What little things do you do to relieve stress?

[Ariana Celeste]

What with the holiday season, I'm sure I'm not the only one around here under a lot of stress right now (although for completely different reasons, lol).

What little things do you do to help lower your stress levels? Share with me, and maybe someone else could use the advice, too. :)

I like to drink strong, hot peppermint tea with a splash of milk and a teaspoon of sugar. :loveya: It works wonders sometimes.

[skygazer]

1. Well, I drink too much booze

Which isn't the best way to handle it.

Seriously, I like to draw a nice, deep, hot bubble bath, light a candle and soak. I'm one of those people who HAS to be doing something but I force myself not to bring a book and just lay back and enjoy. Works wonders.

I also like to treat myself to a pedicure. Inexpensive and feels so great.

I love tea, too. Though I drink black tea with no milk or sugar. There's something quite comforting about a fragrant cup of tea.

[peacefreak]

6. Well, a little booze...

But pretty much the same thing. I'm about to draw a bath, add a pipe, Jameson's, candle, Ray LaMontagne, & chocolate truffles. That's how I'm going to get rid of a day in retail hell.

[Ariana Celeste]

17. I drink too much at times.

Been trying to control that. lol.

[cwydro]

19. I'm a black tea drinker too

with no additives. I love it.

A bubble bath is the best, with a candle...fantastic.

[u4ic]

2. Meditate

Be amongst nature (we have some fabulous green areas in the city)

Often talking helps me relieve stress (and when I'm stressed, I can talk up a storm); so talking to someone, not even about anything in particular, is often a stress buster for me

Laughing. Watching my favourite comedy shows or movies that I have on tape/DVD

Something grounding, like dancing or tai chi.

[Ariana Celeste]

31. i've found that light meditation helps me sleep

not when i have insomnia but just those nights where my mind can't slow down. :)

comedy is good... i think i may watch some Home Movies or Sealab 2021 tonight

[SPKrazy]

37. I Like Meditation Too

used to do a lot more of it

self hypnosis

I plan to start learning Yoga this new year!

Exercise helps me

talking to a trusted friend, no judgment helps a lot

being quiet and listening

helping someone out gets me out of myself

reading something that is distracting-mindless even

DU Lounge!

:hi:

[u4ic]

44. D'oh!

How could I forget DUing...

[SPKrazy]

46. It's Too Obvious!

:hug: :loveya:

[u4ic]

47. I USED to be

the Mistress of the obvious. :silly:

[SPKrazy]

48. Oh Well, Now You Can Be

the mistress of something else?


;) :hug:

[u4ic]

54. Hmmmm...

:dilemma:

[SPKrazy]

55. Oh, I'm Not Supposed To Give Orders Though!

I do remember that!

:rofl:

[u4ic]

56. It was a suggestion

that's something entirely different. ;)


(but still subject to my whims...)

[SPKrazy]

57. ...

got it!

:evilgrin:

[GOPisEvil]

3. Listen to music.

I've got music for just about every mood.

[bigwillq]

4. Smoke, drink

watch porn.



How ya doing love?

:hi: :hug:

[Ariana Celeste]

9. feeling a little better

we think we've found a good lawyer... we are seeing him again tomorrow. :hi: :hug: you?

[bigwillq]

11. Oh that's good.

You must have a good one of those!

I am ok. Working. But then I have the next four days off! :bounce:


:hi:

[Ariana Celeste]

16. so does my old man

4 day weekend i mean.... it will be very good for us, needless to say :P

You got plans with the man?

[bigwillq]

21. Probably won't see him until Tues.

He is taking his daughter to NYC tomm. to visit her mother, who flew in from North Carolina.

Then Sun. XMAS eve with my mom's family. :woohoo:

Then Monday just my mom, dad and sis will have dinner. It's my mom's b-day. Then we're going to my aunt's to see my cousin who can't make it to XMAS eve. She'll be with her hubby's family.

Then I am going to see my friend Kate, who's driving up from Baltimore.

So it'll be on Tues that the man and I will celebrate!

[Ariana Celeste]

30. sounds like your holiday weekend is packed!

right on! I hope you have a great time!! :hug:

the man and i are gonna be alone, so we will be playing a lot of final fantasy 12. lol.

[bigwillq]

35. Yes, it's going to be busy.

But I am just glad I have four days off.

You and the man will have a fine time. Just being together helps. :)

[Ariana Celeste]

40. it will be great

really we just need to relax, you know what i mean? this break will be the best thing for us- since its holidays we cant contact people or anything so we wont be tempted to spend the whole time working on our case

[flvegan]

5. Lift weights/go to the gym

That relieves the stress. Then, I have a couple drinks to relieve the pain that sets in after lifting weights.

[bigwillq]

12. You're such a stud.

A buff stud.

:P :)

:hi:

[anti-everything]

7. Beer, Cigarettes, and Grand Theft Auto games

[Ariana Celeste]

14. welcome to DU!

:hi:

I admit last Tuesday I broke down and had a cigarette for the first time since March. Oh well.

[anti-everything]

18. Thanks.

I quit and restart smoking 20-40 times a day.

