I like this advice to not analyze the source of discomfort. Just focus on activities that are fun, healthy, or distracting. That list of mentally healthy activities is very close to mine. I wish I’d figured it out long ago, but better late than never.
Related to physical activity outdoors, I’ll add that great weather is rejuvenating. When a beautiful day comes along, go to great effort to be out in it.
Yeah, great point. I wanted to say about weather specifically; added to the latest edit of the post.
Just curious about “wishing you’d figured it out long ago”, at what age did you in fact figure it out? For me I think it was understood instinctively since my twenties, and saved me from a lot of trouble.
Age 25 was the big transition. Before then I focused on school and work, which kept me indoors and busy. Then I quit grad school and became more social, exercised, and lost weight. I quickly became much happier. In later years I slowly learned the importance of hobbies that use my hands or get me out of the house: cooking, gardening, biking, travel, fossil hunting, photography. I’m 53 now. Still looking for ways to have fun, but the list in this article covers the big ones.
I like this advice to not analyze the source of discomfort. Just focus on activities that are fun, healthy, or distracting. That list of mentally healthy activities is very close to mine. I wish I’d figured it out long ago, but better late than never.
Related to physical activity outdoors, I’ll add that great weather is rejuvenating. When a beautiful day comes along, go to great effort to be out in it.
Yeah, great point. I wanted to say about weather specifically; added to the latest edit of the post.
Just curious about “wishing you’d figured it out long ago”, at what age did you in fact figure it out? For me I think it was understood instinctively since my twenties, and saved me from a lot of trouble.
Age 25 was the big transition. Before then I focused on school and work, which kept me indoors and busy. Then I quit grad school and became more social, exercised, and lost weight. I quickly became much happier. In later years I slowly learned the importance of hobbies that use my hands or get me out of the house: cooking, gardening, biking, travel, fossil hunting, photography. I’m 53 now. Still looking for ways to have fun, but the list in this article covers the big ones.