Relaxation tips

mood

I'm quite stressed lately and am looking for some ways to relieve stress and maybe try some relaxation techniques.

Any tips?

Taltos

Prob a bit corny - but I took up jogging. Try to head out twice a week or more.
Started slowly - jogged, walked (and struggled to breath), jogged, walked (and cursed my stupidity), jogged, collapsed by car, swearing never to repeat, waking next day and not being able to walk down the stairs....

2 yrs now - still going out, find the distraction, and solitude helps rebalance me. Not one of those totally addicted, well I was for a while but that passed...

Works most of the time - but best of luck, hope you find a good way to cope.

LegacyUser

I took the vibrator out constantly when I was stressed out during exams. It does really help!

That and going to the gym are great stress busters.

Improbable

If I'm feeling a bit stressed, I like to put on a slow paced violin or piano piece and just close my eyes while I listen to it.

Bach's Cello Suite No. 2 - Sarabande always helps me relax.

Zen65

Do you do much physical exercise? It's very hard to relax thoroughly if your body is not given an opportunity to work up a bit of a sweat (or at very least, to get your heart rate up). If you do this, you'll certainly find it easier to relax.

Actually getting relaxed depends on what floats your boat. Listening to music, watching a movie, reading a book, are all good ways to chill. If you cannot switch off the brain, none of these approaches will serve you well, an you may need to start by trying something like a massage.

I find that I chill best in a semi-dark room with candles & music.

Be at peace,

Z

herya

my bf used to be highly stressed and wound up due to workplace issues and workload he had. He took up yoga six months ago and turned into a different peson to the degree when people ask what happy pills he's taking. He says that the combination of physical effort and relaxation works wonders for him. He goes to classes but also practises at home when he can't.

Twee.

I took up Transcendental Meditation when I was about 10. I find it so relaxing! I don't do it every day, but find it works when I'm stressed. It allows you to set aside a space to pure relaxation, and a the mantra help empty your mind of other thoughts.
There's a whole religion attached, but I'm just into the meditation. TM Ireland.

Jay Pentatonic

I agree with herya,

I did yoga this past summer, & I happened to be really stressed out when I took it up. within the first class I felt so much more calmer, it wasn't even my intention!

So yeah, +1 for yoga:)

mood

I don't exercise so intend to start. I did yoga years ago so might take that up again but it's very expensive. I don't think meditation is for me and I would find it very hard to do as I share a house and there is always some noise that would distract me.

Would anyone have nutrition advice? I assume healthy eating may help but are there any particular foods to eat or avoid?

Has anyone tried relaxation cds?

MissHoneyBun

OP nothing destresses me more than a long, hard run. Seriously, the more you sweat it out the better. Even after a long day and I'm tired, I love nothing more than hitting the road with just me and my ipod. Because I know that after pushing it out for 40 minutes and a hot shower, I'll feel completely 'reset'

herya

On the topic of expensive yoga, if you're in Dublin you can check out Open Mind Project - they have a range of yoga classes which are donation based, so you pay as much as you currently can and you feel the class is worth for you.
http://openmindsproject.ie

mood

herya wrote: »

On the topic of expensive yoga, if you're in Dublin you can check out Open Mind Project - they have a range of yoga classes which are donation based, so you pay as much as you currently can and you feel the class is worth for you.
http://openmindsproject.ie

I'm not in Dublin that sound like a great idea!

LegacyUser

Hi OP
Meditation is really simple..just follow your breath in and out 3 times and build it up every day..you can do that anywhere anytime and it is so simple yet so effective. I hope this helps...by doing this you have calmed your thoughts and hence relieved yourself of stress. Works for me..
And yes anything that gets you out of your thinking mind is meditation, so a walk, exercising, listening to music...anything you enjoy, even gardening. You don't have to join classes or do hour long meditations..I think that is key.
Good Luck:)

Taltos

Something that breaks your chain of thought so that consciously at least you are not dwelling on what is getting you down.

So for me.
Jogging - as above - now that I am better at it I use this time to slowly plan out what I need to do in small chunks. In between wondering if I will finish my run in one piece. What works best here though is running with some of my mates - their banter keeps my mind totally off work.

Weekend adventures - cycling, hiking (gentle), walking by the sea or going for a coffee somewhere (though coffee is something I normally cut out or reduce a lot when stress gets too much....)

Reduce coffee intake - see above - just be ready for the detox headaches... I was and sometimes do get up to 10+ cups a day. Now trying to keep at 1 or 2 and the rest is all decaf.

Swimming - good - but can get boring but great fun.

Reading - always good.

Gaming - once there is a good game out, but I tend to get addicted to a great game - so like a great book sleep sometimes comes second.

Sex - well cannot say it any better than above, if only there was something like that for blokes

Have not tried yoga / meditation - but might consider these next time I get into one of my sleepless bouts, 3 or 4 wks of only 2 to 4 hrs sleep a night. Rare enough now but they do happen especially when work stuff gets too much.

Best of luck though Mood - hope you find the right way to get over this.

Kingpin187

quiet, comfortable lighting and a good book. never fails

token56

Hi op, as has already been mentioned exercises is one of the best ways to destress, I do running in particular.

One little thing I also learned that can be used throughout the day and if you find yourself getting particularly stressed out at some moment in time and are sitting down preferably, so maybe work for example. Is to just stop what you are doing and place both your hands just under the either side of your chair, and just try clear your head.

Putting your hands on the under side of the chair forces you to relax your shoulders, improving blood supply to and from the brain etc and I find really helps just relax if you are very stressed at a particular moment.

Uriel.

OP, I would definitely echo what other posters say in relation to exercising (whaetver that might entail). YOu get fit, look after your health and body and relax at the same time.

I find you can't beat sitting down, either in the sitting room or the bedroom, alone, with your favourite drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and a book or a dvd, or even better a box set of your fave tv show and some lightly scented candles and lights down low.. works a treat for me!

Colonel_McCoy

Yoga!