Here's a simple question for you. What do you do to relax? What calms you down, loosens your tightened muscles so they release held tension, clears your mind of the thousand and one things you've been thinking about?
There are times, most especially during these unsettling national and world circumstances, when taking a few moments, hours or days (if necessary and/or possible) to relax, clear your head and reset your physical body to a more comfortable condition is beneficial, let alone vital, to your well-being and to that of those around you.
What do I do to relax?
Although the kinds of handwork I'm passionate about are very satisfying and fulfill my need to create, I'll confess doing most of them doesn't fill the bill in the way I'm thinking of as true relaxation. Perhaps knitting a simple pattern while listening to an interesting audio book comes close. Maybe.
Or lying by the water on a sunny day and listening to the waves gently lapping up on the shore can lull me into a state of tranquility. But not having a cabin on a lake, or having a heckuva lot of free days in warm weather when such a thing is possible, this opportunity rarely comes by.
For pure unwinding, loosening of tense muscles, shedding disturbing (or interesting . . . or necessary) thoughts from my mind, losing myself in a truly good book, peeling through the pages is what produces satisfying relaxation for me. I'm temporarily transported to a different world, one that can entertain, uplift or even provide subliminal energy or revitalization.
Okay, your turn. What do you do to relax? Don't be shy about commenting. Maybe your method(s) will give inspiration to the rest of us!
19 comments:
Lately I escape current events by watching Poirot while doing needlework. This morning, though, I woke from a nightmare needing to clear my head of the ick. For that I watched Pointless (British quiz show) on youtube.
Wow, that is a deep subject, Mama Pea! I agree that a good book can take one away from reality, sometimes so far away, that nothing gets done!! Sometimes, if I'm feeling 'antsy', sitting down with my knitting grounds me. As for stress relief, living as we do now, there is not too much to stress about, and I am so thankful for the peace we have found here. We both had stressful jobs, and it is wonderful to not have those anymore. As for the state of the world, there is not too much I can do about that, so I look after my small piece of it, and don't watch the news very often, because that is stress-inducing!
Basically, I do about the same things you do. I love to Quilt, knit, crochet, do jigsaw puzzles, read and write letters to my friends! Also like to Bake and love my cat, Crumbie ! Always looking for new recipes. Which the internet is good for that! Nice question. Take care!
I like to read a good book or listen to an audio book throughout the year and in the winter I love to do jigsaw puzzles and go ice fishing. The summer time you can find me on the lake either floating in the water or fishing from our pontoon or boat. We have a very long driveway going thru the forest so I walk several times a day for relaxation just listening to the sounds and looking at the trees and watching for deer, turkeys, fox or quail. Love Minnesota!
The top three that don’t involve animals as I could sit in my barn for days would be fiber pursuits. Knitting is last on the scale of three it goes two ways. A simple repetitious pattern such as a hat or fingerless mitts is good. A more complicated is too as I can loose myself on the stitch count and that takes me away.
#2 is weaving as all facets from planning and warping to the melodic rhythm of the beater when opening a shed or throwing a pass with the shuttle and the ever changing rhythms of the treadles.
#1 contender for literally leaving the room without actually leaving is spinning on my wheels. I know each wheel so intimately I can spin even in a dark room or close my eyes and spin into a place of solitude . On occasion I have spun myself into such deep relaxation I have been asleep at the wheel.
If I could have one job only it would be as a production spinner.
What floats everyone else boat?
I'm with Kathy, taking walks really helps me. Part of it is being outside in the bigger world and connecting with nature. Part of it is moving my body. The more stressed I am, the longer I need to walk and be outside.
If its not too far into winter, doing outside chores helps me. Things like raking leaves, cleaning up garden beds. Of course some times thinking of those things as items I "have to get done" adds to the stress lol. But once I'm out there sweating and listening to chickadees I always feel more relaxed.
When it is just too miserable to be outside I also love escaping in a good book. If I'm super stressed I might add an herbal cup of tea and rub some lavender oil under my nose. If I'm too tired to read then comforting shows like The Great British Baking Show or good comedians to make me laugh fit the bill.
I read -- every day --
And reading in my lawn chair at the cabin next to the lake is almost perfect -we just purchased a cabin and 14 days into ownership -- haven't had enough time to sit and read -- but next summer cannot come soon enough ...
I have stopped watching the news -- national and local -- I just can't handle the overload and have lost the ability to sift thru the clutter between fact/fiction ... and I'm an elected County Commissioner --- and am up for re-election this year -- for the first time ever I have no one running against me -- which in itself is sad -- people need to be involved -- yet at the same time I'm grateful to be unopposed -- I don't have to argue fact/fiction with someone who's trying to rattle me ...
