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Things That Have Kept Me From Going Crazy at Work

Meditation
I try to do it 20 minutes a day. I probably only get it done about 75% of the time and I know I should do it longer, but that's about the most time I'm able to get in the morning before everything starts popping. I became a big fan after reading the Happiness Hypothesis and it is the best thing I have ever done for my brain.

Exercise
I work out at least five days a week, often more. It's great to get out of the office for an hour, hit the gym and if I have time, the steam room. I do concentrated interval training three times a week and have started doing weights one day. I'm trying to figure out when to do some sort of stretching or core class like yoga or Pilates, but it's still hard to come up with a regular schedule. I'd also like to try doing cross fit or something like that, but again, it's a challenge to come up with a predicatable time.

Improv
Whew, what can I say about improv? Saving my life might be a wee bit of an exaggeration, but it certainly saved my sanity. If you have known me for longer than five years, then you should be aware of a very big change in my personality. I'm a much kinder person in all aspects of my life, I think on my feet better than ever, I listen better and I'm more observant. Plus, it's a continual challenge to be a better improviser, so I have a craft that never seems to bore me. Biggest challenge: deciding when to take a break. I think I should, to recharge my batteries but I can't yet see a time that's a good point for a hiatus.

Gardening
In addition to giving me something to do whenever I get panicked about the general state of the world that always feels like it's teetering on the edge of collapse, gardening has been awesome for me in other ways too. It's good hard work, helps save money, calms me and gives me a time and activity to share with Santiago. It's also helping me on my quest to learn fundamental skills I have missed out on in my life. It is a joy to get up in the morning and water the garden and connect with earth, growth and life.

Stress Eraser
I have not yet been able to completely escape my gadget fetish. This thing is a biofeedback device that helps you regulate your breathing in as little as 6 minutes. A short break with it helps me calm my nerves and energizes me like a little nap. Another short session helps me sleep better and I keep it by my bed for those 2:00 AM freak outs where I remember something super important and can't fall asleep afterward. Another quick session and I usually fall right back to sleep. Best $175 I ever spent.

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