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your go-to stress reliever?

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your go-to stress reliever?

#77959 Posted on 2016-12-04 10:12:27


hello, my friends of ev!
with the holidays right here upon us, god knows it can get overly stressful organizing family member visits, planning meals and activities for the family, and (most important and stressful of all) buying all those gifts for everyone on your christmas list. not to mention it doesn't end with christmas - then we fly right into the new year and you're suddenly sitting on your couch on january first with a hangover wondering how 2016 passed you by so quickly. and don't get me started on those resolutions we all make but can never seem to keep.

with all of these stressers and even more, i thought it might be a good idea to talk about the ways we all uniquely de-stress. you know, those go-to activities or things to do when it all gets too much for you. i'm talking those things everyone else doesn't get - maybe that weird food you make or eat, that odd habit everyone else thinks is just plain weird, or that one thing that just, somehow, keeps you sane and keeps you from yelling at everyone in a ten-mile radius.

for me, there's several.
i've always loved reading (right now i'm really into neuroscience and psychology books)(yes, i am a nerd)
walking my dogs, hiking, just being outside in the fresh air always clears my mind.
i'm always addicted to a bottle of water this time of year. water cleanses my mind and helps me think better, aka keeps me mentally sane.
then there's those candies! if you ever buy candy (excluding chocolate, i hate chocolate) and put it near me, i will probably eat it within 2 seconds of you setting it down. it's my nerves that make me eat it.
there's just laying down on my bed and cuddling my dog. he does wonders for my sanity and he also seems to be the only one who gets whatever i'm going through.
i love getting in my car and just driving. driving around town. i actually like traffic because it doesn't require me to think much and i just get to sit and listen to music.
speaking of music, music is a huge one in my life. it always helps me concentrate. there's nothing better than a good song.
another huge one is cooking and baking. anything about it. i love cooking shows, i love baking shows, i love researching recipes, and i love doing the actual things.

getting to my weird one...
i have this stuffed dog i've had practically since birth. he's all torn up (missing a tail, both his eyes, his ear is ripped open with stuffing pouring out, his other ear has already been stitched up before) but i will never be able to get rid of him. heck, i can't even sleep if i don't have him with me. i go frantic if i can't find him. everyone in my family thinks i'm insane and immature, but when you've experienced as much blatant loss of loved ones as much as i have, you need that one constant to cling to (even if it is childish).

for a lot of you, i know your way of de-stressing may be digital art or just logging into ev or talking to friends.
whether yours are normal or strange, let me know. i love hearing how other people handle different things in their life.


Last edited on 2016-12-04 at 10:30:54 by 𝓁𝑒𝒢𝒽


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#77973 Posted on 2016-12-04 11:07:40

Your de-stressing ideas sound really relaxing Leah.

EV is definitely something I use to de-stress. I lvoe how it's methodical and although there's always people "here", its quiet and peaceful. That gives me serenity.

If I can't sit still or stay in the house which I often can't if I am pent up I go for a walk or run, go to the gym if I can. I signed up for a gym that's open 24/7 so even if I finished work super late if I feel I need to go do something I can!

A weird one is I like re-arranging my things -- my books/films/photos/storage boxes I store in a bookcase or my clothes, make up and storage boxes which are all in my wardrobe. I am pretty sure this is more than likely a coping mechanism to make me feel refreshed, organised and in control but I had a weird childhood so my mind works in these ways. It's also nice to be aware of everything I own so I (1) know I haven't lost anything, (2) know where is all is and (3) can appreciate the things I have.


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#78268 Posted on 2016-12-05 19:41:55

Cuddling with my boyfriend is the best de-stresser for me. Nothing else makes me feel that calm. When he's not around I'll curl up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa and watch one of my favorite tv shows. Even though I've seen every episode about a dozen times there's something comforting about watching them again, sort of like visiting old friends.


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#78274 Posted on 2016-12-05 20:34:39

this time of year I become a baking fiend. i'm actually mid-way through a batch of sugar cookies and just finished baking a batch of oatmeal-chocolatechip-walnut-craisin cookies (I can't even eat them because I'm gluten-intolerant). the sugar cookies are gluten-free so I'll be able to eat them.

i love quite time. just being alone for even 10 min. is an absolute must for me to make it through the holidays. our annual christmas gathering has at least 50 people and being an introvert i just have to walk away and breath. normally i retreat to my car and sit there in silence until i feel capable of handling people again. if i'm feeling particularly stressed i'll take a book and read it.

movies and music are also a god-send in the holidays. i log onto my pandora account and put on some classic-pop music and destress. i have a limited ability to handle christmas music though so it has to be anything except christmas music, rap, and orchestral music which all wreck my nerves in a matter of minutes. for movies i love "It's A Wonderful Life" and "White Christmas", but i'll also just put any movie i love on and relax.

hot cocoa. just cocoa. i sit with a steaming (i mean burn your mouth hot) cup of cocoa and am able to just tune out everything else. i love cocoa so much.

painting my nails is a year round way i destress and the holidays are no exception. i'll paint my nails at least once a week during the entire holiday season just because it helps me distress so much. i'll probably re-paint them tomorrow if i have the time.

candy. so much candy. candy canes, chocolates, peppermints, irish potato candy, any candy.

my two worst habits are nail-biting and picking at the skin on my arms (both are signs that i've not been able to properly destress) these are both things i've done since childhood and do so subconsciously i don't notice i'm doing it until someone points it out.

but i still love the holidays! and being around all my loud-crazy family, as long as I can step away from them when i need it. ;)


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