What do you do to de-stress?

[Jazzy]

I go for a long walk or go fishing.

---

What do you do?

 

[tango]

A long hard walk is good for me to destress. I usually need to do something that involves physical exertion so that means either speed or harder terrain.

Several months ago I needed to clear my head so just set off on a walk and let my wife know she could track where I was with my phone but I didn't know how far I'd walk or how long I'd be. When I got home I think I'd walked a shade under 12 miles, and she said she could see instantly that I was feeling more peaceful.

I've got a few go-to routes in the mountains that I enjoy. The one I do the most is about 7 miles and takes in a beautiful vista near the furthest point. I've walked that route more times than I care to count.

 

[Lamb]

Music, walking, eating

 

[NewCreation435]

reading, take a walk, pray, read my Bible, listen to music, go sit outside for a while, play with my cats

 

[Forgiven1]

Walk or piece quilt tops.

 

[Faith]

Play with my furkids.

 

[Andrew]

Getting lost in making up new songs on the guitar but I rarely have the time when inspiration strikes and if I force myself to do it I usually end up feeling more frustrated and anxious
A nice long relaxing bath usually does it followed by a scoop or two of ice cream just before going to bed!

 

[Forgiven1]

I forgot to add cuddling with my dog.

 

[Cam]

There's nothing better than a scorching hot bath with epsom salt.

 

[ZandraJoi]

I’m a nature person. We live on wooded acreage so I get outside quite often. I tinker around with my flowers. Love tending them, weeding, watering. I challenge myself to identify birds, trees, butterflies. We have an enclosure from our walkout basement to a 6’ high fence where our cats can go in & out through a cat door. I spend a lot of time with them as well as our dog. I also unplug often throughout the day. Those are ways I destress & keep myself mentally & physically healthy.

 

[Lamb]

I’m a nature person. We live on wooded acreage so I get outside quite often. I tinker around with my flowers. Love tending them, weeding, watering. I challenge myself to identify birds, trees, butterflies. We have an enclosure from our walkout basement to a 6’ high fence where our cats can go in & out through a cat door. I spend a lot of time with them as well as our dog. I also unplug often throughout the day. Those are ways I destress & keep myself mentally & physically healthy.

How many different types of birds are in your area?

Living on extended land sure can be relaxing

 

[Josiah]

A big tumbler of quality Scotch (j/k)


Anything very physical. I literally work it out.



.

 

[ValleyGal]

This is an interesting thread - walking seems to be a fairly universal go-to. I eat. I eat way too much, and I escape into either tv, freecell, or both. These activities do not require me to be mentally present, since when I'm stressed, my survival brain is working and it's exhausting to use my thinking brain at the same time. So I try not to think. It's akin to meditation, just let the survival brain do its thing until the stress hormones have dissipated.

In my studies though, being physical is good, like most of you, going out for a walk. It's the flight/fight physical response, where mine is more the freeze response. Another good thing is connecting with nature. Studies have shown that people who spend time in nature, gardening, for example, have less stress overall than those who don't connect to nature. So good for those of you who go walking in nature! I would like to do more of that and would like to make it my go-to rather than eat and play freecell!