This isn’t a repeat question, but it is a repeat answer. My strategies for dealing with negative feelings are pretty much the same as my list of things that I can lose myself in. With one important addition.
When life is getting me down I often retreat to music. Listening to music, mostly. Yesterday I was sick with this asshole of a cold and I spent the day working while listening to old 1970’s Genesis records. It helped. I will likely do something similar today. Maybe a different prog-rock group. Maybe some Yes? Close to the Edge always hits the spot.
Sometimes when life gets me down I will go for a drive and ignore reality. Sometimes I’ll snap a bunch of pictures or something. All of the good things that I can lose myself in also help when things are going bad.
The one additional thing is my family. When things are going rough I can always depend on my family to be there to make me feel better. I am pretty lucky that way. I know not all middle aged red heads can say that about their families, and that’s okay. I’m just a fortunate guy in that respect.
Inside the Red Head's Head 