Today’s coping tip is to listen to a piece of music without doing anything else.

This is surprisingly hard. I turn something on, but then I look around, think of something else, walk, exercise, drive, etc.

Travel is a good way to do this, and I’ve learned sometimes that I can take a few minutes to unwind by staring at the world and listening to something in headphones. Hard for a multitasker like me, but it can be refreshing. If I’m not too busy.

For a trip last week, I got to the airport a bit early. I knew I’d eat on the plane, so I went to the lounge, got a glass of wine, and sat facing a window. I put on a little John Mayer and then sat there just listening.

Lately a couple songs have been running through my head, so I ran Hey Marie and Slow Dancing in a Burning Room together, just listening. Well, listening and sipping chardonnay.

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQL Server Central newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.