I find fiction books that can not happen in real life the best.
A zombie outbreak cannot happen. A space opera cannot happen. A fiction book with a plot that could happen is bad because I start comparing it to my life.
Smoking kills 15 minutes.
I have not had success with meditation. Will try again. Saw a YouTube video on zen. Looked interesting.
Mixed results with exercise. I start missing the outside.
Spotify is nice but have to play it soft so I can hear if grandma starts coughing so it loses some enjoyment.
How do all of you maintain?
I hear you. Being a full time caregiver is tough. It is so important to find that balance. For myself, I mostly surfed the Internet. I would play Pacman. Or read a book. I would go shopping and look for things for my family and friends. Even then I don't know how much of a break I was really giving myself. I started feeling stuck. I wanted to help, but I also had anger and resentment about it. I think I should have gotten counseling sooner or looked at joining a support group. In hindsight, I should have done something different. If you like reading daily inspirational quotes, I would consider checking out the website Tiny Buddha.
I go for a small walk and stare at the sky.
I have no privacy or place to be alone so i cannot do anything to relax, not even a nap without earplugs... quit smoking so no more that. Loom knitting..
*hears suspicious cracking sounds*
*flops around like a tuna*
x.x
Space opera!!!! Ever read Empire of man series by David Weber and John ringo? It's sorta space opera. I just re-listened to the audiobook.
Ecigarette perhaps?
Starship Troopers by Heinlein. It's probably the most popular book of his. It's a single book too so you don't have to hunt down the next in a series.
Old Mans War by John Scalzi was good too but it was a series of 4??
Or you can knit, crochet, weave, spin, cross stitch, needle point, or braid.
Practice walking as quietly as possible while pacing back and forth.
Practice touch typing exercises on a computer keyboard to build your skills in case you ever need to get a job as a keyboarder or a secretary.
Learn shorthand. Learn braille and how to use a brailler and get a job transcribing books for the blind or notes for blind students - schools may have someone taking notes for blind students who then need the notes put into a form that the student can read.
You know what movements you can do where you are, and how much noise you can or cannot make. Any movement, done repeatedly for an extended period of time, tends to relax a human being. Even brushing your own hair or someone else's hair. Many other animals also find the same sorts of movements soothing, and it tends to lower blood pressure, too. Often better than medicine for lowering blood pressure, at least as long as you do not pressure yourself about doing the movement "well enough".
And sometimes a strong drink helps too.
What's your poison?
Good luck.