Staying Cool, Calm, and Mentally Collected during Covid: How do you do it? Your Secret is What?

[GammaGlobulin]

Some say sustained aerobic exercise is good for remaining rational.

But swimming pools are now closed, and, where I live, there are no mountain hiking trails handy.

 

Maybe if you have a hobby or avocation, this might help.

I dearly wish I could pursue astronomy and stargazing, for example. Yet, with the cloud cover during this rainy season, resolving the moons of Saturn is not an option.

 

If I could get my hands on some optical glass blanks from Corning, I might choose to grind a mirror for an 8-inch Newtonian. This takes ages if you grind by hand.

 

Cooking is good fun. I make bread, but don't bake pies, since I don’t have an oven in the kitchen.

 

Maybe the secret is to focus on something time consuming that one might have wanted to do before the Covid lockdowns hit.

 

Maybe there are some things I would like doing that I have not yet thought of doing, even.

 

No doubt each of us has some strategy to burn up time while we continue waiting for everything to return to normal.

 

Perhaps you might enlighten the rest of us concerning innovative ways you have found to divert your attention away from being overly preoccupied with Covid.

 

No doubt creativity will become increasingly important as the days fly by.

[RichardColeman]

As I'm stuck outside Thailand in a Bed and breakfast for 15 months, I'd have to say 3 hours charity shop hunting for bargains a day, sleeping as much as possible to make time go quick, and a er, ah, hmmm, some very 'private' video calls with the wife !

 

 

[NCC1701A]

i am sorting my massive photo library from the last seven years here in Thailand. the app has facial recognition and found all the photos of my cat and also places the photos in a calendar layout which for me is amazing retracing everyday. and tags for names or other info.   

 

i am editing all my videos i shot with my friends. about three years worth now. 

 

I monitor short wave transmissions and other frequencies including weather satellites, aircraft and marine bands. i have quite a setup.

 

i don't want the vaccine so i don't worry about it. 

 

i was in Bangkok just one month ago so i may return soon. i always have fun there. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 31, 2021 by NCC1701A

[Airalee]

Exercising in my condo (push-ups, sit-ups, dumbbells) and until I got a neighbor within 2 floors of me in my sparsely occupied building, listen to music loudly at all hours of the day and night.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

stay cool = open the air condition

stay calm = listenning to the air condition

mental collection -speaking to the air condition. you won't believe

what they have to say there when you listen carefully.

[1FinickyOne]

getting a bit more exercise...

a bit more time on the news which is not healthy

learning more reading and writing Thai

streaming some sports... and following my teams.. as I did when I was a kid. 

cooking and working the food trip for my niece who is off school

 

a long list but plenty of idle time too.. 

[internationalism]

many years ago I use to walk some 6h daily with my dogs. I have started to increase my daily walks.

For mental stimulation online chess, but even solitaire or any any games.

Taking care of kids is also time consuming, teaching them some knowledge or skills. But in the process you also learn from them thai language

 

[simon43]

Here in north Laos, my daily routine has hardly changed. There was a village lockdown earlier this year, but we're talking about just a couple of imported virus cases.  I walk into town and back (8km) most days, do my radio amateur hobby, teach science online etc.  I was AZ vaccinated for free months ago, since Laos treats provides vaccinations to all, based on medical/age priorities.  I stay cool, calm and mentally-collected, because apart from the difficulty in travelling overseas (no BKK shopping trips), life goes on as normal.

[canthai55]

I ride one of my bikes most every day.

Swimming - was in Pai and swam 3 times a day. So not ALL pools closed.

Take all the Doom and Gloom with a large shovel full of salt.

Chances are I will die in a hiway wreck, but if I get Covid (If I did not have it already) chances are it will NOT kill me.

People got to stop jumping on bandwagons, believe what the media tells you, and LIVE your life.

Edited July 31, 2021 by canthai55

[OneMoreFarang]

6 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

No doubt each of us has some strategy to burn up time while we continue waiting for everything to return to normal.

Working, reading books, watching informative or funny videos, playing with electronics, riding with my bike to my favorite coffee shop, eating delicious food, ...

