What do you do that actually relaxes you

[OMGNeedtorelax]

I’ve name changed for this because combined with my other posts it’s quite identifying!

I’ve been to the GP this week because I’ve had a bad headache for a number of weeks now, combined with some nausea and fatigue. I have no quibble with how he treated me - spent ages doing all sorts of checks and listened to me when I explained I’m worried because I never get headaches. However, as I passed all his tests, he’s inclined to think it’s a tension headache lingering on.

I have a stressful job - I’m a teacher with extra responsibilities (I love it though - I’m in a lovely team and my headteacher is very supportive where she can be). I have thought about going down to four days but it would be quite a cut and I think I would just end up working on the fifth day anyway. Other than that though, my life is a charm - love my partner, life is good. We are facing some decisions over fertility at the moment having lost a baby last year. This is playing on my mind a lot, I admit.

I have high blood pressure and am working on my weight to get that down, as well as taking a low dose medication. My blood pressure was very high in the surgery but I have genuine white coat syndrome - I had photos of lower readings I had taken myself which placated the GP somewhat, although he’s asked me to do another week of submitting readings to review.

Anyway, my question is… what do you do that genuinely relaxes you? I feel like I’m in a constant state of fight or flight sometimes - always thinking about what needs to be done, what about the future, worrying about my health etc. I feel like I never switch off. I‘m sure I clench my jaw in my sleep! If my current health issue is just stress/tension related, I need to sort that out! But that feeling of ‘ok I MUST relax’ is stressing me out more! The only thing that I think genuinely relaxes me is a dog walk and an audio book in my headphones. I’ve tried yoga but I really couldn’t do the ‘clear your mind’ part!

Yoga nidra. Learning and observing and being with dogs. Shopping. Cuddling. Cooking. Skiing.

Gym, yoga, reading, a long bath.

Reading, listening to music, building Lego

Walking, especially in nature (so lots of trees or a body of water rather than into the city centre).

Breathing exercises 4-7-8 or physiological sigh and types of yoga where you are holding poses for a long time Yin yoga works best for me

I smoke cannabis 😱

Talking to friends on the phone
Watching trash telly that doesn't need thinking about
Learning stuff on BBC Maestro
Scrolling Insta (I only watch funny stuff)
Cooking, sometimes
Deep breathing exercises
I make my life as easy as I possibly can! There's a good thread, hang on will link

Dog walk, relax in bed with my dogs, maybe eat some chocolate and read.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5472794-things-you-have-done-to-make-your-life-bettercalmer?reply=150027403

Hatha yoga. Movement, breathing and relaxation. Builds strength, flexibility and improves balance - in every sense.

Getting into bed. I don't allow myself to worry in bed, worries are left at the door. Early nights as often as possible with a book.

Also yoga. I do kassandra videos. You really work the body and then fill with heat and relaxation in svasanna at the end.

If the dog walk relaxes you can you add any more walks into your week (with or without the dog?)

if you stick with the yoga you will find that eventually your mind quieten down, that is why it is so beneficial. Remember it is called a yoga practice.

i had to practice it for a while before my brain slowed down and stopped jabbering on at me 😆.

I find reading and doing jigsaws relaxing.

Also to be honest, just lying on my bed listening to a podcast with my eyes closed is tremendously relaxing.

Guided meditations (youtube). I do about 10 minutes a day lying on the sofa.

It's so essential to me now, I don't know how I'd cope without it actually. It's like a short burst of the most refreshing sleep, and very grounding but uplifting at the same time.

I think I go down into deeper relaxation faster due to practice, but anyone could get there.

Watching a film in bed, adult paint by numbers with some music on, lego

Playing piano, jigsaws, reading.

How about something meditative like doing a jigsaw or adult colouring books (if that's your thing?)

I love pilates. That relaxes me. I also think it's important to have a hobby that absorbs you. For me it's horses. When I'm down at the yard or with the horse I think about nothing else. It's totally absorbing and for that reason it relaxes me.

I also like watching tv in front of the fire with my husband. Reading in bed. Going for a coffee with a friend.

Cycling, walking, masturbation, praying, socialising, easy going board games, good food.

Sing in a choir, it is amazing for well being and learning the songs at home really relaxes me.

My favourite way to relax is reading. Laying down whenever I can. Listening to funny podcasts. Watching easy tv like Escape to the Country or anything Kirstie and Phil.

Sewing. Just simple repetitive cross stitch

I find gardening relaxing and good exercise especially things like planting scented flowers like lavenders and we have silkie chickens, a robin and a squirrel that follow us round. That might be too tiring though with teaching full time.
Days out to see wildlife / holidays seeing wildlife.
To just switch off some TV like Below Deck, currently one on BBC about 2 Australian guys renovating a hotel on Isle of Ulva.
Swimming /spa but in a quieter pool, one not too busy, go to a private one which also has sauna / steam room / jacuzzi and is fairly cheap.
In better weather walking round nice gardens like RHS ones.

I walk, read and controversially for MN as they will think me a childish plebeian I game on a console. It could be shooting other players online, probably not good for you as will raise BP. Or something more relaxing like building in Minecraft or making potions having had to gather resources. I used to play a medieval game with DS and his friend and was deemed village wise woman making the medicines. Those idiots couldn’t chop down trees without killing themselves, it was all about trajectory. I was greatly admired for my wood chopping skills. DH also games and was head of a University dept, he likes racing cars he could never afford around tracks, he is so good he is in top 1% in the world in his game. The man is as proud of that fact as he is his research has helped saved millions of lives, he is a scientist, I am not a proper one as worked in a social science dept:)

Try some deep breathing, Tai chi is great look at YouTube. Good luck.

I have a 1000 piece jigsaw on my kitchen tablet at the moment. I can easily lose hours just concentrating on that.

I also love a bit of trashy TV. Olivia Atwood's show on ITVx is a current guilty pleasure. Just sitting down with a cuppa and the dog snuggled up. Bliss.

Yoga. Particularly Yin but interspersed with a bit of Hatha for a good stretch. Makes a massive difference, I can feel when I haven't been.

Running and exercise in general.

Running is the easiest, i just put my trainers and go, and it really clears my head. I need to be active or I go insane.