So tell me people, how do you relax when things get hectic or it's been a long day? I usually go with my breathing count to help me relax. I have been doing this for years and it really works! All it is, is laying down flat breathing in through the nose counting to seven. Then breathing out through the mouth counting to eleven. Repeating it a few times. And that is it!

I am curious to know what everyone does to relax at the end of the day, so I can try it myself. Anyone care to share with me?

Browse inthe00s :D

If you mean physical relaxation–I sit or lay down, close my eyes and breath in and out deeply and slowly. I set a timer of about 5-30 minutes on my watch, so I don't fall asleep.

when Im ready to ring my mom's neck and she wont shut up I start breathing heavy.

I take a pill, because my therapist prescribed it for me.  :)

I may run on the treadmill for 20-30 minutes.

Youtube and inthe00s.

Listen to music and/or browse the sites I am apart of.

I play games, either through websites like Pogo or I download them on my tablet.



Cat

I browse forums, read a variety of articles, exercise and walk my dog.

I try to tease some and get teased.  Nothing like a good little laugh or two

Thanks everyone! I didn't know exercise helped with relaxation. I don't really exercise all the time except for walking. 

Browse inthe00s :D

If you mean physical relaxation–I sit or lay down, close my eyes and breath in and out deeply and slowly. I set a timer of about 5-30 minutes on my watch, so I don't fall asleep.


Roll in your pokeball.  :o  :o  :o

I listen to internet music, browse the internet and enjoy a nice hot beverage on the side. :)

One thing I like to do is turn to the "Soundscapes" channel on Music Choice. That channel plays very relaxing music to ease the mind.

I crochet, knit, read, write, and just this year have learned to play ukulele. I had played bass guitar previously, but the uke is so much fun. Most recent songs I have learned are House of Gold by 21 Pilots, Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townsend and Big Empty by STP.  :)

Thanks everyone! I didn't know exercise helped with relaxation. I don't really exercise all the time except for walking.


It does if you have severe anxiety, like me! I wouldn't exercise as much if I didn't have anxiety. Or if
you have too much energy, it can help you relax. For some people, exercise isn't all that relaxing.

From the book The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal (one of my favourites), this is what I wrote down as the best ways to bust stress (according to the American Psychological Association):


Exercise or playing sports*
Reading a book*
Listening to music*
Spending time with friends*
Getting a massage
Going for a walk*
Meditating *
Praying or a spiritual practice
Spending time with a creative hobby*


The least effective ways:


Gambling
Shopping
Smoking
Drinking
Eating
Playing video games*
Surfing the Internet*
Watching TV for more than two hours


* I put an asterisk besides the ones I'm "guilty" of :D

Citations: https://books.google.ca/books?id=evc6jaibNd8C&lpg=PT193&ots=a8qXF6CHlC&dq=chocolate%20leads%20to%20guilt%20british%20journal%20of%20clinical%20psychology&pg=PT193#v=onepage&q&f=false

I listen to Eckhart Tolle talk. Not a shade, really, the man is so Zen, he's like a real life Xanax!  8)  8)  8)

From the book The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal (one of my favourites), this is what I wrote down as the best ways to bust stress (according to the American Psychological Association):


Exercise or playing sports*
Reading a book*
Listening to music*
Spending time with friends*
Getting a massage
Going for a walk*
Meditating *
Praying or a spiritual practice
Spending time with a creative hobby*


The least effective ways:


Gambling
Shopping
Smoking
Drinking
Eating
Playing video games*
Surfing the Internet*
Watching TV for more than two hours


* I put an asterisk besides the ones I'm "guilty" of :D

Citations: https://books.google.ca/books?id=evc6jaibNd8C&lpg=PT193&ots=a8qXF6CHlC&dq=chocolate%20leads%20to%20guilt%20british%20journal%20of%20clinical%20psychology&pg=PT193#v=onepage&q&f=false
I feel relaxed and very happy when I am with my granddaughter.

I also like to play my video game during my down time.

I also like to play my video game during my down time.
It is Words With Friends and Candy Crush Saga for me.

