# What do you do to relax and de-stress **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663 "2015-04-02T23:33:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/21 "2015-04-03T18:17:52Z")
I forgot sleep - sometimes a good night’s sleep is a luxury. Long gone are the days when I don’t need to get up to pee at least twice during the night, and when I can fall asleep within minutes of lying down. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/22 "2015-04-03T18:21:48Z")
> [@Whitney\_Harper](#): > > The greatest stress reliever for me is to get a good night’s sleep, so I try to go to bed at the same time every night (and wake up at the same time every morning). What do you do if you wake up several hours before your normal rising time, and can’t go back to sleep? Happens to me all the time, no matter what time I go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/23 "2015-04-03T18:26:36Z")
Guided relaxation. Good apps are available (free, even!). One favorite is meditation oasis. It’s not so much “deep breathing” that works, btw, it is even breathing and relaxing the muscles. ---
**Author:** ![misling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@misling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misling)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/24 "2015-04-03T18:38:38Z")
1. Read a book. Takes me away from anxieties. 2. Lego, clay, sewing, knitting, weaving. Making things calms and centers my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/25 "2015-04-03T19:03:55Z")
Stop reading the SDMB, that does wonders to relax and de-stress me! ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/26 "2015-04-03T19:08:39Z")
Drink. Play guitar. Solicit a beej from the little lady. Watch an episode of Good Eats I’ve seen a million times. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/27 "2015-04-03T21:10:58Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What do you do if you wake up several hours before your normal rising time, and can’t go back to sleep? Happens to me all the time, no matter what time I go to bed. That ain’t good… You might actually want to see a doctor about this, if it happens often. If it’s just once in a while, don’t fight it. Turn on the light and start reading a good book. You’ll get some of the benefits of sleep. Reading puts you into a light “trance” state, where your body can relax and your conscious mind is relaxed. If you’re suffering from enough stress that you can’t read – your mind loses track of the story and starts worrying again about the car and the mortgage and tuition and crap – then you’re back to the original question: how do you deal with stress? My advice, and practice, is to construct a mental wall around the bed and the night-time. Worldly concerns are not welcome. It’s a place for fantasy daydreaming and other light mental play, which helps lead to sleep. Instead of worrying about the car, etc., rescue the princess from the dragon, or run a 99 yard touchdown, or address a joint session of Congress. Let your thoughts be fun ones. Tomorrow, when awake, all the problems will come back full force, but you can, at least, kick them the hell out of bed. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/28 "2015-04-03T21:17:20Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > That ain’t good… You might actually want to see a doctor about this, if it happens often. I have, several doctors. They won’t refer me for a sleep study because I don’t snore, or they ask if I want Ambien or the like. I don’t have any problem going to sleep; I just can’t stay asleep. Plus, I’m a recovering prescription drug addict, so that’s not a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/29 "2015-04-03T23:09:39Z")
Depends on the degree of stress. Usually it’s TV Land and a few games of ma jhong, bingo and the like. If it’s hard-core _I’m relaxing as fast as I can!_ it’s vodka, valium and weed. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/30 "2015-04-08T07:31:53Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > Play my baritone ukulele for an hour or two. I, too, play uke – got any tips for playing a bari? I have one, and haven’t figured it out yet – causing stress :mad: :smack: 🆒😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/31 "2015-04-08T09:21:19Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I have, several doctors. They won’t refer me for a sleep study because I don’t snore, or they ask if I want Ambien or the like. I don’t have any problem going to sleep; I just can’t stay asleep. Plus, I’m a recovering prescription drug addict, so that’s not a good idea. You might be doing this as your body adjusts: > **[Polyphasic sleep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmented_sleep)** > > Polyphasic sleep or segmented sleep is the system of sleeping during multiple periods over the course of 24 hours, in contrast to monophasic sleep, a single period of sleep within 24 hours. Polyphasic usually means more than two periods of sleep, as distinct from biphasic (or diphasic, bifurcated, or bimodal) sleep, meaning two periods of sleep. The term polyphasic sleep was first used in the early 20th century by psychologist J. S. Szymanski, who observed daily fluctuations in activity patter Wh... I haven’t read the whole link, but I’ve read articles where the advice is to do something quiet and calming for the interval so you can go back to sleep. i.e. Don’t fire up facebook, the internet, or Hellstop2:The DAMNANATION or whatever video game is cool. But Hellstop2:The DAMNANATION frankly sounds awesome. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/32 "2015-04-08T09:27:30Z")
I do completely different things to relax vs de-stress. De-stressing for me is all about the body, getting the heart pumping and the muscles moving. Relaxing for me is all about the brain, I play the piano, draw or colour-in, read, or play video games. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/33 "2015-04-08T10:01:57Z")
Breathing exercises and isometric stretches twice daily, walking, gardening, painting, music. Used to be reading, but I find I’m having to work harder at it these days. And hot, hot showers. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/34 "2015-04-08T11:17:12Z")
Serious stress? Breathing. Focus on the breathing. Then hitting things. Punching bag is best, trees and walls next. Alcohol combined with a distraction. Pour some booze down the throat then do something that occupies the brain until the booze kicks in. ---
**Author:** ![MorphinePoet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morphinepoet/32/7315_2.png) [@MorphinePoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MorphinePoet)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/35 "2015-04-08T11:43:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Plus, I’m a recovering prescription drug addict, so that’s not a good idea. Same here. May I ask which drugs and how long you’ve been clean? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/36 "2015-04-08T11:57:30Z")
I walk, read, play guitar or piano, or shoot pistols. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/37 "2015-04-08T12:08:49Z")
I have a nice collection of glass pipes. I sit and clean them, while simultaneously dirtying one. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/38 "2015-04-08T12:26:29Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I have a nice collection of glass pipes. I sit and clean them, while simultaneously dirtying one. I never, ever do this with my pistols. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/39 "2015-04-08T12:47:01Z")
Yoga. Lots and lots of yoga. Like, daily. Sometimes two classes. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663/40 "2015-04-08T14:22:20Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Obsessively strop a knife on the shank of my boot while humming old timey gospel music. Test the edge with my thumb every couple minutes. I use an actual strop but, yes, for some reason, stropping a knife is a very zen experience for me too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-relax-and-de-stress/716663.md?page=1)