To ask for ideas for destressing that don’t involve alcohol?

[JontyDoggle37]

I’m under a lot of stress at the moment and while I’m trying to address some of the root causes it isnt going to go away any time soon. What is concerning me though is how much I’m drinking wine ‘to relax’. So I want to build up a selection of other strategies I can use instead. They must be things that are possible last minute, on a weekday evening. I have DH and DS4 at home when I get in from work, so ideally something I could do for a short period to relax me before I get on with the evening... any ideas???

Exercise (either at gym or at home or run, walk etc)
Reading
Long bath

You could do s yoga video on YouTube, yoga with Adrienne is great. Or some other exercise

Hot bath and an audio book? I think the act of listening to something completely different helps the mind detach from whatever is causing stress. And in the meantime you get a lovely soak and a bit of breathing room.

Bath
Meditation
Masturbation
Catch up on soaps/mindless tv
Cuddle your pet
A little workout DVD
Cup of tea
Cup of fruit tea

Oh, didn't read the family is at home when you get in, scratch some of those. Go for a quick drive/walk

Mindfulness or simple mediations. You can find loads on YouTube, or if you have Alexa she has some great ones.

I flipping love it!

I like crochet and knitting. Reading as well. Sometimes I drive to beach or green area and have a fifteen minutes walk or just sit in car doing above if weather is crap. I also listen to relaxation hypnosis type stuff on you tube in bed before going to sleep sometimes.

Bouncing on a mini trampoline
Calm app
Audiobook
Warm bath
Walk
Reading

Join a running or walking group, fresh air, new friends and exercise. When I’m running (although I’m very slow)I don’t think about other stuff ...I’m ‘in the moment’ . It also means you give yourself a pat on the back and feel good about having exercised, so a double whammy.

My friend is a coiled spring and she runs. Without it she would be miserable.

Les Mills has a great app (it's in the App Store) that provides great exercise classes of all genres. So from something quite hardcore and aerobic to bodybalance, which is a yoga/Pilates/tai chi combo.

I guess it's a case of trying a few of these suggestions and see what works best for you.

Thanks all. I injured my foot about eight weeks ago so can’t run again yet, which is frustrating and probably part of the problem. I’m thinking I might try a mindfulness app for the last part of the train home so I don’t get off the train and go straight to the shop for wine...I can do the yoga once my son is in bed but not while he’s awake because it just isn’t relaxing! Think my worst point of the day is around 5.30-7, which could maybe be some hunger as well, so I might try and do snack, drink and mindfulness app on the train and see if that sets me up better.