4 ms·

Some ways of putting psychological stress on yourself: - Public speaking - Taking on leadership roles - Do things that are counter to your personality. Eg, i

by whack 8y ago

Some ways of putting psychological stress on yourself: - Public speaking - Taking on leadership roles - Do things that are counter to your personality. Eg, if you're shy, force yourself to talk to strangers on the street - Put yourself in situations where you will probably face rejection - Do things that will make you stick out. Eg: showing up at work one day in a suit when everyone else is wearing t-shirts. Or vice-versa - Take a flight to a random foreign country where you don't know the local language, and where most people don't know English. No hotel reservations in advance, no laptop, no smartphone, minimal budget. Figure out how to survive, have fun, and visit the city's major landmarks over the following 5 days. Bonus points if it's a developing country Not that I'm particularly recommending all of the above. But they will certainly put you in an psychologically "uncomfortable" spot and help expand your comfort zone.

cperciva 8y ago
- Take a flight to a random foreign country where you don't know the local language, and where most people don't know English. No hotel reservations in advance, no laptop, no smartphone, minimal budget. Figure out how to survive and visit the city's major landmarks over the following 5 days. Bonus points if it's a developing country This could result in you being more than just psychologically uncomfortable. Tourists are, broadly speaking, expected to have hotel rooms booked; showing up at immigration without any advance plans is a good way to be denied entry to some countries. (Yes, even countries you don't need a visa to visit: Border officials can deny you entry on the basis of "this person's story doesn't add up".)
- whack 8y ago
  You can always make a bogus reservation on a cheap refundable hostel, and cancel it as soon as you get through immigration. That's exactly what I did when I applied for a visa and they insisted on seeing full hotel reservations.
- dopeboy 8y ago
  Yes on the visa point - can't be totally random. The rest you can. I'm about to embark on a 3 week trip through south east asia. Aside from my liveaboard where I'll be living on a boat and diving (which I have to book in advance), I haven't booked a single accommodation. It can be done; hostels all the way.
  - mcv 8y ago
    I did it with my wife when we visited Croatia ages ago. We only planned the flight there (to Split) and the flight back (from Zagreb), and we had to figure out how where to sleep and how to get everywhere. We visited the big island at the coast near Split, we visited Dubrovnic, the big nature park in the middle of the country. It was great. Not hard to do at all. Though I expect some places outside Europe it might get a bit harder.
  - c1sc0 8y ago
    Book a cheap AirBnB / hotel for one nigh. Use address. Don’t show up.
- sametmax 8y ago
  Most of the time, just google an address before leaving, and gives that to the border, saying you will "hand around visiting". I've set foot in almost 30 countries so far, this has never been a problem.
LandR 8y ago
- Do things that will make you stick out. Eg: showing up at work one day in a suit when everyone else is wearing t-shirts. Or vice-versa If you do this prepare for a raft of questions / meetings with you asking if you have a job interview or something today. Are you thinking about leaving? Are you sure you're happy here etc etc... :D
- heardyousay 8y ago
  Reminds me of this clip from Family Guy [0] where Peter decides to change his wardrobe for work [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEG-FXgAOGg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEG-FXgAOGg I believe most people are conformists and do not really care for those who stick out like a nail out the board; most will try to hammer it back in. If you're not a "culture fit", they might even let you go. Risky.
  - majortennis 8y ago
    See they're going to be looking for army guys, cue peter dressed as a clown in the jungle
twoquestions 8y ago
> Take a flight to a random foreign country where you don't know the local language, and where most people don't know English. No hotel reservations in advance, no laptop, no smartphone, minimal budget. Figure out how to survive, have fun, and visit the city's major landmarks over the following 5 days. Bonus points if it's a developing country That sounds like a wonderful way to get kidnapped or murdered. Why do people recommend this? It seems only slightly less dangerous than going to the most dangerous neighborhood in the biggest city you can day-trip to, and start hurling slurs at passers-by. The rest of your advice seems wonderful and I'd highly recommend it!

by whack 8y ago

cperciva 8y ago

- Take a flight to a random foreign country where you don't know the local language, and where most people don't know English. No hotel reservations in advance, no laptop, no smartphone, minimal budget. Figure out how to survive and visit the city's major landmarks over the following 5 days. Bonus points if it's a developing country This could result in you being more than just psychologically uncomfortable. Tourists are, broadly speaking, expected to have hotel rooms booked; showing up at immigration without any advance plans is a good way to be denied entry to some countries. (Yes, even countries you don't need a visa to visit: Border officials can deny you entry on the basis of "this person's story doesn't add up".)

whack 8y ago
You can always make a bogus reservation on a cheap refundable hostel, and cancel it as soon as you get through immigration. That's exactly what I did when I applied for a visa and they insisted on seeing full hotel reservations.
dopeboy 8y ago
Yes on the visa point - can't be totally random. The rest you can. I'm about to embark on a 3 week trip through south east asia. Aside from my liveaboard where I'll be living on a boat and diving (which I have to book in advance), I haven't booked a single accommodation. It can be done; hostels all the way.
- mcv 8y ago
  I did it with my wife when we visited Croatia ages ago. We only planned the flight there (to Split) and the flight back (from Zagreb), and we had to figure out how where to sleep and how to get everywhere. We visited the big island at the coast near Split, we visited Dubrovnic, the big nature park in the middle of the country. It was great. Not hard to do at all. Though I expect some places outside Europe it might get a bit harder.
- c1sc0 8y ago
  Book a cheap AirBnB / hotel for one nigh. Use address. Don’t show up.
sametmax 8y ago
Most of the time, just google an address before leaving, and gives that to the border, saying you will "hand around visiting". I've set foot in almost 30 countries so far, this has never been a problem.

LandR 8y ago

- Do things that will make you stick out. Eg: showing up at work one day in a suit when everyone else is wearing t-shirts. Or vice-versa If you do this prepare for a raft of questions / meetings with you asking if you have a job interview or something today. Are you thinking about leaving? Are you sure you're happy here etc etc... :D

heardyousay 8y ago
Reminds me of this clip from Family Guy [0] where Peter decides to change his wardrobe for work [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEG-FXgAOGg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEG-FXgAOGg I believe most people are conformists and do not really care for those who stick out like a nail out the board; most will try to hammer it back in. If you're not a "culture fit", they might even let you go. Risky.
- majortennis 8y ago
  See they're going to be looking for army guys, cue peter dressed as a clown in the jungle

twoquestions 8y ago

> Take a flight to a random foreign country where you don't know the local language, and where most people don't know English. No hotel reservations in advance, no laptop, no smartphone, minimal budget. Figure out how to survive, have fun, and visit the city's major landmarks over the following 5 days. Bonus points if it's a developing country That sounds like a wonderful way to get kidnapped or murdered. Why do people recommend this? It seems only slightly less dangerous than going to the most dangerous neighborhood in the biggest city you can day-trip to, and start hurling slurs at passers-by. The rest of your advice seems wonderful and I'd highly recommend it!