 

And most of all: Acknowledge that some things can't be changed. The situation is what it is and as individuals we can't change them. Being frustrated about that or complaining or whatever doesn't change that fact. Accept that and relax, one day it will be over.

 

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by OneMoreFarang

[clivebaxter]

Alcohol and avoiding the wife

Edited August 1, 2021 by clivebaxter

[nikmar]

I teach on line. I really enjoy it - it's constructive and keeps my brain sharp. Read a bit and watch history videos on Youtube. 

I gave up alcohol for the forseeable - Im aiming for an initial 1 month dry and will review the situation then.

Im currently 2 weeks dry and feel awful. The last 2 days have been bad and being honest, depression is starting to win. The teaching English helps a bit but doesnt help with the long sleepless nights!

Im not getting on with my wife and have started thinking seriously about leaving withmy son.

These are not easy times!!

 

 

[4MyEgo]

[tonray]

6 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Some say sustained aerobic exercise is good for remaining rational.

But swimming pools are now closed, and, where I live, there are no mountain hiking trails handy.

In Mrach...fed up with constant MooBaan gym/pool closures...I bought an Indoor Spin bike from Lazada....use it 4 times per week...been wonderful for both aerobic fitness and mental health. Just got letter from MooBaan yesterday telling us since there has been a few incidences of Covid reported here, please refrain from walking in the common grounds area, which was the only last bastion of walkable area. Get a bike or a treadmill...or even a mini trampoline. Only part of the problem I know (still bored to tears most days) but helps a lot.

 

Also...cooking is a hobby and being stuck in the house I cook (and eat) a lot more. Going to add an oven soon...so I can bake pastries and gain 100 kilos.

Edited August 1, 2021 by tonray

[Peterw42]

 

This keeps me occupied in two ways, firstly finding and downloading all the movies, then of course watching all the movies.

I am only missing 3-4 from the list (obscure French movies from 1940s), and around 25% through watching them.

[Kwasaki]

I guess I'm lucky enough because covid has not effected me much, I can always make myself busy. 

I would think it depends where someone lives. 

I Multi gym exercise some mornings.

We have a small farm 2 kilos outside the village so plenty to do there if I want. 

Hobbies Archery & Shooting at the farm. 

 

The one thing that's affected is riding my bike on tours because can't go places and stop overnight somewhere like before covid. 

 

I still ride bike every week locally.

Drive my truck and ride my scoot locally.

There's always something to do in or outside the house at times. 

Window cleaning e.g. 

[Dragonboat Ronin]

focus on whatever interests/passions already fulfill your life after a quick listen from this man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSKzLKFeuNQ

 

[tonray]

10 minutes ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

focus on whatever interests/passions already fulfill your life after a quick listen from this man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSKzLKFeuNQ

 

That's the same speech I give my GF before we head off to my annual extension at immigration

[Rampant Rabbit]

Stay away from everyone, I  live in the country on 16  rai  of  land , I go shopping once every 10  days at 8 am soon as Tesco  opens, the place is deserted then.

Gardening, Internet, and Tiddly Winks  keep be from being bored.

[robblok]

Luckily I got a home gym and the pool behind my house is not closed. I think i would get seriously stressed after a few months of not training. I had it before that i could not train it would stress me a bit.

 

Now i just workout at my home gym and sometimes if there is sun go to the pool. Do play more computer games now too.

[Rampant Rabbit]

25 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Shooting at the farm

How do you do that? I mean legally ? can you fire a  gun there?

[robblok]

25 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

I guess I'm lucky enough because covid has not effected me much, I can always make myself busy. 

I would think it depends where someone lives. 

I Multi gym exercise some mornings.

We have a small farm 2 kilos outside the village so plenty to do there if I want. 

Hobbies Archery & Shooting at the farm. 

 

The one thing that's affected is riding my bike on tours because can't go places and stop overnight somewhere like before covid. 

 

I still ride bike every week locally.

Drive my truck and ride my scoot locally.

There's always something to do in or outside the house at times. 

Window cleaning e.g. 

Yes for some its easier as others, also not much affected besides the fact that the GF is home 24/7.

