10. I make an appointment or plan for sometime in the next month to remind myself that time passes and that future me will be okay.

That's just a few things that help me. I hope my coworker also finds coping strategies that work for them. It's a tough time and we all need them. (7/7)

7. I turn on music I listened to as a teenager and try to remember what I felt when I listened to it back then.

8. I do a task I've been putting off, however small (like washing a mirror).

9. I eat something unusual for me - something I haven't had in awhile and maybe disliked before. (6/7)

5. I cook or bake a complicated recipe. The more tedious the better.

6. I get out of the house and people watch. Seeing folks doing their own thing is calming. I remember that they all have their own fears and stresses, and it helps me feel less like the only person struggling. (5/7)

3. I restart my day. I shower again, put on fresh clothes, and have a warm drink and a snack. By the time I finish the routine, it really does feel like a new day.

4. I talk to a friend on the phone. Not text - talk. Usually not about my worries, if I'm at an 8/10. I listen to their stories. (4/?)

2. Cleaning and reorganizing my zones. I might not be able to step away from work or home responsibilities, but I can make them more comfortable. I clear off my desk, counter, dresser, etc., and rearrange things. I can move things back if I don't like it, but changing my environment helps. (3/?)

So in that colleague's honor, here are ways I cope when things are nearly unbearable.

1. Yard work. If I'm physically capable, I pull weeds, mow the lawn, prune, rake, etc.. Something tiring and immersive where I can see my progress. It quiets my brain and uses up some of my nervous energy. (2/?)

... it's YYYY-MM-DD most of the time, btw. But I'm for sure going to be googling it again the next time someone needs something while I'm query writing.

My partner worked at a pizza place years ago and the flour was everywhere. It was in his clothes, hair, ears, etc., and it was IN THE AIR. If someone came in with celiac disease he would actually advise them to leave - the contamination risk was too high even if all they had was water!

A quick note to remind people: If they make regular, gluten-containing pizza in the same kitchen, the gluten-free pizza is not celiac safe! Always make sure they have a dedicated separate room and oven because the flour is unavoidable and uncleanable in a shared pizza kitchen!

Total stranger here who's also invested in the Food Labeling Modernization Act. What do you think is the best way for a layperson to push for this legislation to pass?