At this point I only have enough bandwidth for work and video games. The latter counts as mental health care. That leaves physical health, relationships, family, sleep habits, and exercise on the chopping block.
Video games is also self care.
this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2026
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Mental Health
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Don't forget the endless series of relentless responsibilities you have towards everyone else, but no one owes you anything. Only works one way.
Reminds me of the song 'fitter happier more productive', which I only heard for the first time recently after someone here mentioned it
luckily I have no job excepting that looking for work is like the worst job to me.
Then your employers think it would be a great idea to go around the group and have everyone share what their “personal growth goals” are.
Personally, I’m just trying to keep my head above water here in a world that’s getting shittier and more expensive every year, while wages don’t keep up. I’m so tired, so if I had to pick something, I think my goal would be to grow the time I spend sleeping and on self-care. But I get the feeling the bosses wouldn’t appreciate that answer.
Absolutely. I have to have regular conversations with my manager about career progression because in the surveys they highly encourage people to take, people said they felt stagnant in their careers. Well now we have to pretend to have a productive conversation on career progression while the stagnation remains, but managers have to come up with an excuse why so-and-so didn't get a promotion during performance review time (usually it's "you're so close, but we're looking for more X" where X can change to whatever is convenient to deny a promotion).
On top of that, they now ask us how we use AI in our daily work because they're desperate for "AI wins".
Ooof, I feel that. I'm being held up on a single metric from my next raise by a single supervisor. Every other manager says I'm ready, but this one person won't give me points for "professionalism responding to feedback." Key to this, I held a meeting months ago discussing the limits of my disabilities (autism, which is ironic since the job is educating autistic children) but this one manager was late to work that day and missed it. Everyone who attended understood and have been really supportive.
It was a difficult talk for me. I wrote an essay to read off, talking about the support I need and even included visual illustrations of what it feels like when I get overwhelmed. Although I implement changes immediately, it takes me time to mentally adjust and my tone goes flat when I'm overwhelmed. I suspect the way changes initially throw me off is the reason this particular manager thinks I'm "not professional enough." So it looks like I'm going to need to hold another meeting, with her specifically, and bare my soul all over again. I'm not looking forward to it.
I hate having to completely humiliate myself just to be accepted, let alone to move up professionally.
Not pictured:
Working on your house, working on your car
I see you are also older and can talk of such things.
I don’t do any of that lol. I work then come home and play videos games. That’s it. No need to work on any of that other stuff. It’s quite freeing.
Embrace your youth; don't waste it!
Which games do you play?
But lately I just got the steam controller and I’m playing a lot of indie platformers and UE5 survival games. Conan exiles, astroneer, etc.
Same, except I also kind of take care of my family also. Guess I took a wrong turn somewhere 🙄 Video games is the only reason I have any sanity any more.
Insert "HEY MOM, THE MEATLOAF" meme.
Yes.
I'm going to get even more tired in November when the people creating this bleak world get reelected.
No, just numb. Whisky helps.
Until whiskey stops helping.... Then it really devastates. I've switched to THC with no regrets.
I’ve switched to THC with no regrets.
Got some unwelcome news for ya there, hoss.
Out with it.
THC eventually does the same thing plus a hefty charge of anxiety.
Smoked from 1995 to 2024, when I switched to dry herb vape because of consistent headaches. I've had a few bake-overs from puffing a lot right before bed, but otherwise, nothing like whiskey. I know people who get anxiety from it, but I never seem to. :fingerscrossed:
Most of the people I know that left with anxiety, came in with it.
Self medication.
Here's hoping you don't.
Thx. I'm not scared, but I'll drop it the second it starts to give me problems, if it ever does.
My pdoc is also a medical marijuana card... giver? I don't know the term. I don't go that route as recreational is legal in my state anyway, but it's nice to have him onboard with my own version of ADHD treatment. He just advises against using it when we change treatment, but even then says that night-time use to help me sleep is fine with him.
I'm not sure you have had extensive experience with both substances. THC does not do the same thing as alcohol..... That's like comparing tylenol to fentanyl, imo. With that said, moderation is key with all things, both good and bad.
I’m not sure you have had extensive experience with both substances.
I'll admit as much.
I found the right ratio of THC and CBD to be much better for anxiety with less short term (and likely long term) health effects than alcohol.
If I do THC alone then I get pretty anxious but everyone is different.
I've found that delta 8 makes me super anxious.
Different effects for different people. THC has been magic for my anxiety, keeping the overly self-critical voices and memories of embarrassing mistakes away, letting me actually enjoy moments instead of worrying all the time. I know some people who’ve developed paranoia when high, but thankfully that doesn’t seem to be a universal experience.
THC has been magic for my anxiety, keeping the overly self-critical voices and memories of embarrassing mistakes away
I have to be super careful about what I dwell on when high, or I spiral into just that. On the other hand, I find it nearly impossible to get angry about politics while high. I really wish I could carry that with me when it wears off.
Well shit. When you out it that way….
Working your side hustle
Don't forget work to upkeep your living space!
[Distant Screaming]
I work at my job to eat, and pay off a car repair debt. That's it.
Given up on social life. People dont want me around. Im sick of being the tag-along. Given up on the teeth. Half of them are rotted to stumps, I dont have $50k to fix them. Given up on therapy. I dont have the income for $300 a session WITH public healthcare support, let alone without. Given up on sleep habits. If i get 2 hours and have to go to work, fuck it thats what I get.
I didn't care about exercise to begin with. Same with food, especially now I'm down to one meal a day from cooking fatigue.
It's ludicrous that they pushed us to the point where we really do have nothing, and are expected to be happy.
I prefer to manage social life digitally and via living with the people i want to talk to. I live with family right now, other times with friends, and it's nicer to be able to chat to people at home than go to meet them somewhere.
Even being in a social groupchat is pretty toxic (guess it depends on who with) because you end up checking over and over again throughout your free time to see whst people are saying. It became one of the worst parts of me. So i left it. People should schedule a time when they'll talk and meet instead of expecting you to show up and banter at random points throughout the day. Zoomers, i tell ya.
A lot of those things are the same thing ..
Or at least can be if you dial in your lifestyle, go for a long walk in the green with your SO regularly then come home and make a healthy meal together (relationship, (mental) health, exercise, self-care, family, sleep,...)
Self care is working on physical health and exercising and sleep and mental health and hygiene and eating. Making those you're goals and a hobby as well and the whole list could be condensed into just few points. Work, family and self care.
Work can be done on autopilot. Family time is supposed to be enjoyable. Self care is kinda non-negotiable.
Though it is missing basic home chores and social connections outside immediate family. Though the socializing part can be sacrificed.
So it's work, self care, family and basic chores.
Arguably the family time should be self care as well, not true for everyone though ..
I just gave up working.
same