What's your favourite thing to do to relax?

[JonahAndTheSnail]

I'm feeling quite stuck in a rut and burnt out lately. I think tomorrow, I need to break up my routine to try to snap out of this funk. Does anyone have any suggestions for relaxing activities I could do?

Reading in total silence no TV etc. Cross words too

A walk whilst listening to a podcast is my favourite kind of 'me time'. I usually go in my lunch hour or before work.

Thinking and writing lists. I have issues.

Spending time alone.

I get anxiety sometimes. Nothing fancy but when it’s building I go into the kitchen put on classic fm and wash up. Gives me time out from whatever was bugging me plusthe kitchen looks tidier amd I enjoy the mini music concert.

Gardening :)

Especially in the evening when it's cool and I've just watered so everything smells nice.

A good podcast.

Also a day of doing nothing but reading - it feels so much more indulgent than a film or TV to me and really relaxing.

Apart from staring at my phone/mumsnet/asos/Facebook/Instagram/Netflix.

If it’s nice out, I go for walk in nature (take time to look at the different plants and the birds) or go for a swim in the sea. Read a book on the beach.

In the house, I sometimes find decluttering/cleaning/gardening quite therapeutic. Usually only when home alone.

Anything where you get in the “flow”

I enjoy meal planning/cooking/baking when it’s on my terms, not when I’m expected to do it.

Listen to music you love.

Catch up with an old friend.

Have a wonder around the shops, a garden centre.

Treat yourself to something you don’t usually have, a nice coffee and cake, lunch out.

Lolling on a made bed with a tidy house and Netflix with snacks and a book.

Or doing a massive batch cook with Tina tirner turned on or Britney or a bit of house music.

I love books so sometimes I go Waterstones and get a new book and a coffee and a cake

I like to learn something new or follow a complex set of crochet instructions. Also go to the library. Make some new decorations from paper. Occasionally I put on Jo Whiley's Shiny Happy Playlist and dance. Go for a walk or run. Make a cake. Tidy all my clothes away for a fresh start. Play a card or board game.

I do quite a bit of relaxing

I took up cross stitch, not very seriously, but I really did find it took my mind off things. I only did the simple, pre-patterned ones (no need to add to the stress) but it’s something I always go back to when I’m super stressed.

Earphones.
Music or audio book.
Canal walk / country walk / peak District so on.
Especially if there's a lovely pub for a swift.half

Hot bath with a good book - no phone with a glass of fruit juice or wine depending on the time of day.

Favourite podcasts or audio drama on decent headphones - either on a walk or just sitting outside - my favourite place is on the little ferry near us. The Complete George Smiley with Simon Russell Beale is a particular favourite distraction.

Dancing. Touch typing - the closest I get to "the flow" musicians talk of.

Thanks, there's some great suggestions here. I'm putting together a little notebook with ideas of activities which I can look through to hopefully stop me wallowing on days when I'm not feeling so good. I might have a look at the wellbeing journal I picked up a few weeks back. I have a very all or nothing approach to things, so I'll tend to spend my entire day off gardening/cleaning/crafting. I think trying short bursts of different activities might be the way forward.

Already done a quick tidy around the house and taken the dog for a short walk. Think I'll try to fit in some hour bursts of reading and cross stitch. The weather's a bit gloomy today, but I could try to fit in some short weeding sessions in between the showers.

Gardening and if I didn't have a garden I'd get an allottment. I also make smaller scale dollshouses and can be absorbed for hours doing this.
I have complex PTSD and have very black times and this really helps.

You could find a course at the local college to help from SEPTEMBER onwards. I've done that a few times. English literature, computers, sewing, wine tasting. It was interesting