How do you relax?

Trains.

 

Meditation, long walks at least once a day, exercise when I can and the NYT crossword puzzle/Spelling Bee.

I also try to read for 20-30 minutes a day without looking at any devices, although that is more aspirational than actual.

 

Long walks, reading and watching Tiny Kitchen videos on YouTube.

 

Dire Straits. Anytime, anywhere, you will relax with this band.

And I forget if we've done this, but is there a better first album anywhere?



https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5LlGBkh2rZN-GLWBO4c6Bb3paqOAxHm7

 

Don't do it.

Don't care that I'm late.

 

I made a very big spreadsheet charting the careers of Pro Football Hall of Famers players based on a comment on this message board.

 

Clipping my toenail.

 

Run. Fish. Shoot. Hunt. Read. Bike.

I don't worry about trivial matters and am not wired too tautly.

 

I read Star Trek books. Truly, I just get lost in the stories, the other worlds, and the new civilizations, and boldly go...

Sometimes, I'm actually conscious of the fact that escaping is exactly what I'm doing. But, to me, that's what these books are for.

 

Right now, I am stressed AF. It's not been an easy 2 years for me and when I get really stressed and anxious, it manifests in fun things like me being violently ill, breaking out in hives or having night terrors.

My ways to destress:
*I read. Easy quick fun reads that don't require a lot of brain power.
*I take soaking baths at night, especially with epsom salts and bubble bath, to try to relax my muscles.
*I watch Murder She Wrote and comedies like Golden Girls and Parks & Rec
*Drink: wine, bourbon, whiskey, beer. I'm into supporting local spots right now. I learned how to make Old Fashioneds after one of my local bars did a Virtual Class (delivered all the ingredients and then walked through it over Facebook) and now I have a few of those a week.
*Baking and cooking.
*Nap.
*Take a drive and listen to a good Spotify playlist.
*Stardew Valley. It's this seriously relaxing video game (available on computer or a number of video game devices) where you inherit your grandfather's farm in this idyllic town. After the game teaches you the basic mechanics of how it works, it's choose your own adventure. You can earn your money by farming to your heart's content, or have a bunch of animals and walk around petting your cows all day or go out and fish or go mine. Basically, no matter what you decide to do, the game doesn't punish you or force you to do things a certain way. And it has a serene soundtrack. I've only played 200 odd hours of this game and it really does help me with my stress.

 

First album excellence? Definitely Maybe.