From the book The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal (one of my favourites), this is what I wrote down as the best ways to bust stress (according to the American Psychological Association):


Exercise or playing sports*
Reading a book*
Listening to music*
Spending time with friends*
Getting a massage
Going for a walk*
Meditating *
Praying or a spiritual practice
Spending time with a creative hobby*


The least effective ways:


Gambling
Shopping
Smoking
Drinking
Eating
Playing video games*
Surfing the Internet*
Watching TV for more than two hours


* I put an asterisk besides the ones I'm "guilty" of :D

Citations: https://books.google.ca/books?id=evc6jaibNd8C&lpg=PT193&ots=a8qXF6CHlC&dq=chocolate%20leads%20to%20guilt%20british%20journal%20of%20clinical%20psychology&pg=PT193#v=onepage&q&f=false



Ooh, getting a massage. I am so spoiled. I get one every two weeks-and he makes house calls. After the New Year, I just may up that to once a week. Like I said, I am SOOOOO spoiled.



Cat

video game player

I listen to internet music, browse the internet and enjoy a nice hot beverage on the side. :)



One thing I like to do is turn to the "Soundscapes" channel on Music Choice. That channel plays very relaxing music to ease the mind.



I crochet, knit, read, write, and just this year have learned to play ukulele. I had played bass guitar previously, but the uke is so much fun. Most recent songs I have learned are House of Gold by 21 Pilots, Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townsend and Big Empty by STP.  :)



Hmm...I think I'll do the hot beverage, along with the soundscape music and the knitting. I know how to sew but I have never knitted anything. I'll have to look into that.

I listen to Eckhart Tolle talk. Not a shade, really, the man is so Zen, he's like a real life Xanax!  8)  8)  8)


Lol, never heard of him. I've heard of people having calm, soft voices that are soothing and relax.

Hmm...I think I'll do the hot beverage, along with the soundscape music and the knitting. I know how to sew but I have never knitted anything. I'll have to look into that.


Who taught you how to sew? :)

Who taught you how to sew? :)


Watching my mom when I was a kid. It is actually my hidden talent, I sew with my hands(without a sewing machine).

Listen to music
Eat
Go to the lake
Let go of my thoughts by taking a walk

Go to the lake


I wish! Unfortunately for me, there isn't a lake anywhere near here.

Hmm...I think I'll do the hot beverage, along with the soundscape music and the knitting. I know how to sew but I have never knitted anything. I'll have to look into that.
That would be good to do. :) My mom took knitting lessons a few years back and knitted a few scarfs.

I wish! Unfortunately for me, there isn't a lake anywhere near here.



Aw, too bad about that.

On a related note, I like to go near the beach to relax, since I live a few short miles from the coastline. :) But right now the air quality around here isn't very good due to the smoke from an ongoing wildfire. 8-P

Aw, too bad about that.

On a related note, I like to go near the beach to relax, since I live a few short miles from the coastline. :) But right now the air quality around here isn't very good due to the smoke from an ongoing wildfire. 8-P


I'm guessing in California there are many beaches. The only one close by is a good drive away. I would have to wait for the Summer time anyway since we are in the mid New England Winter. Brrrrrrr!

I'm guessing in California there are many beaches. The only one close by is a good drive away. I would have to wait for the Summer time anyway since we are in the mid New England Winter. Brrrrrrr!

Yeah, there are. The coastline of California is hundreds of miles long, so there's plenty of beaches along it. :)

Watch old films or makeup tutorials/reviews.

Watch old films or makeup tutorials/reviews.


Like on QVC?

Watching my mom when I was a kid. It is actually my hidden talent, I sew with my hands(without a sewing machine).


What can you sew?

Watch old films or makeup tutorials/reviews.

That's what I like to do, watch films on Netflix and YouTube.
You watch makeup tutorials?

You watch makeup tutorials?


Sorry I meant to highlight watching old films.

If I'm not spending half the day in bed, I love listening to music and playing video games. Another good way to de stress is have some tea or hot chocolate in front of the computer, or to take a hot bath.

