Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#1

Post by axljjn » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 5:43 AM UTC

I realized that my decline in mood/productivity/energy is likely the result of chronic stress. I’ve always had trouble managing stress, but lately due to COVID (and a bunch of other reasons) it’s been even harder to manage. How should I deal with it when I don’t have control over the things that are inducing the stress?

Usually, a drink with friends or taking an edible does the trick, but I think this is the first time where nothing seems to be working. My friends say I need a vacation, but I feel like the guilt from not being productive after a long period of being unproductive would only make the stress worse. Should I just play through the pain?

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#2

Post by thm » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 5:55 AM UTC

- Early to bed, at least 7h of sleep

- Daily 60-90min workout first thing in the morning

- One day every ~14 days without Internet

- Turn off inbound info streams as much as possible

- Write down the three most important things of the day on a piece of paper

- Get rid off any to-do list if possible

- Get a hobby that involves working with your hands

- 15min walk after lunch

- Make room for an hour of fun, low mental-load every day

- Check your diet; Get enough fat in the morning, protein for lunch, carbs in the evening

- Supps to try: Tyrosine, KSM-66, Tryptophane, Phosphatidylserine

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#3

Post by 8bitsrule » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:10 AM UTC

Muscle relaxation exercises can be very helpful. Doesn't need to take long (after doing it for a while). Can be customized to the situation and target your 'problem areas'.

"Learning to systematically relax the muscles in your body will keep you better equipped to deal with your day to day challenges."

https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-do-muscle-relaxation-e...

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#4

Post by victorantos » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:12 AM UTC

thm wrote: post #2

- Early to bed, at least 7h of sleep - Daily 60-90min workout first thing in the morning - One day every ~14 days without Internet - Turn off inbound info streams as much as possible - Write down the three most important things of the day on a piece of paper - Get rid off any to-do list if possible - Get a hobby that involves working with your hands - 15min walk after lunch - Make room for an hour of fun, low mental-…

carbs in the evening?! I would say for breakfast mainly or until lunch time.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#5

Post by marban » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:14 AM UTC

victorantos wrote: post #4

thm wrote: post #2

- Early to bed, at least 7h of sleep - Daily 60-90min workout first thing in the morning - One day every ~14 days without Internet - Turn off inbound info streams as much as possible - Write down the three most important things of the day on a piece of paper - Get rid off any to-do list if possible - Get a hobby that involves working with your hands - 15min walk after lunch - Make room for an hour of fun, low mental-…

carbs in the evening?! I would say for breakfast mainly or until lunch time.

Not if you want to get better sleep

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#6

Post by axljjn » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:22 AM UTC

victorantos wrote: post #4

thm wrote: post #2

- Early to bed, at least 7h of sleep - Daily 60-90min workout first thing in the morning - One day every ~14 days without Internet - Turn off inbound info streams as much as possible - Write down the three most important things of the day on a piece of paper - Get rid off any to-do list if possible - Get a hobby that involves working with your hands - 15min walk after lunch - Make room for an hour of fun, low mental-…

carbs in the evening?! I would say for breakfast mainly or until lunch time.

I agree. I typically do carbs in the morning to absorb whatever caffeine I take in. It helps with managing stomach acid.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#7

Post by axljjn » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:23 AM UTC

thm wrote: post #2

- Early to bed, at least 7h of sleep - Daily 60-90min workout first thing in the morning - One day every ~14 days without Internet - Turn off inbound info streams as much as possible - Write down the three most important things of the day on a piece of paper - Get rid off any to-do list if possible - Get a hobby that involves working with your hands - 15min walk after lunch - Make room for an hour of fun, low mental-…

Definitely going to try walking. It helped the times I do it. I just forget to do it. Any reason why you picked those supplements?

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#8

Post by oblib » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:25 AM UTC

You might look into talking walks in a local forest preserve if you have one nearby. There's a name for this as it applies to relieving stress, "Forest Bathing" which is based on the Japanese practice of "shinrin-yoku".

I started doing this back in the mid `80s in Los Angeles because I was stressed something awful. I can say it does work for me and I noticed it right away. That was long before I heard about shinrin-yoku.

When I started doing this I would look for a good place with lots of trees and fresh air, a creek or stream was always good, and I'd pack a small day bag with water and some snacks, a beer and a bud, and go meander around. I'd find a secluded spot to sit and relax for a spell and maybe explore some more or just stay put and soak it in. If you sit still for awhile the forest critters start coming out and doing what they do and it can be a pretty relaxing thing to just sit there and do nothing but observe that.

Here's a link to an article about shinrin-yoku. I'm sure there are quite a few articles about it to be found and I just picked one that seemed to fit the bill. Some of them I've read include some reasoning for how and why this works. All I can say is it worked for me and still does: https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/theres-no-running-in-forest-ba...

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#9

Post by axljjn » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:26 AM UTC

marban wrote: post #5

victorantos wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

carbs in the evening?! I would say for breakfast mainly or until lunch time.

Not if you want to get better sleep

Thankfully I don’t have trouble sleeping. I can’t imagine how miserable I’d be otherwise.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for handling chronic stess?

#10

Post by axljjn » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 6:27 AM UTC

8bitsrule wrote: post #3

Muscle relaxation exercises can be very helpful. Doesn't need to take long (after doing it for a while). Can be customized to the situation and target your 'problem areas'. "Learning to systematically relax the muscles in your body will keep you better equipped to deal with your day to day challenges." https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-do-muscle-relaxation-e...

Yeah? I came straight here because the top results I saw were recommending stuff like Tai Chi. Not that there’s anything wrong with exercising, yoga, or the like, it just doesn’t feel like a physical problem. I will try walking, but I still think it might be more of a mental issue.