How do you comfort yourself without food? (In lockdown?)

(Laurie) #11

Good question!

Finding “something to do” can be tricky for those of us who aren’t into typical hobbies or activities.

A couple of months ago I drove across Canada and back. I slept (or at least rested) in my small car, and occasionally in motels. I just loved it – the scenery, the small surprises and experiences, the free-floatingness of it. I grabbed fast food burger patties when I could, and ate canned sardines when I couldn’t. I didn’t shell out for an RV, but gas in Canada is expensive. If I lived in the US I’d probably take frequent road trips.

Next week I plan to drive a couple of hours up a local highway. Although it is a road to somewhere, at a certain point the road is now closed because of Covid. As there are no towns on this stretch, the road will be practically deserted. Just me and the buffalo, elk, bears, and trees.

Mostly though, I set up my new apartment and keep it clean.

Variety and balance are important. I don’t have just one Spanish learning app. I have about 10 – plus Spanish podcasts and YouTube documentaries on topics that interest me.

Habit and discipline help. I need lots of free time and flexibility, but not too much. I know what I should be doing at certain times of the day or evening. Idle hands …

I was thinking of doing volunteer work, but then I realized that it would just deplete me rather than fill me up. (For me, “working with people” is just work.) I’ve decided on Toastmasters instead, which will challenge me but also give me something in return.

I’m trying to start a Spanish conversation practice group in my new location, with no success so far. But figuring out ways to make it happen has been fun. I made a nice poster, and I might ask the local newspaper if they want to interview me about my idea.

I do 1.5 hours of exercise most days. I am motivated because it has really helped me; most notably, I am now able to walk without canes. I mostly do things that I actually enjoy (this is important). And I have enough alternatives to keep me going when certain exercises seem inconvenient or unappealing. Huge playlists of music I really enjoy. Again, finding ways to keep it interesting is part of the fun.

I do online puzzles and participate in interesting discussion groups (like this one).

I spend as much time on my balcony as possible. A comfortable chair, and no fridge staring me in the face.

Eating at night used to be a big problem, and still is sometimes. I admit it can be hard at times, especially when I’m too tired to really do anything else.

(Edith) #12

When the shutdown of the pandemic first started, I did a lot of crochet. I had little tiny projects like kitchen scrubbies, pot holders, and wash cloths that I made. It was fun watching the completed projects pile up. I also did more television watching than usual, but that was mostly done while I was crocheting. I spent a fair bit of time on Facebook connecting with people that way. I also tried to spend more time outside. Now that I am back in the office full-time (in an office with no windows for that matter) I am REALLY missing the outside time. I usually exercise in the morning before work, but after sitting in the dingy office all day long, I sometimes exercise again later in the day, just to work off the energy build up from sitting.

Oh yes, we let our daughters get pets: one got a rabbit and the other a parakeet, my husband redecorated our bedroom, and our backyard is looking better than it has in years past. I guess you could say we used the pandemic to get some things done around the house.

Music is also a great way to pass the time. I’m a singer and give concerts at assisted living places every so often, so I always have songs to be working on. Learning how to play piano or guitar or some other instrument would be a great hobby.

Ha, ha, the longer I work on this message, the more things come back to me. The other thing I did during the pandemic was take some online classes to learn some new skills for my job.

Omg, you have me cracking up about that!! :rofl::joy::rofl::joy:

That sounds awesome!!! I think I would LOVE to do that some day.

#13

I tell ya VE…the neck was the 3 mos of life I lived I couldn’t even remember…the broken ribs were WORSE than the darn neck actually and I KNOW I have no clue on what happened during that time but hubby said he babysat me all the time, huh? what? it is like life never existed to me LOL

I learned then I don’t ‘do well’ on pain meds haha BUT darn if I didn’t have them I don’t know if I would have survived…yea I woulda but that would have been the worse 6 mos. in my entire life I ever lived :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

I am not and will never be a pill taker for the sake of taking anything, you usually gotta tie me down and force pills down my throat, but those 2 times in my life, I couldn’t get my hands on those pill bottles fast enough :clown_face::scream_cat:

------- I’m a singer and give concerts at assisted living places every so often, so I always have songs to be working on. Learning how to play piano or guitar or some other instrument would be a great hobby.-------
I didn’t know that about you!! I love that you give your talent to others for enjoyment, so super cool–very kind and generous to make others happy!! :100:

#14

Oh I forgot! I can’t identify many bird calls but I love to identify animals (birds, mammals, even insects)… My SO and me both “collect” animal sightings and new species. I collected a kingfisher TWO times!!! It’s beautiful, I even made (bad) photos (it wasn’t close enough, I had only a few seconds and there was little light) :slight_smile: But I had very good close ups about swans! And a small egret but they are usual shy. Coots. Butterflies, hummingbird hawk-moths (still no proper photo where the wings aren’t a blue, 1/640s is way too long :D)… I really love the 300mm lens, great for birds, great for insects. And heavy and big and not comfortable so my SO carries it :smiley: It doesn’t fit into my backpack.
I never was a photographer, it’s my SO’s camera and lenses but I like animals and it’s so cool to get some okay photo of them… But if one to catch fishes, that is similarly a whole range of new knowledge. It’s good to learn new things. I should continue with my Italian and French and I never use my German…
I practice and improve my English, at least :smiley: I use it way more than my own language now.