If I'm not spending half the day in bed, I love listening to music and playing video games. Another good way to de stress is have some tea or hot chocolate in front of the computer, or to take a hot bath.



That's what I enjoy.

What can you sew?



I can sew ANYTHING! If there's a piece of clothing that is torn, I can sew it together and make them look new.



If I'm not spending half the day in bed, I love listening to music and playing video games. Another good way to de stress is have some tea or hot chocolate in front of the computer, or to take a hot bath.


Yeah, I had tea the other day it helped some.

I can sew ANYTHING! If there's a piece of clothing that is torn, I can sew it together and make them look new.


Yeah, I had tea the other day it helped some.



Do you sew by hand or by machine?

Do you sew by hand or by machine?


With my hands. It takes a lot of patience!

With my hands. It takes a lot of patience!


What's the hardest thing you've sewn?

I can sew ANYTHING! If there's a piece of clothing that is torn, I can sew it together and make them look new.

That's great! Perhaps you could sew up some of my family's torn clothing sometime. ;)




Yeah, I had tea the other day it helped some.

That often helps me too, when I'm in pain or when I just want to relax.

That's what I enjoy.

They're fun things! Who says relaxation means nothing with excitement?



I can sew ANYTHING! If there's a piece of clothing that is torn, I can sew it together and make them look new.


Yeah, I had tea the other day it helped some.

Tea or any hot drink especially on a cold day really. Especially when paired with other comfy things such as sitting in your favorite chair or in bed even, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, wearing soft slippers.

They're fun things! Who says relaxation means nothing with excitement?

I agree... sometimes doing something I enjoy helps clear my mind.

Gardening - the closest adult thing that comes to what I did as a kid playing in the mud/grass lol.

Just being in nature - however it's hard as an adult male to just go in parks with children as it makes others uncomfortable. Talk about double standards, I bet a single lady in a park doesn't raise so many eyebrows.

Drinking with friends - self-explanatory, wine is an antidepressant for me. Beer not so much, my body hates it.

Going to the beach - I wish I lived somewhere near the coast.

Writing lyrics/poetry/drawing


Playing basketball
Basically anything that has to do with offline activities.

They're fun things! Who says relaxation means nothing with excitement?
Tea or any hot drink especially on a cold day really. Especially when paired with other comfy things such as sitting in your favorite chair or in bed even, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, wearing soft slippers.


It can also mean being one with yourself.

I agree... sometimes doing something I enjoy helps clear my mind.


or just taking long walks.

Watching a good movie

watching YouTube videos
playing my video game
listening to podcasts

Now that I have a Tablet with SiriusXM, I can relax with the music. (If I want to really relax, I can turn on the Spa channel.)

If not sleeping and it's sunny outside,  I'd be in my garden

just listening to some internet radio
watching some YouTube videos or maybe some Netflix
maybe playing my video game.

I get on youtube

I get on youtube
I find myself viewing a series of short films on YouTube, again and again.

I find myself viewing a series of short films on YouTube, again and again.


and also on Netflix too as well.

I find myself viewing a series of short films on YouTube, again and again.


I was just watching some clips from Coming To America

and also on Netflix too as well.
I am finding now I am getting less attention time to watch something on television, I watch films in segments, and short videos only now.

I am finding now I am getting less attention time to watch something on television, I watch films in segments, and short videos only now.


I'm watching less television myself and pay attention to more YouTube & Netflix too.

I'm watching less television myself and pay attention to more YouTube & Netflix too.
btw, my Netflix viewing is watched on television.

btw, my Netflix viewing is watched on television.


mine is by computer.

I have returned to drinking chocolate milk

video game player


Old school gamer here!! I haven't played any video games in years. It was something I would do everyday in my teens and 20s, but these days I don't seem to have time for gaming.

all the good games are gone anyway

Old school gamer here!! I haven't played any video games in years. It was something I would do everyday in my teens and 20s, but these days I don't seem to have time for gaming.


I used to play video games a lot during my childhood years.

all the good games are gone anyway
It's all online now?

It's all online now?


Yes, a lot of them are.

Listening to music or an audiobook or reading a book are my preferred methods these days.