Stress

[Bebpo]

So how do you guys/gals deal with it?  Especially if you work something stressful and stuff out of your control &/or people are constantly fucking you over on a regular basis and dropping emergencies in your lap and you're racing to put out fires and deal with it all.

Sometimes I feel the years being shaved off my life due to working in a high stress environment. 

My own remedies are like cardio-> hot shower/warm bath, beer/glass of wine in pjs/bathrobe, cuddling with SO while watching a movie or zoning out in games.  Few minutes of mediation.  Mainly try to transition mindset completely or else I can't really enjoy anything in the evenings.  Weekends I don't even read my email Saturday or Sunday.  That works pretty well but can make Mondays hell every week.

At least I don't deal with high stress everyday.  A lot of times are pretty enjoyable start to finish, but I'd wager about 1-2 days a week kill me slowly :|

[Himu]

Getting choked four times a week, people I love, art, lifting weights, shooting guns.

[Atramental]

Two glasses of wine and an afternoon of shit posting. 

[Rufus]

I bury my head in video games. Multiplayer shooters work well, but anything engaging should do, I suppose. Might seem like you're replacing one kind of stress with another, but focusing intently on something that doesn't actually matter helps me hit the old off switch. Sometimes music gets me to zone out, too, but not as reliably.

[king of the internet]

I feel like I cope with it more than I actually deal with it.

[Valkyrie]

Cuddles/movies with my cutie, playing video games and listening to music. How very generic, but it really works for me.

[toku]

Getting choked four times a week, people I love, art, lifting weights, shooting guns.

[Great Rumbler]

Blasting Ministry really loud:

[nachobro]

exercise has helped the most of anything i've tried. granted a lot of my stress came from being really fat so it helped that way but also it feels good to get out the pent up stress by just pushing yourself physically.

[bluemax]

I pet my dog. Sometimes I talk to people I think will listen and empathize about it. I go to a monthly industry meetup and drink and talk to people who experience similar work stress and frustration and it makes me feel less alone and I try to think of ways to change my situation to reduce things that stress me out.

[chronovore]

Yeah, we've got a monthly beer thing for expat devs here in Osaka, and it really helps. Other than that, exercise, meditation... walks can be a little of both, fwiw.

[Valkyrie]

Yeah, we've got a monthly beer thing for expat devs here in Osaka, and it really helps. Other than that, exercise, meditation... walks can be a little of both, fwiw.

Too bad we don't live in the same town!

[Mupepe]

Weight lifting, motorcycle riding, shooting sessions at the range and video games in order of most to least effective.

[nachobro]

maybe i should start taking my gun out a bit more, i just really dislike the indoor range here

[Samson Manhug]

Cross-posted from my Facebook:

In the military and contracting overseas, I found that unexpected and unfavorable circumstances were frequent. Here are some things that helped me deal with that stress:

Exercise — Picking things up and putting them down, running, and even stretching release endorphins and make you feel better. In the military we PT almost every day. It's not just for strong bodies.

Routine — Repetition gives you something to do besides fret and there is power in consistency. It's like our brains are happiest when we are little automatons. They hate change. A regimented lifestyle has more benefits than just knowing where you'll be at what time.

Purpose — Give yourself a reason to exist. Maybe now that's involving yourself in organizing for change, or maybe its volunteering at the animal shelter because puppies are cute, or maybe it's knocking some things off a much put off to do list. In the military this is called mission and it comes first.

Good luck, friends. I hope you feel better soon.

[fistfulofmetal]

Honestly being home at the end of the day deals with 90% of my stress. Once I arrive home I pretty much let anything from work slide off my back.

[Huff]

I'd recommend against my strategy of booze

or being too busy to be stressed out about how busy you are

[chronovore]

I enjoy using the Headspace app for meditation, though I've only used the free trial part, not the subscription.