What's your go to thing to help reduce stress of stuff you have no control over

My family and I joke that the news is just a dramatic soap opera that doesn't effect us.  Normally that's true and life goes on as normal, we are not to stressed about what the big wigs and millionaires are doing. Being mad at the bad guys of course is not really good for adults or children. But with the growing number of news stuff from all over starting to threaten our daily lives its hard not to worry. To a point that it is unhealthy and unhelpful.  I know that we can and have weathered worse! I know my family can be fed, clothed and sheltered come hell or high water. But that growing gnawing feeling of worry seems to grow.

Until I grab a shovel and dig a hole.

It doesn't even have to be a helpful hole. There's just something that helps my brain about physically moving the earth. The smell of dirt and the consistent strain on my body that helps me breath a bit better and keep a moving forward mindset. I cant worry if Im to tired to care about the things I can do nothing about! Swales and gardening was what brought me to permies originally while dealing with financial stress. I wanted a excuse to just dig and still be helpful to my family.

My husband digs into a new niche subject to learn. Right now he is training to get his pilots license and reading the FFA handbook cover to cover before his first lesson this spring.  Hes still worried. But hes more worried about falling out of the sky to be upset about the news.

I bring this up because when Im out of the house that it feels like there is more road rage and people seem less friendly and more angry. Alot of that seems to be from the stress of stuff thats happening in the world with no way to effect it. There's alot of talk about the stuff causing the stress. But there seems to very little talk about how that stress is effecting our mental health and how to work thru it in a healthy way.  Plus winter is coming up and I have discovered shoveling snow dose not have the same stress relief as digging dirt.  I need a new outlet ASAP!

So what ways do you and your people relive stress so we can keep doing our thing instead of being mad at the bad guys?

The stress of modern life affects different people in different ways. I am lucky in that I have an ability to ignore stuff, turn a blind eye, or bury my head in the sand. Very rarely do I find myself worked up about something, and it is usually something that will affect me (or I think it will). Some people do get more affected by all the bad things that are happening, whether or not they are directly affected, and really make themselves sick by worry. That frustration of being able to do nothing, or trying to do too much is the trouble I think.
One thing I do that I believe to be positive is posting on permies. It may not help the political situations around the world, but by raising awareness of less damaging ways of living, I hope that we may make a difference to the environmentally damaging things that people do. When I think about all the stuff in the news and what is going wrong I like to think about the positive things I do for my family and my community to help build our resiliance; running a grocery store, planting a garden, installing solar and battery backup.
You may also find this thread on peaceful moments of help perhaps.

I have always been a walker. For me, a 20-30 minute brisk walk is an effective, accessible tonic. When my muscles and tendons and joints start to loosen up, and the physical act of walking goes on autopilot, my mind starts to float and solves problems, sets priorities, and generally reboots into a state with more mojo and less stress.

Sam Potter wrote: Plus winter is coming......

The first most accessible stress buster I feel is humor... and relevant to the clipped phrase, the following is offered:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZTjcxjz_8U

Sam Potter wrote:
So what ways do you and your people relive stress so we can keep doing our thing instead of being mad at the bad guys?

Being mad at the bad guys is acceptable as a short realization of fear that their actions invoke.  Then time to move on.  Meditation comes in many forms,....have you tried any of them?  I used to think "But which meditation is the *right* one...?", then came to realize you need to find what's right for *you*.  A more classical 'sitting' meditation was what helped me get started, but I find now that attending to detail and sequence in tasks or even pleasant walks can help in this regard.  As an example, washing the dishes once was a task I despised and my mind could churn up all sorts of resentments and regrets while blindly immersed in the procedure.  Now, it's more about carefully observing and cleaning each utensil and tableware item with purpose. Same with walks....rather than have the mind spinning away on that road rager you experienced an hour earlier.....that ridiculous sneer they wore and self-riteousness they exuded....engage with the immediacy of the leaves falling around you or the feel of the northern breeze on your brow.  When the mind starts to drift, kindly tell it like a child "no...right now I'm engaging with *this*....." and bring your focus back to the observed entity at hand.  It seems simplistic and silly, but with repeated practice can have a remarkably powerful effect. Good luck!

+1 for digging holes

I have a few things I do, especially because people are getting madder both online at each other and in person. I am super sensitive emotionally which is awful for dealing with news, social media, road rage, etc.

What helps me most is trying to do something that helps the local people around me directly. I go through my house and make a free pile in the front yard almost once per week for anyone to come take what they need at no cost. I don't care if they sell the stuff, they need the money more than I do. I sell items on eBay and get things from house clear outs so I'm starting to put extras out for free instead of funneling them through goodwill. 99% of the items are gone by the end of the day. Clothing is always gone. People are definitely in need. Food items and decor also go.

I also try to be actively nicer in public on a daily basis. Making sure to pay compliments I would otherwise maybe not say, or helping someone with a heavy bag etc. I had an elderly lady help me with carrying my multiple bags to my car one day and I still get good feelings from it. I think I get stuck in being quiet and "just getting through it" when a little kindness to others would go a long way for both them and me.

I also reduce or disable social media apps entirely. They are addictive and meant to exploit anger for the attention economy. I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate having a feeling of community without it. But moderated forums like permies certainly help!

Playing physical DVDs of comfort shows/movies in the background without ads or tracking from nefarious companies also helps.

Lastly I try to do things I CAN control. I finish some sewing repairs, clean the chicken coop, visit with my animals, batch cook some food for later, do small fixes or cleaning to the house etc.

It's still pretty awful out there but you're definitely not alone in your feelings. Sending care your way.

Steph Walker wrote: ...What helps me most is trying to do something that helps the local people around me directly.

... I also try to be actively nicer in public on a daily basis. Making sure to pay compliments I would otherwise maybe not say, or helping someone with a heavy bag etc. I had an elderly lady help me with carrying my multiple bags to my car one day and I still get good feelings from it.

Yes! We can all build instant community through small choices and actions. The energy of positive community moves like ripples on a pond.

Repetitive physical activity such as digging a hole, walking,  hopping wood, etc is a proven way to help one’s mental status.  I find a couple of ounces of quality bourbon to be helpful as well.

Digging a hole is an awesome way to deal with stress
I like to clean something, especially something that isn't a constant chore- for example taking everything out of a cupboard, vacuuming and reorganizing the contents. That way the next few times you open the cupboard you get a small bit of peace.
Hanging up laundry is another good one, if you focus on lining up the seams and hanging each piece up neatly.