What do you do to help you relax?

[V da Mighty Taco]

Long story short, it's almost 6am here and that GG thread is stressing me out to the point of actively losing sleep over it. I REALLY need something to take my mind off of it, so that leads to the question:

What do you do to relax when things start getting to ya? One of the things I normally like to do is listen to Metal Gear Rising's soundtrack via the Youtubes (though that's not working right now). Ponies have also been a good way for me to relax in the past, as well as playing CoD4 or Turok 2. What about you?

Captcha: "namby-pamby" Don't fuck with me, Captcha.

 

[Twintix]

Well, I avoid GamerGate threads like the plague, for one.

Another thing I do is watch Youtube videos. Preferrably PeanutButterGamer or Continue?, but I also watch Let's Plays. Sometimes, I play a little bit of guitar or tin whistle or just listen to music that calms me down. Depending on my mood, I read books. I've been practically eating and breathing Discworld for the last two years. And webcomics. Webcomics are my jam.

Otherwise, I look at sleeping cats. It's impossible to feel stressed out while watching sleeping cats.

Spoiler: Look at them. Look at how comfortable they are.

 

[Zhukov]

I just take a week or so holiday from the internet. Or rather, the parts of the internet that involve interacting with people.

I tell ya, works fucking wonders on the perspective. One suddenly realizes that the matters the denizens of the internet treat as the be all and end all of existence are unimportant, irrelevant and inconsequential in the world of fresh air and flesh.

The people out there tend to be generally friendlier and more relaxed as well.

 

[Nukekitten]

Exercise, snuggle, have a nice cup of tea, maybe draw something. Make sure I've remembered to eat and sleep. Write out any problems that are preying on my mind.

 

[V da Mighty Taco]

Well, I avoid GamerGate threads like the plague, for one.

Another thing I do is watch Youtube videos. Preferrably PeanutButterGamer or Continue?, but I also watch Let's Plays. Sometimes, I play a little bit of guitar or tin whistle or just listen to music that calms me down. Depending on my mood, I read books. I've been practically eating and breathing Discworld for the last two years. And webcomics. Webcomics are my jam.

Otherwise, I look at sleeping cats. It's impossible to feel stressed out while watching sleeping cats.

Spoiler: Look at them. Look at how comfortable they are.

That reminds me how much I love bunnies. Those also work wonders at helping me relax. Time for meh to find sum fluffybutts! XD

I just take a week or so holiday from the internet. Or rather, the parts of the internet that involve interacting with people.

I tell ya, works fucking wonders on the perspective. One suddenly realizes that the matters the denizens of the internet treat as the be all and end all of existence are unimportant, irrelevant and inconsequential in the world of fresh air and flesh.

The people out there tend to be generally friendlier and more relaxed as well.

Gotta agree with ya, and that may end up being what I do - in particular avoiding anything related to GG. Don't think I'd drop online gaming at all, since that in of itself can be relaxing, especially with friends. Also, Quake Live came out and I wanna try that. Nevertheless, any drama filled areas of the interwebz are probably places I should avoid for now.

 

[Alcamonic]

I just avoid large discussions which is just two sides yelling profanities at each other, because there is really no point in taking part of it.

I listen to some relaxing music while playing or slacking on the couch.


If I ever have problem sleeping for a long period of time, I just have a wank. Usually helps.

 

[giles]

Go for a run, best thing to clear the mind.

Also green or oolong tea relaxes my mind without draining my body, pretty good combination.
If you just have trouble sleeping that's not gonna help thanks to the caffeine, try valerian tea.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Wikipedia tells me that "there are two large muscles that produce flexion of each finger". What you do is withhold their use if you see something you don't want to click on.

 

[MeatMachine]

Turn off all your lights, close your blinds (if it's daytime), start a hot bath, light a single scented candle and heat up some mulled hard cider garnished with a cinnamon stick.

It's like a 20-minute, full-body orgasm.

 

[Spanglish Guy]

I tend to listen to comedy podcasts or some music whilst just messing around in a game like Just Cause 2 where I won;t get frustrated or anything. I basically avoid any online games entirely if I feel I need to just sit back for a bit.

It also helps to avoid any news at all. It all tends to be pretty depressing these days anyway.

 

[Nickolai77]

Long story short, it's almost 6am here and that GG thread is stressing me out to the point of actively losing sleep over it. I REALLY need something to take my mind off of it, so that leads to the question:

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but I think if you really want to relax you shouldn't let events, that are fairly trivial in the grand scheme of things, stress you out to the point you lose sleep over it. Don't invest all your time and emotion arguing over something on the internet that will largely forgotten about in a years time.


My favourite way of relaxing and unwinding in general really is to go down to the pub with my mates and have a few pints. This is also the second most British way to relax after having a cup of tea. But there's few worries that a couple of pints and lively conversation won't dispel.

I'd also recommend listening to the sort of music that will put your mind to ease.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

I find playing music helps me a lot. My ukulele is good for unwinding after a long and stressful day at University, though the best one has to be my drum kit on the occasions when I can play it. Nothing provides as much stress relief as beating the shit out of my drums to whatever song I can play the loudest; it's basically a rhythmic stress ball.

