Find ways to enjoy life that don't involve spending money. Libraries, little free libraries, enjoying nature, writing, minimalism, meditation, stoicism. Be vigilant and resist spending money, see it as giving the finger to the corporate overlords. Make an effort to get off the hedonic treadmill.
We're in the bad place, the only way to not go insane or cry constantly in heartache is extensive use of compartmentalization. That is, you have to selectively and temporarily ignore certain things at times so that you can continue to function. Then later, make time to consider those things you had to set aside.
while capital is currently ruining games I don't see them as inherently products of capitalism. We have always played games and dice made under feudalism are not inherently feudal.
Take a break from social media and the 24 hour news cycle. Join a political action group if you feel the need, being with like-minded folks can help and you might make a difference. But otherwise sitting home and obsessing over everything that's wrong with the world will just drive you nuts.
Given your past posts have you considered just sitting out politics?
Like you obviously have opinions but maybe consider that they don’t have enough facts to justify further action…
Maybe think about everything you so broadly gesture at and consider your role (or absence of role) before posting yet more comments. Or just hand wave some more…
For me, it’s the massive medical debt that only seems to get bigger. The cost of living inching higher and higher, while wages remain mostly stagnant.
The expectation to provide for others at the expense of time, stress and my own health. It’s not a good time to have a family with needs.
As it turns out, what we consider a “coffee break” in the United States is actually explicitly tied to a 1955 court case, the United States vs. Phil Greinetz of Los Wigwam Weavers.
Greinetz owned the Denver tie factory Los Wigwam Weavers and, after World War II, struggled to find staff up for the surprisingly arduous task of tie making. To encourage productivity, he introduced mandatory coffee breaks so that workers would have the energy to make it through their shifts fully alert. One problem, though. Like bad bosses throughout history, Greinetz didn’t want to pay his employees for the time he demanded they spend drinking coffee. Eventually, the U.S. Department of Labor became involved, with the court ultimately deciding, in a rare win for the working person, that employers had to cover coffee breaks since the business was positively affected by employees being jacked up on caffeine.
Combination of picturing what could be better and staring into the distance and slowly developing into a "hand of death clutching at your heart" panic attack
Prioritize. What's important to you? Put that first.
Personally, I would LOVE to travel. I don't have that option because my wife works a gig where she can't get time off.
So the idea of taking a week and going to Hawaii or Vegas, or New Orleans? Not going to happen.
So I take the money I would spend on stuff like that and invest it locally in making our lives better.
Bought a house in 2021, got out from under $1,800/mo. rent. Traded it for a $2,000/mo. mortgage, but you know what? I looked up our old place... $2,300/mo. now. House across the street is a rental, $2,600/mo.
As time goes on, our mortgage is going to get cheaper and cheaper.
Owning a house means more projects. Some of the plumbing needed to be re-done, the electrical panel needed an upgrade from 100A to 200A, the roof was 20 years old with a 20 year lifespan, swapped for a 50 year roof that will outlive me, the house has a 3rd patio which couldn't be used because there was no cover, so we added a retractible awning, solar panels, just got a hot tub.
And, yeah, consumer capitalism, but these are infrastructure investments that improve our lives and add value.
Hmm. Hobbies? Something that isn't part of the daily grind? Maybe take part in the capitalism for a while, save some money to move somewhere else? I heard there isn't much at least in the USA in between ultra capitalism and a cabin in the woods. But there might be somewhere else... Maybe a nice hacienda in Andalusia?
Don't subscribe to the hive speak. Get quality essentials and buy based on your own thoughts, expectations and experience, not what people say. Influencers are a plague.
I think it depends on your philosophy a lot. For me, I'm an absurdist so for me, remembering the futility of it all helps a lot. Grounding myself in that nothingness forces me to make and develop my own purpose, not derive it from product or capital. What drives me is tied not to the money I make nor my ability to make it, rather it comes from myself and the change I want to see in the world. I looked to the stars when I was young longing to explore them, but due to our species's greed I know I never will. So I want to leave behind a world where future generations have the stability, resources, environment, and mental & physical health to look at the stars and actually visit them. It is difficult living under a system that is designed to grind you up for profit, but in holding true to yourself and what you value you can hold strong. It isn't about how many times you fall down, but how many times you get up.
ETA: I also highly recommend philosophy and introspection if you don't already practice or read about those subjects. In understanding yourself you will discover better ways to understand others, and vice versa. Humans are social creatures so hold onto those you love and trust and be open to new people. Do not fear loss or pain because then you will never live nor learn, but do not go recklessly into the night. Share the love, be empathetic and kind, and help people understand the truth and think for themselves. Doing those will hold you close to the ground and give you the roots you need to stand tall against the oppression.
Exercise, skip breakfast, eat whatever you want for lunch, eat a really small dinner (I just do yogurt and frozen fruit),do stuff for friends/family/the local community you have roots down, go into nature and sight in your firearms, trap shooting, take psychedelics, listen to Televisions album "Marquee moon", play dwarf fortress.
Everyone's life is different, so you should find your way. What works for me to pass the time while I wait to die might be different then yours.
Essentially, automation/general technological progress just enables busier lifestyles, and then resells itself as the solution to one's hectic schedule.