Break from busy mind.

Caoimhín

Maybe the wrong thread but.
Every now and again I need a small breakaway from my self. Currently this is through booze and light drugs. Does anybody know a means of achieving this without resorting to booze and aforementioned booze.
Is anyone else like this?
An even better question though. why do ye need a break from ourselves? or is that just me and the low self esteem again. I dont think in the only one,,, surely????

DetectivFoxtrot

Meditation. Sounds a bit naff but it's seriously good. I have it on CD and it totally takes you out of yourself. You have to take it seriously or it won't work (took me a few goes) but it's great.

Craft25

sport, work ( i love simple manual labour jobs - free workout and theres more of a point to it than the gym), music - did ya ever go to a gig/rave without drugs maybe ony a couple of beers and the music's so good ya dance your ass off all night? i love that!!!, booksks - sometimes i find myself reading without it going in and im thinkin over my troubles - have to force myself to concentrate,

with other people just having a laugh!! cant think of much else but i can tell you for sure you're not alone!!!

davyjose

Workout, meditate, sex, holidays. Perhaps holiday is the most pertinent one. I was getting bogged down with a lot of crap lately and having just come back from a break-away I can see the bigger picture a whole lot better. I feel much more chilled out.

Caoimhín

davyjose wrote: »

Workout, meditate, sex, holidays. Perhaps holiday is the most pertinent one. I was getting bogged down with a lot of crap lately and having just come back from a break-away I can see the bigger picture a whole lot better. I feel much more chilled out.

I think u have it there. I haven't had a holiday in 3 years. Even then i brought the company phone.

bobbyjoe

Go here http://www.dzogchenbeara.org/

Its a really relaxing place plenty of quiet, great vegetarian food you can take meditation classes depending on whats on when you go. I went there a few years ago found it very relaxing slept great down there to.

Caoimhín

bobbyjoe wrote: »

Go here http://www.dzogchenbeara.org/

Its a really relaxing place plenty of quiet, great vegetarian food you can take meditation classes depending on whats on when you go. I went there a few years ago found it very relaxing slept great down there to.

Im not sure i understand the neuro-chemical benefits with only eating veges? Or is it a placebo if you know what im getting at?

Overheal

Im not sure if its meditating (it might be but its just something I did) but a couple times every year I will try and seek out a nice reclusive spot that im not that familiar with at all just so I can displace myself from things. Once there my mind is free to wander without worrying about what might happen in the here and now. Drugs and alcohol just dont have the same effect: they shut down the mind, though they often feed the illussion that they do not.

allabouteve

OP I know what you mean, often I feel I need a holiday from myself as all I can do is feel my mind spinning like a hamster on a wheel in a vicious circle of work, work, more work, problems to do with work, and of course work! If I'm not working, I'm thinking about working. Perhaps your problem is similar to mine - I work so much I have very little energy to invest in a private life, and consequently I have very little in my life but work. I broke up with someone recently, and to escape thinking about it I work more. I'm worried I won't have the time to meet someone else, so I work more.....How oh how does one achieve a work/life balance?

DetectivFoxtrot

allabouteve wrote: »

OP I know what you mean, often I feel I need a holiday from myself as all I can do is feel my mind spinning like a hamster on a wheel in a vicious circle of work, work, more work, problems to do with work, and of course work! If I'm not working, I'm thinking about working. Perhaps your problem is similar to mine - I work so much I have very little energy to invest in a private life, and consequently I have very little in my life but work. I broke up with someone recently, and to escape thinking about it I work more. I'm worried I won't have the time to meet someone else, so I work more.....How oh how does one achieve a work/life balance?

All work and no play....

seriously, you should pull yourself outta this cycle. I got caught up in the work/life balance thing a couple of years ago and got seriously depressed about it - it was like work was the only goal, fcuk that! Luckily my husband pulled me out of it and forced me to cop on. In the short term going on a holiday helped. In the longer term I took up going to the gym and playing the piano. These things (and my personal life!) started to force me to leave work early. It's great to have another focus and music is a great stress reliever!

Quality

I find a walk on the beach works wonders for me, The fresh air and sound of the sea is sooo therapeutic.

Also reading helps me, try something funny instead of serious, May I recommend Catch 22.

Best of luck op.

