Relaxtion method

[Fearnest]

Stresses of life: large
Must find a way to relax!
Fun and peace? Priceless...

[Arlen]

I would have had no excuse, and it certainly wouldn't be praiseworthy.

Perhaps not, but your self-control and humanity in the face of all of this certainly are praiseworthy.
I can't imagine how stressed out and sad you must be right now, but you are a good person. And you deserve kudos.

[Arlen]

One thing that my fiance swears by to relax is colouring-in Mandalas. She has quite a few really beautiful ones and it definately seems soothing.
I like to go fly-fishing, work out and walk my dog.

[davedove]

Other than the CASUAL walks through nature (don't make it a contest), several others have hit on it. PLAY! Use Legos, clay, role playing, whatever. But just play. So much of today's world is things we HAVE to do: meet deadlines, finish projects, take care of the house (or apartment or whatever), get the kids to activities, etc. Just take a little while and forget all that and play.

[Jerry]

I fish, I go for walks in our seventy some acres of forest, and I shoot. It is so relaxing to punch a tight cluster of holes in a paper target. I also deer hunt, in season of course. Harvesting a deer isn't necessary. Just sitting up in the tree stand, in the woods, with all of your senses heightened and hearing every little sound is relaxing. I sometimes just go out in the off season and just sit in one of my stands for an hour or two.

[AL-58]

Riding my bike on quiet morning watching the scenery change, by myself. Meditating alone inside the helmet basically. When first struck with hypertension related migraines it was the only way I could shake them, a good cold morning ride especially(well, cold for me). I'm on medication now we know the reason.

Long distance rides, just me and the dog are good too, the more isolated the better, just get out, camp somewhere quiet by myself etc. Dog is better company than many people and she never complains.

At home, picking at the banjo helps free my mind of any thoughts also, still can't play it though

Al

[ckelly327]

Qi-Gong (many various spellings) can be a great way to get away from life for a little while. It's the spiritual basis for Tai-Chi. It's a very relaxing 30 minutes and while you can do it indoors, I like it best outdoors.

Other than that when I need a break, I get on the couch and pet and play with my dog. We can do anything from play fighting to just laying around and having her belly rubbed. Either way, it relieves the stress.

[DrewO]

Raphael,
I used to go once a week to men's yoga after work, with my then boss, and his boss who was Chief Executive of the organisation and was a great believer that yoga was a good stressbuster and bonding exercise for senior managers - though we usually undid all the good by going to the pub afterwards and drinking too much alcohol.

Yoga's definitely worth a shot. Try Bikram Yoga. The postures are simple, but the heat really requires you to focus. You'll feel great afterwards and won't have much desire to go to the pub (at least not until you've downed a gallon or two of water).