[bigwillq]

22. Hi!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[anti-everything]

25. Thank you

[bigwillq]

28. How do you like DU so far?

:shrug:

[anti-everything]

29. Very entertaining

and very friendly. I've only had about 5 hours of sleep in the last two nights combined because of DU and work combined, but so far, it's been worth it.

[Redstone]

8. Go out, find a freeper, beat the shit out of him, and steal his wallet, hi ho.

Redstone

[bigwillq]

13. Violence and theft?!?!

REDSTONE!


BAD BOY! :spank:



:P :)

[Redstone]

34. Hey, it relieves the hell out of the stress. Try it sometime.

Redstone

[bigwillq]

36. I don't steal.

SO I can't.

[Beausoir]

62. Me too!

[cwydro]

10. I run every day.

People think that it's for physical health, but that is only the side benefit. Running is for my mental health. I have done it for more than 20 years; I started in college. I also love my doggie walks. But running has kept me sane through many a horrible situation.

That being said, I do like a glass of wine or a mug of beer.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

15. A drink, some music and

a crossword puzzle. Takes my mind away from troubles. Hope you feel better. :toast:

[hijinx87]

20. two different things

immediate term: I twirl my pen around my thumb. (it's actually kinda cool)

long term: heavy drinking.

[Deja Q]

23. Fiddle with my

Photoshop.

[Auggie]

26. Nice job HypnoToad

[Deja Q]

60. Thanks!

You should see where I shove the circuit board...

:rofl:

[Beausoir]

63. Wow! That is so cool. Excellent work.

[Guava Jelly]

24. Talking to my friends on du relieves stress.

A friend that I pm every day does wonders for my stress level.

[SPKrazy]

38. That Does Help

have a couple of those myself

have really grown to lurve that interaction

:hi:

[sarge43]

27. Listen to music - Hayden or Mozart work for me

Read some poetry, watch a favorite comedy, during the summer putter in the garden, if all that fails, just sit, eyes closed, clear the screen and breathe deeply and slowly for 5 minutes.

[pitohui]

32. you drink strong hot peppermint tea to relieve stress

shoot me now

[Ariana Celeste]

39. thanks for the suggestion

:hi:

[SPKrazy]

41. ........................

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[bigwillq]

53. LOL!

:rofl:

[InternalDialogue]

33. Take a walk, stare at the panoramas at the natural history museum.

Those often come as a single activity, since it's just a 2-mile walk to the museum for me.

When the stress doesn't leave, there's nothing that beats turning off all the noises in the house, sitting down with a candle and meditating. Deep breathing and willing the body and mind to calm themselves do wonders for me.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

68. the Natural History Museum!

I love that place!

The deer are looking a little tattered though. I found out last time, if I show up a little buzzed... they don't look so... aged. :)

[bicentennial_baby]

42. one word

sex

:)

[SPKrazy]

52. That Does Do It

it's hard to feel stress afterwards at all!

or for that matter during

or even before

I better stop!

:evilgrin:

[KitchenWitch]

43. I cut off Benzes and Beemers on the freeway as sport!

:evilgrin:

[Broken_Hero]

45. play guitar

read, play magic....

[CBHagman]

49. My housemate used to joke...

...whenever I got bent out of shape, that I should put on The Band, make homemade chocolate pudding and then a cup of tea. It was my ritual.

Lately I've been playing Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and playing six degrees of separation games on IMDB. I still drink tea on the weekends.

Sometimes I Google beautiful images (e.g., autumn leaves, photos of the Irish countryside, etc.).

I also love to watch British comedies on PBS. When I watch As Time Goes By, thoughts of things like arthritis, unpaid bills, and unpleasant bosses fade from my mind.

[bullwinkle428]

50. Won't try to compare myself to flvegan, but I really enjoy lifting weights

at the gym as well! I guess I'm into the adrenaline rush I feel which goes with it, as I've been doing it solidly for close to 5 years now, 3 days every week.

[SPKrazy]

51. True, It Does Make The Scalp Tingle A Little

especially when you start getting some results and you improve your strength!

:thumbsup: :hi:

[bullwinkle428]

58. Actually seeing results is probably the biggest factor in me continuing

to do it for the long-term...sounds superficial, but I'd be lying if I didn't bring up that part! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[SPKrazy]

59. I Understand Though

if you did it and nothing change, you might not do it

so good for you!

;)

[Generic Brad]

61. Carousing in DU and fishing

[TK421]

64. I can't post it here....it might get the thread locked....

let's just say that it takes care of quite a bit of stress..

[SPKrazy]

65. ROFL!

gotcha!

:rofl: :rofl:

[opiate69]

66. Drink, smoke...

masturbate? the usual. :shrug:

[Rosemary2205]

67. I get all bitchy and scream

then I feel better and everyone else hates my guts.

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

69. Murder people...

[CactusJock]

70. yoga, long walks with the mutt, painting watercolors...

and of course the crack pipe helps ;)

[NC_Nurse]

71. rant

cry
watch TV
lurk on DU
nap
listen to music
clean house (sometimes it makes me feel better)