One thing that always seems to help me is going to a classical music concert. We did this on Friday and heard an amazing program, ending with Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto. I just can feel an increase in serotonin as I sit and listen. If I listen to music at home, I tend to read or do something at the same time. At a concert hall, I am a prisoner of the music and that is a good thing for me.
How do you relax on days when you feel stress?
Orchestra Hall, Detroit
16 comments:
For me, it's music, Patti.
Nap, read, watch a movie, play a non-intense video game.
Read.
Anyway, there is a lot less stress these days for the most part.
Jeff M.
I have a very difficult time relaxing by reading because BEAT to a PULP consumes my days and that takes a lot of reading. So, I've turned to painting. And I'm horrible at it but it is completely comforting after a long day. And its something the whole family enjoys.
Patti, you are right. Reading is not always relaxing but music definitely is, as Ms. Kinberg says. I also find a game of chess very relaxing. Ditto with a good movie.
Watch TV or build models.
I tried painting in my twenties and concluded I was perhaps the worst artist ever. I took up quilting where I had more success but not enough to compensate for my thumbs always hurting from holding the quilt frame.
Models would make me stress out but my grandson loves that sort of activity. Chess is too intellectual for my limited skill. Can't nap.
Music, reading, people and nature watching, resting, and hugging my wife -- not necessarily in that order.
Cooking! No matter how involved or elaborate the recipe, once I'm in the kitchen with my apron on surrounded by my pots and bowls, the stress just melts away!
Sleep.
Listening to the radio on the computer and dinking around on the internet.
Exercise.
TV.
Food.
Dry-firing in the basement.
The most relaxing thing for me is to listen to classical music, headphones on, eyes closed, in a comfortable chair. The music flows and I just go with it, no matter if it's big and dramatic or chamber music or lighter fare. Nothing relaxes me like it.
I used to listen to music much more often. Now I have children who interrupt and my stereo is not set-up to play anything but CDs.
I forgot to mention beer.
And scotch.
Except I am out of scotch.
And bourbon.
And Irish whisky.
And cognac.
And good brandy.
I'm stuck with sweet liqueurs.
There's that too. The booze not the cooking. Although chopping celery has its own sorts of charm.
With a master's in music, it's hard for me to relax listening to classical music. Reading is sometimes the same way, but it's also often relaxing. Depends on what I'm reading.
I watch a ball game. I also still play a cards and dice ball game I played when was a kid. Whatever can occupy my mind, but not get me too caught up in the outcome.
Other than reading, getting out of the house and not answering the phone works for me. Also playing hockey in the winter and riding my bike in the summer. Book scouting also works.
Reading or some kind of mindless action movie where a lot of stuff blows up and a lot of bullets go flying around. The more mindless the better.
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