4 Tips for Staying Sane in a Crazy World

These are four of my quick fixes for walking the high wire above the craziness of the news and commentary of the world we live in.

"Man Singing Hymn," 1884, by Arvid Liljelund. Oil on canvas. Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki, Finland. Public Domain

Commentary

We live in crazy times. 

To see our present flakiness at work, we have only to follow the news, where the headlines often read as though taken from The Babylon Bee. Roam social media, and the cumulative wackiness and nasty remarks can stagger whatever faith we possess in common sense and human kindness. Listen to certain politicians or celebrities, and clearly, they’ve rounded the twist, as our British cousins say. I’ll refrain from citing specific instances, as I hope to supply some remedies against anxiety and depression rather than enhance them.

Marching in tandem with this craziness are depression and loneliness. A September 2025 Gallup Poll revealed that Americans are more down in the dumps than ever, with rates of depression and loneliness at all-time highs, which is odd given our vast smorgasbord of entertainment and luxuries.

The world is at our fingertips through our phones, our grocery stores are stuffed with food and drink from around the globe, and we have houses and vehicles that keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Two hundred years ago, a cobbler in Boston or a king in London would have been floored by this array of riches, yet we are plagued by despondency. What we hear about the state of the world surely adds to this sad pessimism.   

Experts offer some tactics to battle these orcs and trolls of the spirit, suggestions such as physical exercise, therapy, engaging with people rather than screens, and focusing less on negative news. All good advice, especially over the long term, but here, let’s consider four quick fixes for a black dog mood that have worked for me, and that may work for you.

‘Tomorrow Is Another Day’

When the news of the day or your personal life drags you down, remember this line from Scarlett O’Hara at the end of “Gone with the Wind.”

Evening and fatigue are when the black dog barks at me, and over the years, I’ve found it helpful to tell myself that a night’s sleep nearly always erases my worries and that the morning, no matter the weather, brings sunshine. 

“Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow,” as the kid sings in the musical “Annie.” 

Sing

Put some music on and sing along with it. If you’re alone, belt out those words. Even a sad song can leave you feeling better. 

My own all-time favorite for chasing away the news and the blues is “Pass Me By.” My wife taught me this song on a trip to Florida some 40 years ago, and I still pound it out when called for. Here are the only lyrics you need. Go to YouTube, and the Peggy Lee version will give you the tune.

I got ten fine toes to wiggle in the sand,

Lots of idle fingers snap to my command,

A lovely pair of heels that kick to beat the band,

Contemplating, nature can be fascinating.

Add to these a nose that I can thumb,

And a mouth by gum have I

To tell the whole darn world

If you don′t happen to like it, deal me out,

Thank you, kindly, pass me by.

Pass me by, pass me by

If you don’t happen to like it, pass me by.

Roar out this song with defiance and see how you feel. If you want to really have some fun, belt it out in front of the grandchildren.

Go Shopping

In “Moby Dick,” whenever Ishmael finds himself “growing grim about the mouth,” he heads to sea. Me? I go to the grocery store. Unlike some people who buy things to make themselves feel better, the trip itself is my mood-changer.

For one thing, the people I see there in no way resemble those I see in news broadcasts or online clips, rioting in the streets or carpet bombing their conversations with obscenities. These shoppers are more interested in sniffing pineapples or squeezing avocados than in setting fire to the store or raging against the machine. In short, the people I see appear sane, which may be a false impression, but nonetheless comforts me.

At the same time, many of these shoppers look sad or, at best, somber. If you want to have some fun and lighten your own burdens, try bringing some cheer to the place. Smile at that stock clerk rattling around in the condiments section. If you’re passing some oldster, sigh deeply, then slowly say “Whooo boy” about nothing in particular, and you’ll often rouse a grin or a cackle. If you see a mom with three or four little ones, offer a compliment to her and the kids.

Make others feel better, and you’ll feel the same. 

And Best of All…

Hands-down, if you’re feeling low about the state of the country, gratitude is the best antidote to this poison of melancholy, or worse, despair. Despair is for losers; gratitude makes you a winner, no matter what your circumstances or the dire news of the day.  

Blow a kiss of thanks to God every morning. If you’re not a believer, blow a kiss to the sky. Counting our blessings—and those afforded by the country we call home—helps put things in perspective. You can be thankful for something grand, such as a tribe of grandkids or a million bucks tucked away in savings, or something less grandiose, such as the roof over your head and the cup of coffee in your hand.

These are four of my quick fixes for walking the high wire above the craziness of the news and commentary of the world we live in. If you have some other ideas, please help the rest of us keep our footing by sharing them in the comments section.

Balance is everything.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.