 

Got a home gym so working out is not a problem pool too so that makes things easier. 

 

But also could always entertain myself well. But even so i get a bit bored that everything is closed. I used to like shopping now its a drag. Anyway can't complain if i compare myself to the poor Thais and others living in a small condo room.

 

That must be hellish in the end.

 

[robblok]

Gaming is an option if you like that kind of stuff Witcher 3 is a nice game, Civilization VI all games that will keep you busy for a long time.

[Antonymous]

I stay as calm and mentally collected now as I was before Covid, because Covid has hardly affected my lifestyle at alI. I am not worried about catching Covid, firstly because there is none of it around where I live and spend time, secondly because I take the usual precautions to avoid being close to strangers if on occasion that's necessary and thirdly because I have built a strong immune system and I'm fit and healthy.

 

The one thing that I've done differently since Covid arrived is to pay even closer attention to research on health and to building a strong immune system. That led me to diet, dropping 10% of my body weight to well within normal BMI, to eat healthier food, take supplements and to exercise more. You could say that the pandemic has had a very positive effect on my health and mental state.

 

I'm lucky to have a large house and garden, surrounded by beautiful countryside where I walk and ride daily. I have a home gym and sauna and all the toys I need for play and hobbies right here at home. Oh and a beautiful young wife who looks after me well ????

 

I do feel for anyone living in a condo and in cities and other heavily populated areas. They have more stressful circumstances to deal with right now.

[jollyhangmon]

 

... load up the bong, light it, inhale.

Now, about (an)aerobic I dunno but it's gluten-free for shua ...

 

[Denim]

Long drives in the hills , cooking , playing guitar, gardening , reading , chatting with webcam girls and if all else fails :

 

[Bohemianfish]

Long walks, meditation, cooking, reading and writing, audiobooks and podcasts to listen to, working around the house, watching movies. Wife works.

[nikmar]

4 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

 

This keeps me occupied in two ways, firstly finding and downloading all the movies, then of course watching all the movies.

I am only missing 3-4 from the list (obscure French movies from 1940s), and around 25% through watching them.

What would you recommend?

 

[Kwasaki]

3 hours ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

How do you do that? I mean legally ? can you fire a gun there?

My wife's sisters son has a gun license he has a shotgun lives next to our 4 rai of farmland her land goes for miles. 

He has a •22 air-rifle too which I like to shoot with. 

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

Fascinating and Inpirational , thanks guys.

Appears I am extremely fortunate in this regard having determined to see this out, in my Phuket Seaview Family Property, since March last year.

Waiting for next foreign project, hopefully by October......

 

1. Spending time with my wonderful thai lady & young growing son.

2. Diet Changes; plant - based, lost 10% body weight., great energy/ mood.

3. HIIT Gym ( 1 minute away) & HIIT Swimming (Common 17 mtr Home Pool).

4. Sleeping & Relaxing Well & Long. Gym = Spin Bike & Core Body Weights.

5. Daily Mail, BBC, TVF, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, Kindle, True Sat., Nat Geo.

6, News,Opinions, Novels, Articles, Politics, History, Sports, Geography, Sci- Fi.

7, Tech Stock & Crypto Trading.

8. Networking for Next Overseas Project.

9. Coffee Shop/Beach/Gym/Restaurant/ Rest- Family / Swim/ Ipad ; daily.

10. Online Plant Sales Business ( observer/ my lady’s).

11. Home Schooling Son (observer/ my lady actually....)

12. Home Extention / Improvement / Refurnishing ( my lady design & build control)....Completed

13. Driving Bike Around Island ( Friends/ Beach / Restaurants / Cinema).

14. Developing & Maintaining Quality Local Expat Relationships.

15. Avoiding all a***hole Expats(Neighbours, Bars) & Other Trouble.

16. Reviewing & Improving My Residential / Family Status. (17). Completed

17. Legal Property Review ( Lease & Intl. Rental) /Yellow & Blue/ National ID/ Wills/Visa/ Insurances / Family Health/ Blue Book/ Vehicle Owner Books : All Updated & Filed.

18. Car & Bike Maintenance & Improvements.