 

[V da Mighty Taco]

I just avoid large discussions which is just two sides yelling profanities at each other, because there is really no point in taking part of it.

I listen to some relaxing music while playing or slacking on the couch.


If I ever have problem sleeping for a long period of time, I just have a wank. Usually helps.

Spoiler: Sorry, I couldn't resist

Sorry, I couldn't resist:

On Topic: I generally avoid those brick-wall type of debates as well. GG just happened to be one of those rare times here I jumped in to see what the fuss was about anyways (something I didn't even do with the Sarkessian threads), and found myself leaning towards a side by the end of it. Talk about bad timing.

Go for a run, best thing to clear the mind.

Also green or oolong tea relaxes my mind without draining my body, pretty good combination.
If you just have trouble sleeping that's not gonna help thanks to the caffeine, try valerian tea.

I'm an Asthmatic with no healthcare, so that's not really an option for me.

Thanks for the advice, nonetheless.

Turn off all your lights, close your blinds (if it's daytime), start a hot bath, light a single scented candle and heat up some mulled hard cider garnished with a cinnamon stick.

It's like a 20-minute, full-body orgasm.

Long story short, it's almost 6am here and that GG thread is stressing me out to the point of actively losing sleep over it. I REALLY need something to take my mind off of it, so that leads to the question:

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but I think if you really want to relax you shouldn't let events, that are fairly trivial in the grand scheme of things, stress you out to the point you lose sleep over it. Don't invest all your time and emotion arguing over something on the internet that will largely forgotten about in a years time.


My favourite way of relaxing and unwinding in general really is to go down to the pub with my mates and have a few pints. This is also the second most British way to relax after having a cup of tea. But there's few worries that a couple of pints and lively conversation won't dispel.

I'd also recommend listening to the sort of music that will put your mind to ease.

But... but I don't drink! Whatever shall I do?!? DX

 

[SonOfAnarchy91]

Music is the only thing that seems to relax (or at least distract) me. As a unsocial sex addict its kind of hard to be stress free lol.

 

[Candidus]

Relaxing time? I'll give you my list.

Collect hentai, watch Hanayamata and other moeblob animes, unhook my phone, neglect troubling responsibilities until they're taken away and handed off, skip work, read manga, listen to trashy-cute J-x music, walk to the beach and hang about, play Dragon's Crown or Mechwarrior Online, study hiragana or katakana and put off studying kanji, buy figures, buy OSTs, look at my collectible stuff and finally, work out/exercise.

When winter arrives in earnest, you can add climbing to that list.

Also, don't pay any attention to GG. I'm not really sure what it's about, but as far as the whole tangentially related x, y or z in videogames "issue" goes I just keep voting with my wallet. I avoid lazy sausage carnivals like AssCreed and buy two copies of every T&A vehicle I like the look of: Dead or Alive, Senran Kagura, Dragon's Crown, the list goes on. That's the best way to get what you want and it's stress free in my experience.

 

[Patrick Buck]

Drink, Game, or listen to episodes of "Welcome to Night vale." Occasionally, I go for walks too, or smoke sometimes, though I'm trying to cut back on that.

 

[FPLOON]

Masturbate like it's no one's business... Oh wait, that's if I can't sleep and probably have insomnia...

Anyway, what I actually do to relax is listen to some Nujabes:
Other than that, I write like it's no one's business... (Results may vary, though...)

 

[Stats ^1]

Long story short, it's almost 6am here and that GG thread is stressing me out to the point of actively losing sleep over it.

This is the point when you know you're taking a dumb issue too seriously.

You may as well be saying that you're losing sleep over the fact that some people eat cereal with water instead of milk.

Or it might all be bullshit, I've lurked for a while and I've noticed a lot of migrating tumblr users who are sensitive to the point of hilarity.

But seriously, Don't be ridiculous. If you're experiencing severe stress from a thread on a forum on an obscure website which only has niche popularity because of ZP, moviebob and jimquisition, then you should probably reevaluate your priorities in life before finding stress relief methods.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Hiking, maybe target archery if I have access to the field (needs to be daytime and not during work or university, obviously).
Watching Lets Plays.
Otherwise, doing work unrelated to the thing that's stressing me helps take my mind off things, though that's really just retraining my ADHD on something else.

 

[FuzzyRaccoon]

I just take a week or so holiday from the internet. Or rather, the parts of the internet that involve interacting with people.

I tell ya, works fucking wonders on the perspective. One suddenly realizes that the matters the denizens of the internet treat as the be all and end all of existence are unimportant, irrelevant and inconsequential in the world of fresh air and flesh.

The people out there tend to be generally friendlier and more relaxed as well.

I do this too. I go off very specific sites for a month or two and it's like half my anxiety has been completely lifted. It's a great feeling.

I also read fanfiction. Mostly gay fanfiction. And watch throwaway cop shows like NCIS, CSI or Criminal Minds when I don't actually feel like paying attention but kind of want someone dramatically staring off into the middle distance to appear periodically on my screen.