What Relaxes You?

[Admiral_Young]

I live with a lot of physical pain. It's become increasingly difficult to relax because of it. I used to mediate a lot when I was younger and able to focus and block out most of it. Now not so much. There are a few things that totally relax me. Music, reading, and oddly enough folding laundry are among them. One of the problems is getting in the mood though. My brain is so distracted by various random thoughts that I can't settle it down to listen to music or read. Often find myself procrastinating A LOT. So I was wondering...what do you guys do to relax? What relaxes you?

 

[Mr Silver]

Sex...

...But seriously, nothing like a bit of Love-Making to relax the system and if your short on a partner, theres always the DIY method. Having the occasional 'Smoke' can do wonders, reading and watching a movie or a tv show is always good too

 

[auntiehill]

I find one of the few things that really, really relaxes me is a long, hot shower. I put the water as hot as I can take it, and just let my mind go blank.

When I was doing a lot of writing, whenever I'd get stuck or distracted, I'd go take a shower, and the solution would just pop into my head. I used to shower twice a day, just to relax, but now that I work from my home office, I'm back to just once a day.

 

[Jadzia]

think has made some videos which work for him.

He mentioned them in this thread.

You might like to try those.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Lately, I find Minecraft is a good way to relax, especially on Peaceful mode.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Beyond what has been already mentioned (especially sex and hot showers), I'll say driving. Give me a curvy, scenic road and I'll be happy. Exercising is also very good for relaxing the mind.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Unfortunately sex is not a viable option for me right now...lol...hot showers are indeed good including the odd cold one. I've started going to the gym and have dropped twenty pounds in the last two and a half months, so that bit is covered. Not sure if exercising relaxes me. It might help in the future of relaxing lol.

 

[RandyS]

I live with a lot of physical pain. It's become increasingly difficult to relax because of it.

Me too, man. I have cerebral palsy in both legs and my lower back, and need to use a wheelchair to get around because I tire easily. Walking is not as easy as it was ten years ago. Have you tried pysichical therapy? I go every Thursday and it does help with both the pain and the exhaustion, which, in turn, improves my stamina.

And, agree with the poster who mentioned sex. That relaxes me too. When I'm capable of it, that is. Thank God my girlfriend is understanding.

 

[JiNX-01]

A friend of mine has a really bad back from a fall at work and what helps her to relax and ease some of the discomfort is soaking in a tub.

 

[Clamp]

One of the problems is getting in the mood though. My brain is so distracted by various random thoughts that I can't settle it down to listen to music or read.

Here's the thing right here. You don't need to find new relaxing hobbies. You need to relax your brain.

I used to put on whatever music reflected my current mood. If I was in a good mood, upbeat catchy songs. If I was sullen, I'd play slow sad music.

Then one day I discovered that I could use music to CHANGE my mood. Putting on upbeat music, with which I no doubt had subconsciously associated with being happy, I could actually change my mood from mopey to magnificent!

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yeah I listen to classical music to relax my brain.

 

[thestrangequark]

Exercise is the only thing that really works to relax me, physically and mentally. I can easily walk 8 to ten miles or bike 30 or 40 to calm myself. I don't find working out in a gym relaxing at all -- I need something like walking, biking, running, or swimming that allows me to put on my headphones (well, except in the case of swimming), and completely block out the world. The consistent and rhythmic nature of these types of exercise can induce an almost transe-like state.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Music, especially classical. Reading. Surfing (the web, not the waves). Coloring.

Yes, I said coloring. When I'm at my most stressed, I can spend hours w/ markers or colored pencils, working on a complicated geometric design in a coloring book from Dover Publications. It's very soothing.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I live with a lot of physical pain. It's become increasingly difficult to relax because of it. I used to mediate a lot when I was younger and able to focus and block out most of it. Now not so much. There are a few things that totally relax me. Music, reading, and oddly enough folding laundry are among them. One of the problems is getting in the mood though. My brain is so distracted by various random thoughts that I can't settle it down to listen to music or read. Often find myself procrastinating A LOT. So I was wondering...what do you guys do to relax? What relaxes you?

I'm so sorry you are in pain A_Young.
If I need to get to sleep I find fresh bed linen, a new nightie, scented candles and an episode of ST TOS does the trick ~ after a couple of glasses of wine naturally

I find my brain will not go to sleep before by body does, so that's why I like to dose off to dvds ~ if I've seen them before I go to sleep earlier

 

[TerokNor]

Singing (though only when alone), bathing, going on a walk and a bit odd maybe, but what relaxes me the most are smooth, cold buttons...

TerokNor

 

[Sephiroth]

get yourself a .22 and go down to the gun range, you learn quickly to tune out the other shooters and you can concentrate on getting your sights to line up just right and putting your sight picture where you need it and let the rest of the world disappear

 

[Roshi]

I lay the guitar. I'm no virtuoso but a few bends/hammer ons/pull offs do the trick for me.

 

[Mary Ann]

I enjoy the challenge of difficult knitting and crochet patterns but always have some simple projects on the go that don't require much, if any, brainpower. I'm doing something productive while my mind can wander to wherever it wants to go, and I find it very soothing.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

Being entirely truthful, I actually almost never relax. The circumstances of my late childhood and adolescence were such that I'm pretty much in a permanent state of physiological arousal. Sort of a constant fight-or-flight response. I'm constantly alert, usually pretty exhausted as a result of that, I walk at something approaching light speed, and I often find it difficult to concentrate. Note that this is entirely physiological - my mind is actually very good at concentrating, it comes naturally, but it has to fight the body, which resists any attempt to just shut down its sensory obssession with the outside world. My body monitors its surroundings like a hawk, and when my mind starts settling into a cosy concentration it tries to pull me back out. I'm so used to being tense regardless of my actual mood or emotions that when I do manage to release some of the tension the sensation is...very strange.

Sometimes when I'm tired and my mind wanders, when I'm reading or writing, I find myself semi-relaxing. Music is the biggest help, I find - I respond well to soothing music. So if I'm feeling too tense I'll either play some or "open some files" in my memory and play it back internally. Because I'm always tense, I play music pretty much all the time. I don't think I could go without music for more than a day or so.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I lay the guitar. I'm no virtuoso but a few bends/hammer ons/pull offs do the trick for me.

I don't want to take the 'p' but hopefully you forgot it.

I enjoy the challenge of difficult knitting and crochet patterns but always have some simple projects on the go that don't require much, if any, brainpower. I'm doing something productive while my mind can wander to wherever it wants to go, and I find it very soothing.

Anything to take you mind off what's going on 'in the background' is great.
Mine is crytic crosswords ~ then again they can come back to haunt you at 4.30am when you suddenly wake up and say "Oh it's 'inopportune' ~ 'run into pope' ... it's an anagram ~ thankfully I have pen and paper at my bedside table.
I'm so sad