week's end but not work's end...

[lagilman]

When stressed, being able to chase a large cat around the apartment, tussle over a rag with said cat [yes, he does think he's a Golden Retriever, why do you ask?], and then curl up on the sofa with said cat, smaller, non-tussle cat, and a mug of spicy hot cocoa is high up on the list of Good Ideas.

(how do you guys deal with stress? Do you have a range of stress-related behavior, or is it one-cure-kicks-all? I've had retail therapy suggested but for various reasons psychological it's not an option for me)

Meanwhile, 1,800 words were written on the yet-untitled still-kicking-my-ass story, The Project Eating My Brain now has a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown I'm pleased with, and I got to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with one of the people causing me stress. We'll see how that works out.

Tomorrow I get to run errands and do some chores before the next "wintery mix" comes through on Sunday. Brrr.

Comments

[arcaedia.livejournal.com]

I play my piano or fiddle to de-stress. It requires enough concentration that I have to (temporarily) set all the rest of my crap aside.

[lagilman]

alas, the only musical instrument I play is the stereo....

[neadods.livejournal.com]

how do you guys deal with stress?

As you know, I've been dealing and retail therapy was not an option. I ate lots of comfort food, stopped exercising, and tried to get extra sleep.

[lagilman]

if I stop exercising the stress actually gets worse. But I've been trying to get a rightsized amount of sleep, yeah.

[deire.livejournal.com]

Meditation is the best stress relief for me, but I usually forget it when stressed. Next, comfort books, hot baths, chocolate. Appreciating beauty.

[lagilman]

I really, really need to go somewhere with a boiling hot springs spa, and just soaaaaaaaak. Unfortunately, my next opportunity to do that (travel plans willing) isn't until March. :-(

[girasole.livejournal.com]

My name is Girasole, and I love shopping, and shopping online. For pretties, jewelry, scented soaps and lotions. That eases my stress no end, even on days when part of the stress is that I have no money. I try to stick to soap then, it's relatively cheap and always gets used. Oh, and books. I can always say I need them for teaching, because that is always true.

I have breathing and stretching exercises, yoga-based, that help very much indeed. I try to do them every day even when I am not stressed, so the response is remembered in my muscles and bones.

Sometimes, I just love going into the kitchen and chopping and slicing.

A strategy I used to do, and am trying to remember again.
Zen: Be. Here. Now.

[lagilman]

As I said above, retail therapy isn't an option for me. I shop when I'm relaxed, not stressed, even when the stress isn't money-related at all.

(I tend not to stress over money, actually. I worry, I plan, I fret, and I scurry, but I don't stress. The 20% rule is surprisingly calming)

Stress release

[lindajdunn.livejournal.com]

I hit people with metal sticks. IOW, I fence.

Re: Stress release

[lagilman]

Heh. I used to do that, until my knees told me it was a Very Bad Idea. I've thought about taking up boxing.... and then I remember how very averse to getting hit in the face I am. ;-)

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

I curl up with a cat or a woj and listen to music, or watch stupid stuff on TiVo.

[lagilman]

With savory popcorn, yes. Savory popcorn is required when watching stupid t.v. mmmmm.

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

If by "savory" you mean "with soy sauce", then yup! :)

[lagilman]

paprika!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I have a whole range of stress related behaviors, from indulging in chocolate and alcohol (while whining to friends) to serious DVD marathons.

Retail therapy never did it for me, but I'll admit to the occasional stress related purchases of a hardcover or DVD I've been wanting, I don't think these qualify as a major retail events. Mostly my stress release is about taking time for myself to do something I *want* to do. Not something I need to do, or should do, or have to do, but merely something that is going to make one person happy-me.

[lagilman]

Yeah. I try to stay away from the alcohol (like shopping, booze is for when I'm relaxed, not stressed) but pampering is key.

Hrmm. I think I may go for a pedicure tomorrow. It's tough to be stressed when your feet are being tended-to. Plus, reflexology's a Good Thing.

De-stressin'

[deborahlive.livejournal.com]

For regular maintenance destressing, I walk/run every day.

For acute situations (traffic, rude people, long lines, heavy rain, anything that causes that sudden shoulders-tightening-irritability-wish-I-still-smoked-gonna-choke-someone feeling) I've found a great thing to break that spell. I take a deep slow breath in through my nose while saying to myself "Lettttttttt...." and then while blowing the breath out through my mouth I think "...goooooooooo..."

Sometimes I have to do that three or four times. And sometimes even after the fourth time I still have to go for the chocolate.

Re: De-stressin'

[lagilman]

It's not, thankfully, acute. Just a slow build of things that refuse to get resolved, already.

And I just got a lapful of purring puma-cat who wanted hugs. Awww....

[timwb.livejournal.com]

Stupid TV, light reading and the useless admiration of strangers.

Can I be you when I grow up?

[lagilman]

*laughter* Only if you promise to hit all deadlines...

[origamilady.livejournal.com]

I'm a bookworm - I tend to read maybe a book or two a week, normally. . . . but when I get majorely stressed out, my reading goes through the roof, for an example . . . . when I was going through my divorce, in one 2week period I read all of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series.

Other than that *grin* I talk with friends, make origami and give the finished pieces away, I observe (strangers in the park or people in a restaurant) and make up stories for them and I find excuses to dance.

[lagilman]

in one 2week period I read all of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series.

I admit to going back to that series when I just need total comfort reads, yeah. If only to be reminded that I'm barely a speck on the OMG Emo/trauma scale... *grin*

[treize64.livejournal.com]

Vidja games. Usually Halo with my little brother does the trick. If you are minus an XBOX or little brother, might I suggest watching an action flick. With lots and lots of explosions.

[allaboutm-e.livejournal.com]

BabyTV is good for both stress and insomnia... :: grin ::

Dumping stress?

[bjcooper.livejournal.com]

Three good choices for me.
Best - get something, anything done from my list. If the writing is the stressor, then do something else but get it DONE.
Next - exercise - and best sub-choices are either work really hard at the gym or take the dogs out depending on my energy level and whether or not I need to be alone.
If both of those fail - do something for someone else....

[lagilman]

Light stress sends me to the kitchen to make cookie dough. (note, I did not say "to make cookies.")

If I had the ingredients, the house would be filled with gingerbread already. I mentioned this to a friend, and she offered to bring the ingredients over. This may go onto the List for the rest of the month (I make killer gingerbread, and haven't had the time to do it for the past few years)

[lagilman]

drop me an e-mail and I'll send you mine. But remember -- the secret's in the kneading!

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

how do I deal with stress? If my puppy is available, I spend time with him. We should have named him Stress-Be-Gone. If weather permits, I sit on the porch by the lake and just watch the water. Those two methods of de-stressing require me to be in Salisbury though.

If I am in Gotham, I do my nails (i find the whole repetitiveness of it soothing) or - lie on my bed and sing showtunes until the street is gone. Level of stress dictates which method I use.