But my identification mania doesn’t stop at animals. I collect mushrooms in the forest and identify them. It’s hard and even impossible sometimes, I don’t even try it if the mushroom is some white or tan thing… Even quite unique but not unique colored ones caused me problems. But I identified so many species :slight_smile: Of course I make photos too but even pretty mushrooms aren’t so easy to photograph beautifully. Some pros make wonderful art with them! And then and I go and read photography blogs… Ends up reading about portrait photography for hours… Not like I ever want to do that but it helps with my drawing and portraits are what I love most… But hell, I can’t help to look up which tool does what with the light…

If you are curious like me, the world is full with wonders you just must know about more!
(And what I do? Write about my eating a lot on this forum, sigh. Though it may result in new thoughts…)

Maybe that’s why I never understand how someone who feels okay (so no big headache, for example) and are at home with a computer (or not at home with a computer or a phone with internet access) can possibly be bored… Well I can’t be bored in the Nature with my brain and a sketchbook, at least not until many time passes…

I can play a lot too. With various games. Many of them are very simple but I need to use my brain.
Making games aren’t bad either if one is a programmer, I made a simple html5 game I actually played very much with afterwards… I designed simple but quite cute buttons (my drawings never have such good colors, I was inspired), my icons were inspired too and found free music and sounds, made anims… It had so much code for a simple game :smiley: I had to learn the framework I used and it took many other programs… It was fun. And making games for zillion different phones and browsers even nowadays (and of course, it must look good on my high-resolution computer screen too)? That’s challenging.

(Robin) #15

Another thought. If budget permits, I really loved a years subscription online to MasterClass. I watched “classes” from authors I love, designers, scientists, chefs, PR people, FBI hostage negotiator… so many diverse people and things to learn. I even took notes. It was mentally engaging and creatively inspiring. I think at the time, it was $90 a year.
Also… another thing I am currently doing is screening films for a local film festival. I am choosing to screen and rate mostly documentaries, since that is my fave. But there is a wide variety. It’s actually very fun and most film festivals rely on volunteers to screen for them. I highly recommend it if you are a film buff.

(UsedToBeT2D) #16

Keep busy. Paint the house.

(Kirk Wolak) #17

So, I found out that if I pet my dog for like 20 seconds, I get a dopamine hit!
It was cool, so I started doing it more, and noticed a bunch of positive side-effects.

Then I read some more, and found out the DOG Gets a dopamine hit.

Well, it’s the wifes dog… So I stopped petting it!!! (JK, ROTFLMAO)…
But it’s interesting, petting the dog longer actually affects your mood… COOL.
And the dog kinda likes it too!

#18

It works with cats too - if you choose the cat (and/or the cat’s actual mood) well. Knowing what the cat likes is useful.
We have a nice fluff and a playful silly cat, the first is calming, the second is fun. Sometimes the first one is fun too, she has her “kitten” moments too…

#19

These are all such excellent tips, thanks guys! I especially love and want to remember the following suggestions:

  • Keeping busy! This is so important for me. Even if it’s just “do the next thing” like cleaning or cooking or whatever. Just keeping busy in a mundane domestic way helps me avoid too much introspection and doomscrolling.
  • Seeking out novelty and curiosity can be just as satisfying as “pleasure”;
  • More time outside in the fresh air and sun, even if sitting in the yard doing nothing, soaking up the Vitamin D;
  • The right balance between flexibility and discipline. I too am not good with verrry unstructured time - a few basic routines help (see mundane domestic actions as above).
  • Patting, walking, and just hanging out with my dog watching the world go by, as a life-enhancing activity all in itself.
  • Music. I used to love listening to all kinds of music, now I can’t even recall the last time I listened to a whole album - maybe I could work my way through a self-guided introduction to jazz or something? There’s a lot of “Top 10 Greatest Albums of all time” sort of lists out there.
  • “Forest bathing” - I love this.
  • Reassurance that exploring and learning about optimal nutrition is actually a really worthwhile interest and goes beyond diet/food obsession. That is a helpful way to think for me.

I am not literally housebound, thank god, that was an exaggeration. But we are under stay-at-home orders due to COVID so only supposed to spend 1 hour per day outside of our property. I am lucky to have a backyard and access to plenty of relatively-secluded nature walks nearby. I’m going to keep returning to this thread to remind myself how lucky I am to have all these options.

(Scott) #20

No lockdown here, been doing the same thing I have always done before and after covid. I have a business that is “essential” but not really. No one has missed a day and no masks have been worn inside the office. Just the way we roll.

(Butter Withaspoon) #21

In the same situation (in Australia) with 1 hour a day allowable to exercise, and many beautiful nature parks nearby. I did some delicious forest bathing today after the rain eased, also called going for a walk :smile:. The days I get out are 100% better than the days I don’t. I have to keep reminding myself.

