but I feel like sometimes we just want to do nothing? That's at least how I feel. I legit have days where I do basically nothing. It's not rewarding or anything but I feel like sometimes you just need a break from life.

I think it's healthy to do nothing sometimes, but if I get into the habit of doing that every day because work wore me out, it makes me feel worse.

This one jumped out at me. I don't know how to swim, my wife has been on me for years to get lessons. For me I have a phobia so it's a bit more than just learn how to swim but maybe this is something I should look into again.

I did too! I'd had several friends try to teach me and I'd always end up panicking. I abhor getting my face wet; I keep a towel in the shower so I can dry my face if it gets splashed. I'd nearly resigned myself to it just not being for me, but I decided to try lessons anyway. At the end of the second one, I was completely convinced I could do it.

The other adults taking lessons have said similar things. Having a professional teach you makes a world of difference. If it's something you would like to get over and learn, I'm sure you could.

Also I enjoy the routine of making my home fries every weekend and having a full breakfast of that plus whatever omelet my wife feels like making (this past weekend her omelet choice was made from leftover philly cheese steak).

Do you accept guests for breakfast? That sounds delicious.

 

[A Slightly New Used Server]

Any time someone happens to stay over on a Friday night, we have a guest room and live close enough to Boston for visitors, they can partake in the eating if they'd like. We've also had a couple people come over just because.

I always have leftover on the homefries because they're an easy side-dish for lunch later in the week. The omelet is easily split into additional parts (or we just make 2 of them).

 

[Benzine]

I smoke tonnes of weed mostly

I also play basketball, cricket, and eat/make lots of nice food.

If you like boring things life isn’t so hard

 

[TD]

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