What do you do to relax?
 

When you are at a stressful or trying moment in your life, what do you do to relax?

Within the situation, I make an effort to breathe deeper; it can be very effective in alleviating anxiety.

Outside of that moment, I resort to physical exercise (running or mountain biking) and meditation, but nothing compares to, if possible, taking hold of the problem and sorting it out.

mess around on the computer. masturbate. both at the same time. sit in the tub. watch tv.

anything that will provide some sort of ambience so i can dilute my feelings some. still think about my problems yet not have them at the very forefront where i'll be angry and sad about things.

I got 2 ways. 1's legal, the other ain't.

The legal way: I usually take a step back and take a moment off. Walk around, get some fresh air or get something to eat before going back to the moment and solve whatever problem that cause me to become stressful

The illegal way (Which doesn't happen often): I smoke weed to "force" my body to become more relaxed but I don't do it often b/c A. I don't want to get in trouble. B. I don't want to get addicted. I know it doesn't make whatever caused the stress to go away but...the world ain't perfect.

I play guitar, listen to music or go for a run. I usually have to be alone to relax.

I don't stress much, but when I do I take measures to prevent myself from staying stressed, such as distracting myself temporarily from the thing causing me stress, or reasoning out why I seem so stressed about it.

I make my self a cup of tea, sit down and put my feet up. I might read a good book or just sit and think. I don't watch TV to relax.

I just take a step out of reality, throw on some soothing music and go for a drive to think..but NOT in traffic, usually on a highway. Certain kinds of stress is eased so much from working out, so that is my other way. On top of everything you just need to breathe.

I listen to jazz. Sitting in the sun is also nice.

I do a lot of things, from shooting guns to playing the computer to smoking... something to relax me. I'll hang out with my wife and that always makes the day better. If I'm REALLY stressed sometimes I'll suspend myself alone. I've got a piercing shop practically next door to my house so I have them install the hooks and then I just go home, hang up some privacy sheets on my fence and hang. Just me, my tree, and the wind. Very tranquil and always makes me feel much better.

Jason

Relax? I'm unfamiliar with the concept... If it weren't for stress, I'd be a giant puddle on the floor... Stress is what makes me know I'm alive...

Drink.


It's a crutch... I know.

I go for a nice long run- I always feel better afterwards.

This is cool.

Very very cool.



Me? I do two things.

I read. And I drink. Not at the same time, but both help me "wind down".

Nothing beats a few cold Heinekens at the end of a long day. Make some dinner and then polish off a bottle of wine or two with Mrs Mephisto.


Mr Mephisto

I go surfing.


Other than that I'll play video games or something, but htey don't really relive stress like surfing does.

High quality p-o-t...makes the mind and body numb...also gives a unique third person perspective to the source of the stress...it takes the ego out of the situation which relieves sufferring- a wonderful decompressant.

at work: i just sit there and stare out the window

at home: drink some wine, it has a great relaxing effect

I've just been sitting out in the warm Spring sun reading a cook book and drinking my morning coffee :thumbsup:

I listen to John Mayer ;)

The most relaxing feeling is lying on your back alone in the middle of a 7-acre fully-grown wheat field during a very light drizzle and having the sun shining through the thin rain clouds directly above you. your muscles melt away....

I think about relaxing - then I relax.
I don't associate it with "doing" anything.

"Doing something to relax" is an oxymoronic construction isn't it?

Not really. If i say I am going to go get a book and sit out in the sun and read that is doing something to relax.

I am most relaxed when in the woods. I fish, ride my wheeler, drink around the campfire and enjoy great company.

When I can't get out, I listen to music, light a fire, a candle or 2, have a drink (or not) and look out the window.

Well luckily for me, I don't get stressed. Nervousness is probably the closest I could say I come. But, to gain a deeper state of relaxation than I'm already immersed in, meditation and music are pretty nice techniques.

edit: Just read your post feelgood, and I'd like to point out that the reefer is only addictive to those with so-called "addictive personalities", or who have a tendancy to be addicted (to anything, not just blunts). There are many reasons not to smoke too frequently (memory loss, constantly burning out, damage to your lungs, drain on your wallet), but addiction isn't normally a problem for people.

To relax I listen to some Bob Dylan music or sleep. Writing seems to help sometimes as well. Being bored is sometimes relaxing as well...

I spin records till I can't keep my eyes open

In the past I would ride my sportbike up and down a curvy mountain road. I found that forcing myself to focus on not killing myself made me forget about whatever was troubling me. ;)

But since I've moved to an area with NO curvy, fun-to-ride-on roads, I've sold my bike for money, and thus my stress relief has gone buh-bye.

I've tried to get into one of my old hobbies, racing R/C touring cars, but it requires a 4 hour round trip drive to the nearest track...which I don't even like....so I don't do it as much as I used to.

I've noticed that, since my move, I tend to get stressed alot easier and for longer periods of time.

I just play some TFC or Everquest for awhile to relax...gets my mind off of the day to day crap and into the killing mode and helps release stress

I walk, run or rollerblade...very relaxing. Nice hot shower does it for me as well.

I try and go and fly my rc heli or planes if im at home they can be stress ful to fly but it takes my mind off other things going on

In the past I would go to movies to relax. I could get lost for a couple of hours, and that would work. But now people take calls on their cell phones, and that is so annoying. So, the movies don't work anymore. So, anywhere I can be to get away from computers, televisions, cell phones, radios, man-made noise. I guess I don't get to relax very often.

I get a couple of beers(about 12 or 24) couple of big bags of chips a bag of weed and a big comfordable chair in from of a TV and I'm set;)

I build wooden model ships. It is very involved (although it can be stressful at times) and will take your mind off of anything.

Yes. Personally, I find that doing things and relaxing are contradictory.
Therefore, I either do things or I relax.

My grandmother gave me 2 of those things, I just have to put them together!

Which I am not good at. :|

I've started to get in the habit of semi-meditating. More so of taking 5 deep breaths and repeating a mantra to myself. After my 5 deep breathes, I continue to repeat my mantra to myself for a little bit, then I'll pull myself out of my lil state and generally I'm less stressed/angry/upset etc

I get high.

And that always works the best :thumbsup:

I do several things and typically on a daily basis since I lead a stressful life as it is.

In no particular order:
Workout
Disc Golf
Darts
Marijuana
VideoGames
Masturbate

Depends on where I am when I'm stressed. At work, more or less veg out for a few minutes, and or walk away, play on the net too.
At home, watch tv and drink a few beers. And jack off if no one is home, that always eases some tension.