How Do You Relax?

[ArtistHan]

Yes T^T guilt...that's a big reason I just work all the time

[Icelug]

A dog-friend. A dog can clear your mind and make your life truly happy all the time. Their unconditionally love always cheer me up.
Unless they're sick, which makes me sick too. .'

[ratique]

If my muscles hurt because I have been sitting too much and too cramped, I take a hot bath while watching some fun youtube videos on my laptop or listening to music - it tends to relax the muscles.

Then you could also try some meditation techniques. I have tried it a couple of times when I was into my "I need to do more, let's sign up for a yoga website"-phase. To my surprise it is very effective when done regularly.

And sometimes all you really need to do is to go to bed early and sleep as long as you possibly can.

[ArtistHan]

I'm allergic to doggsssssss D; why

[SpavVy]

I don't know how to relax really...the closest thing I get to relax is sleep ._.' Might be because of my anxiety issues idk. You could try taking a nice warm shower or bath after you get stuff done? Maybe read a book or play a game afterwards?

[Sketchmazoid]

Uuuuuhhh hahahaha Oh man. I was working freelance 2 years ago, and I had to force myself to take entire days off to relax because if I started drawing I wouldn't stop. And I guess it's still the same, I just have to never start drawing and force myself to do other things.

[FromFinn]

I have a huge growing collection of movies and TV Shows, some are conjoined in boxsets. I enjoy watching them and it does help me relax. I averagely watch about 15 movies in a week and I think my record is 22. If they're not movies they are old games that I also collect as well, filling in from the 3rd generation all the way to the 8th gen. Still collecting. Star Trek and old cheesy kung-fu movies help me relax the most.

[WintreKitty]

Well, I could certainly use this advice as well. I'm currently burnt out due to a mixture of stressful things in my life right now. My usual go to though are movies/documentaries, tv shows, and music. However, I find the most stress-relieving activity I do is walking. Just getting some fresh air and allowing yourself to think about everything and nothing at the same time is ridiculously refreshing.

All of these are just temporary relievers though. I still have to come back to reality and finish my undergraduate, wait in a pile of nerves for an acceptance (or rejection) to my graduate degree, and figure out if I'm moving across the country by September -which means searching for a place to live with only a couple months to prepare. For some reason, school has become the bane and the boon of my existence. As much as I absolutely love learning new things and the whole experience of it, it can be so draining. I have no time for me time.

I need to find a hobby that doesn't exhaust me as much as school does. Unfortunately, I decided to pick the hobby of comic reviewing. I absolutely love doing it, but it is time and energy consuming (much like writing a comic would be for you people I'd assume) which doesn't mash well with schoolwork. I need a mind-numbing hobby. Maybe I'll take up knitting.

[ArtistHan]

i took everyone's advice and just went out for a walk. it was very nice TT the weather is great. Maybe I'll watch some movies when I get home...

[jjfresh]

Ahm...well for me, I use meditation and yoga though I will admit that I have not meditated in a long time since I have been busy and meditation is ideal for when I'm stressed. Here is one thing I did when I was getting stressed from my work several weeks ago.

Put on some meditative/relaxing music before you go to sleep. It helps calm your mind and allow you to sleep. For me, I have woken up well rested at my average 6 hours of sleep. You can also just play relaxing music in the background as you do work. If you do well being high strung then maybe it's not for you. This is what I did to cope with my stress.

Oh and also take a break and do something irrelevant to work such as taking a walk.

[MylCreates]

I usually space out and stare into the abyss while forcing out a big sigh and pushing my hands out as if forcing the air out of my lungs and then put my hands up like I'm pushing against a wall and mutter something like "Okay... think... think... what now?"

[Sinlaire]

well, same as most of you, just chill out, watch a movie with my family or play some boardgame with them (or play some game i have had in my steam for a looooonggg time...).

but perhaps my favourite way to relax usually just took my motorcycle and just ride for a hour or so. just pick random route and random turn (of course while avoiding crowded street, traffic jam would ruin my day...) then come back. It's quite relaxing, and I get to see a lot of things other than my PC i often got an idea for a new story or for next chapters after doing that~

[Icelug]

='(

How bout Cats? XD

[rainbowolfe]

I like to get a bunch of drinks and snacks together(especially hot cocoa), fortify the couch, and watch Netflix o3o

[ArtistHan]

I'm even more allergic to catsssss D;

[zelkats]

Hmm.. Workaholics are pretty used to doing things all the time that sitting still and doing nothing can be pretty hard for them-. Like Gordon Ramsay-- he can't, for the life of him, go through a single meditation without fidgetting or getting distracted (not saying all workaholics are like this. But it does require a lot of getting used to). Perhaps exercises like jogging, walking, swimming or cycling could work? Exercise is always good for you mentally and physically and when you get tired at the end, your body will naturally want to do nothing but relax.

[AnnaLandin]

I, too, am kind of a workaholic - I get restless if I don't have a project to work on. Time off from a project is usually spent on another project. Which really does build up stress - but then, NOT doing anything is stressful in itself, if you know there's stuff you could be doing.

Some methods that have worked for me:

1. Days off from the internet. As in, take a day every now and then and don't check in on your social media accounts or your email inbox or anything like that at all. Place your smartphone in another room. Hide your iPad. Unplug your computer. Spend the day doing something you enjoy that does not require internet-connections. It really does help lower stress levels; there's always something happening online that requires some bit of your attention, no matter how small, and eventually you start feeling like you're spreading yourself thin.

2. A big pot of tasty tea and a good book - or a videogame, or a movie, depending on what kind of thing you like. I do all three, depending on my mood.

3. Go outside. Take a walk. Enjoy the sunshine if you can find it. Breathe deep, and don't think about anything. Physical exertion helps get rid of mental stress, it really does.

[purrlpankras]

Listen to music, or watch something o_o

[Spinester]

Doing nothing feels so incredibly unproductive for me so I'd have to say playing music or reading. Something solitary where I don't have to talk to people.

[Drezz]

I walk, drive or read. Three things that open your mind up and don't require concentration on "work" things.

They actually help me problem solve or allow me to think and be creative. I find that doing tasks that require minimal concentration but engage your motor skills actually activates my brain meats.