[dsign]

Don't seek other founders, we are a boring bunch--for the most part--and too hectic. Also they will induce anxiety in you.

Online games changed my life when I was deep in/under the valley of startup desperation. I met people I could talk about non-work things. Or whom I could joke with about my job. That also helped, trying to see the funny side of the harsh life of a company founder from the outside.

That was four years ago. Company is doing better than ever these days, not particularly thanks to me. And I don't feel too lonely these days.

Another thing that worked for a friend of mine: writing fiction. He says his characters live in his mind, like he is the hardware running the world of his books, so he never feels alone. And he also gets to interact a lot with fellow writers in the real world. Fiction writers are a very different bunch than software developers, it seems, they are more concerned about people feelings and such.

[topicseed]

I need to get out of the house... I need stuff that requires my full attention because otherwise I start thinking about solving coding issues, new revenue streams, assessing and reflecting on my outsourced team members, etc.

Watching sports helps but there's a huge high during it, then a massive low as soon as it ends...

[RHSman2]

Yeah, it is important to get grounded. Friends, activities, sport which seems of secondary importance but in the long run primary. I found climbing to be the best of all things. It shut my mind down (as I was very focused!)

[topicseed]

I'm not even a hustler (lots of procrastination wasting many days), but I'm always thinking, "if I have to do stuff, surely it should be working" so I shut down sports and fun stuff.

Hard to force myself not to...