Ishindar

hi caoibhin after reading both your posts here i think u are starting to realise that your balance in life is a bit off. U have invested a lot of time and effort into your career at the expense of your personal life.
u are missing a partner to share your journey through life and getting a bit bored with yourself.

Sherifu

Gaming/Tv shows/Movies/Sports

UnregGirl

I'd have to second the meditation. Buy yourself a cd and listen to it through headphones twice a day, and 15 mins later You'll feel totally relaxed and revitalised. I also find using it before you go to sleep at night relaxes you and sends you into a proper deep sleep. It really does clear the mind. Try it x

Dizzyblonde

Here's another vote for meditation

And take a holiday - you'll be a long time dead.

Earthhorse

caoibhin wrote: »

Is anyone else like this?

Everyone is, just to greater or lesser degrees.

DFT et al are right. Meditation is the way out of this. The other suggestions have been great too. They are all forms of meditation basically.

Splendour

caoibhin wrote: »

Maybe the wrong thread but.
Every now and again I need a small breakaway from my self. Currently this is through booze and light drugs. Does anybody know a means of achieving this without resorting to booze and aforementioned booze.
Is anyone else like this?
An even better question though. why do ye need a break from ourselves? or is that just me and the low self esteem again. I dont think in the only one,,, surely????

I think we sometimes forget just how good our lives are and we all every so often have a little 'pity party'. Nothing wrong with that once in a while, but if it's getting in on you then you need to watch it, especially if drugs and alchohol involved.
Jogging, (for me anyway), is a great stress reliever and gets the 'feel good' factor going.
Another great way to 'escape' is to help out someone who is worse off than you are. Maybe stop and have a chat with the next homeless person you meet, or get involved in some charity. Organise a fundraiser-you get to meet new people and have fun as well!

How Strange

Splendour wrote: »

I think we sometimes forget just how good our lives are and we all every so often have a little 'pity party'. Nothing wrong with that once in a while, but if it's getting in on you then you need to watch it, especially if drugs and alchohol involved.
Jogging, (for me anyway), is a great stress reliever and gets the 'feel good' factor going.
Another great way to 'escape' is to help out someone who is worse off than you are. Maybe stop and have a chat with the next homeless person you meet, or get involved in some charity. Organise a fundraiser-you get to meet new people and have fun as well!

+1 for jogging and charity work.

I think we are so comfortable and spoiled by materialism that we are almost incapable of being grateful for the easy lives we have. A general statement I know but IMO quite true. There is nothing like getting out and engaging with people who are less fortunate than us to give us the kick up the arse we need.

Fifilefleure

Hi caoibhin.... I agree with previous posters!!

+2 for the excercise & charity work - loads of ways to be involved here at home & abroad - maybe head traveliing for awhile & see how you can make a difference. Sounds like you want to focus on something different for a change & personal development!! Go do it!!! Only you can No point hanging around waiting for it to fall out of the sky & hit you on the head

allybhoy

What helps me unwind personally is water, eg:- swimming. I started about 3months ago, and go 3 times a week for an hour, it really is relaxing and kind of helps you "file" your brain. I go in my gym and they normally have the lights turned way down and its usually empty so it really is relaxing. You sleep a lot better aswell, I also go out deep sea fishing about twice a month but thats more specialised than I suspect your after.

Dagon

Give meditation a whirl mate..

I have it on CD

This might be good to start, but I'd recommend looking for a proven meditation teacher or course. Check out non-profit organisation dhamma.org - they do stuff in Ireland too. helped me loads...

Caoimhín

allybhoy wrote: »

What helps me unwind personally is water, eg:- swimming. I started about 3months ago, and go 3 times a week for an hour, it really is relaxing and kind of helps you "file" your brain. I go in my gym and they normally have the lights turned way down and its usually empty so it really is relaxing. You sleep a lot better aswell, I also go out deep sea fishing about twice a month but thats more specialised than I suspect your after.

Nope, its all good.
Thanks.

Marksie

Hi Op.
Yep meditation works a treat for me.

But so does a change of scene, the sea. Anything that gets one into the fresh air and out of your own head.really taking time to look around at teh world rather than focussed inwards

Dizzyblonde

There's nothing like helping others to take our minds off ourselves - and the added bonus is that you gain from it too in terms of feeling good about yourself. You could volunteer for something such as doing the Simon Community soup run one night a week?