I think it's important to have something to be passionate about.

[Denninmi]

Something that has really helped me - developing a real passion for cycling. Not just something "to do", but something I think about daily, try to learn about, discuss with like-minded guys, am trying to become serious about so that I can enter some amateur events in a year or two. When things were bad, it was an escape. Now, it's a true passion - I look forward to getting in that time more than anyone can know. And when I am doing it, I enjoy competing against myself in so many ways - time, watts/power, route, getting a bit into working with cadence.

Finding that true passion and working in developing it is a great stress reliever.