How do you switch off and relax when life feels busy?

[Dontswearjerry]

How do you manage to switch off and relax? Like a lot of people my life is busy at the moment I'm finding my back and shoulder muscles are constantly really tense my mind won't settle and I've noticed more headaches.

Get a massage?

Go for a run - fresh air and exercise. Doesn’t matter if it’s raining.

Drink a bottle of wine, curl up on the sofa and watch back episodes of Bargain Hunt.

@Kilroywashere that actually sounds bliss. When I try to watch something or read my book my mind just won't settle to let me concentrate.

@Parker231 I managed to get outside for a hours walk today and did feel a benefit from being outside in the fresh air. Could try and make this a frequent lunchtime thing.

@Phineyj oh would never have thought of a beauty treatment. Is there any type you would recommend?

Sophie Kinsella audiobooks

Airpods in, good audiobook on the go, and a nice long dog walk. Bliss.

I don't cope well when life gets busy op so can sympathise. It's almost as if I'm not living in that moment as I'm too focused/thinking about getting it done, I hate it. Some people love it and hate when things are quiet, it's the way you're born i believe.
There are things you can do to cope better, but nothing I believe to make it enjoyable

Try yoga, Pilates….some time to yourself

@BiteSizeByzantine loved reading Sophie Kinsella books back in the early 00s. Think my favourites were the shopaholic ones and the book about the lawyer who accidentally ended up as a housekeeper so funny. @LittleRedRidingBoots audiobook is a good shout hopefully they work.
@ShakyBake yes this is how it feels like I need to keep going with everything and can't just forget about tasks till the next day. Its exhausting and draining. Sorry you feel the same.

Had a quick look on YouTube and found lots of ten minute bedtime yoga videos. Thanks

Beauty treatment?! I normally go for an aromatherapy massage. "Sports" ones are too high impact for me.

I honestly don't.

I try.

I do exercise.
I drink wine.
I watch TV.
I cook.
I read books.
I see friends.
I craft.
I do gardening.
I shop.

These are very brief respites. They're nice for the short time I'm doing them if can manage to hold my brain at bay. That's a big if.

But as soon as I'm finished, I'm straight back to it. I immediately just switch to thinking about work and all the other life things I have to do. Then I start doing them. And, bang, its like I never took the time out in the first place.

Well, it is, because now I'm behind on everything.

I hate it. Life feels absolutely relentless.

Audiobook and a craft- diamond art is my favourite, or cross stitch. Just makes me sit still and really focus on what's in my hands.

It's widely frowned upon on MN for adults to play video games, but I find them a great way to unwind as you have to focus more than you do just watching TV.

Also wine.

I book a back, shoulders and neck massage and facial. So relaxing and good for your skin!

I go to the gym, get on the rowing machine, turn on an audiobook, close my eyes, and row steadily for an hour. The combination of regular, repeated body movements that take some effort (but not too much), and something which fully occupies my mind, is as good as going to sleep in terms of relaxation. You can’t fall off a rowing machine, and shutting my eyes means that I’m not taking in anything visually which needs processing. Occasionally, I do the same on a spinning machine.