Lockdown is a challenge for sure. I’ve just joined a song writing daily song challenge for the next week, and belong to another daily exercise group. They are only online groups but they inspire and connect me. Great to hear that you are making progress :hugs:

#22

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(Jello_Baby) #23

You have cats? My sister has two cats. I bet yours wake you up in the middle of the night with their loud noises! :joy: Apparently cats can be very noisy at night.

#24

Forest bathing :smiley: Thank you, I learned a new word!

I think I didn’t say yet that now I am on a mission to make GOOD photos of the insect of the year here, the Hummingbird hawk-moth! I must say, it’s not easy. It’s worth it, though, it’s a pretty one even when it’s a blur… Or its wings are… I need l1/4000 second or less and it’s a quick fellow! But I have a wonderful summer lilac and I saw it from my kitchen window… An old but okay camera and a 300mm lense.

I will try to do something with the noise later, maybe.

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But a book about butterflies and moths can keep my attention for a while as well. How amazing patters and colors! :smiley: It makes me want to paint something! :smiley:

Now I go to meet with my SO, I cross a pretty forest with a river in a wildlife park as I chose my place of my home well. Quite far away from all villages and towns but even a big city is only 20km away so it’s not hard to reach it…
(No one ever would notice if I broke curfews or whatever but we only had a very modest one for a while and we never had lockdown. We had something vaguely similar for a little while in spring of 2020 but I always could go out for a walk for my health, there were no 1 hour limit on such things as far as I know. The wildlife park was closed for 2 weeks back then, that was the most problematic thing for me apart from lack of choir activity. And now that we barely have Covid cases - who knows how long? -, it’s pretty much total freedom now with no noticeable restrictions. There must be something for huge gatherings… But that’s it.)

(Mark Rhodes) #25

As the subject of this weeks mail I find this letter to be of interest.

For me I have 32 years in a 12 step program that encourages us to take it One Day at a Time. To manage our days in the smallest increments possible. It also strongly urges us to consider that the first drink is the one that gets us drunk. Not the tenth one. Not the 17th one. The first one because it leads to all the others.

This has been a boon to me in keto. and to others I know in both ways of life. We take each day as it comes. We do not “cheat” as we do not know if we can recover for carbohydrate addiction a second time. Like with alcohol I never know where the first drink will lead me…a DUI, a divorce, a lost job…neither do I know where a carbohydrate binge will lead me. Can I make it back to keto or will I once again fall prey to T2D, heart disease and osteoporosis. If someone says its a matter of willpower WELL try that willpower in holding back diarrhea.

This is not to say I am judgmental of anyone in either program who comes back. WELCOME!! I am absolutely thrilled you survived to give it another go. I am say only that my type of keto really doesn’t allow for days off because I have such a healthy respect of how much i fall prey to the influence of certain types of food.

One last thing. In 2018 I wrote this Carrying the Message on the forums and perhaps this is the great secret . @carl & @richard know I take this very seriously. My style is rather crass, my message is always deeply from the heart. I do not want to see anyone suffer metabolic disease. That this carrying of the message of health recovery to others is my primary purpose. I give away my time helping others in order to keep what I have gotten in the same way…a word of mouth transmission. I cannot cheat with this mission mandate.

I may be the only “keto” message that person ever sees. KCKO

(Bob M) #26

Like this?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #27

I love the outdoors. I could sit and look at it through the picture window for hours.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

(Marianne) #28

Agreed, and @Camellia, I appreciate this topic. I struggle most days with “nothing” to do (nothing I want to do, anyway), and most days I am really bored. I feel I need to apologize for saying so, but I don’t like to exercise or even walk, don’t like to read, don’t have any hobbies (except doing my nails once every 1-2 weeks), don’t feel like cleaning most of the time, have arthritis in my back so gardening is difficult (although I enjoy it), etc. My main pursuits are surfing my computer for stories of interest, keeping up with a couple of forums that I am active on, online shopping (unfortunately), watching tv, and not a heck of a lot more. When I am bored, I have to force myself not to eat (keto food - just to eat; I’m not hungry), or to drink alcohol. I see my friends on occasion but not enough to fill time.

Interested in reading what everyone enjoys.

#29

Never experienced a “lockdown” as people like to say, but I worked out in parks when the gym was closed for a few weeks, walked, screwed off on the interwebs. Ate!

#30

I want to make some sculptures now… My hands are too clumsy for real art and it’s fine but I could use a 3d mouse model for my future children’s book drawings… :smiley: I only made some very basic “heads” (just the very simplified shape of the cranium part? the flattened sphere thing) and skulls (almost tiny sugar skull level… painting would do the rest, still better than painting some elllipsoid! :D) this far.
I really need to start rock painting again and there is always things to do around the house…

It was odd to see people have no hobbies at all. What. I can’t even comprehend how anyone can get bored at home. Sadly, I can sooo neglect my hobbies and could listen to music or do things in the kitchen forever. I probably wouldn’t be bored drinking coffee for half a day… :frowning: It’s so way better when one does something creative though! :smiley: My mental energy went up, it’s so nice to start to get back my passion! I have problems when I have super low energy (very typical) and no mood for anything. I still don’t get bored as I can read forever etc. but it’s not really living, too passive.