Self care needs to be a priority -- find your way ...
I'm not sure there's anything I myself can do to completely relax; that is in the hands of a competent massage therapist or my husband if he is so inclined. Unfortunately he is not often inclined, and I rarely (less than once a year) indulge myself with a professional massage (although that happened just last week; AHHHHHH). But there are several things I can do to clear my mind, reset my body, and calm my spirit that are readily available to me: a vigorous walk, working with my horse, listening to something informative and entertaining while spinning.
I used to read voraciously, but a really good, absorbing book is hard on me, and my family. I don't want to put it down until it's done, and then I miss being in it. If I have to stop reading, it's like being pulled out of a deep sleep or a good dream that you are loathe to interrupt.
Usually, I'm so pooped at the end of the day that I just fall asleep without thinking about how to relax.
Number one on my list is reading. As a widow I can lose myself in a book and no one suffers. And like some of the other posters, I NO longer watch or read any political news. Just too depressing.
All I have to do is touch my cat Punkerpuss. Something about just making a connection with her eases my whole body. She'll give a little chirp without even waking up and I just totally relax. It also helps me to me in a quiet room with just her. No tv, radio etc.
Believe or not I'll cook to relax. Other times, it's watch a movie on the tv, knit. play a game on the computer, or piddle fart with seed catalogs.
Hi, All You Wonderful Commenters!
All of your various comments have been so interesting to me and although we're all different, we still have the same desires when it comes to remaining sane and stable! Plus, I'm getting a little more of a peek into some of your personalities that I didn't know before. :o)
Hope to see more comments yet. Keep 'em comin'. Interesting, interesting!
Sewing, quilting, or needlework usually, it depends on how the projects are going. I'd say reading, but I think I need my eyes checked as that usually leads to my other relaxation item - naps. I'd say mindless TV but way too many political ads right now.
I wish I could add knitting, but I don't know how well enough to relax and not use foul language. Or weeding - while it can be meditative, until I've been at it long enough I'm mentally fussing about too dry, too wet, too many bitey bugs, why the bug repellant not working?, no help, rats - that plant looks bad, oh crap now bindweed is here too!?, how much will my hip will kick my arse afterward, etc. The challenge is keeping at it until all that passes.
I love to sit in nature. I'll drag my lawn chair, to the side of a river, a creek, or on a mountain and just sit. I love to watch the birds - and sit among flowers.
When I am stressed, I like to have a bonfire. We have a waterfall in our backyard and pond with some fish and I enjoy watching the fish. I have a black lab named Laydee who is hysterical. Taking her to the lake to swim can melt away the worldly stress of this life. I also have a comedic cat. I'm pretty simple. I'm an introvert so anything that gets me away from the noise and a lot of people helps me to de-stress.
I know I sound rather dull, don't I? To each his own, I guess.
Reading, trying out a new recipe, quilting, but most important, walking in the woods. I start out walking fast and soon find myself staring in awe, stock still, in the woods, looking at one tree. Different ones each time, but I've lived in this place with a small patch of woods for 46 years, and still find myself awe struck by the magnificence of the trees around me. These giants have such a presence that they can stop my in my tracks and bring me back down to earth in the best way possible. Also, somehow, remind me of what really matters.
I have to admit I can't relax until the end of the day. I relax by watching "Perry Mason" in bed at 10:30 with 3 quilts and the kitties on each side of me. While the tv is on I am in and out of sleep, and when the light goes out we are sleeping almost instantly. It doesn't take much. Phil
Hi, All -
What I'm reading is that we all find our own way of relaxing when and how it benefits us most. Yes, reconnecting with nature, even when we just take a couple of minutes to stop, breathe and take in the environment around us while "working" outside, can be a perk at any time. And if animals are involved in our relaxation, that's a big plus. Methinks we're all conscious of our needs and are doing what needs to be done!
I walk almost every day weather permitting and that is always renewing to me and I love handwork too but to truly "get away" from sad or bad thoughts, which sometimes wake me in the night, I also turn to books.
They are about the only thing that really gets me out of the sad thought syndrome. During the day I can literally work them away but at night not so much....I don't feel like getting up in the middle of the night and going to work on something! LOL! So I always have my books. Not only do they get me away from the thoughts in my head but they are like a lullaby and eventually I can turn out the light and go back to sleep.
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