How Do You Chill?

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

After this crazy week of emails from students who are obviously not reading directions and other insanity, I decided that I need to take a break and do something to chill out. So, I've been trimming and repotting my indoor plants (I have a pineapple plant that is 3 & 1/3 ft. tall!) and I already feel a little better.

What do you do to chill out?

[AmLitHist]

Crochet.  Big things (baby blankets, afghans, throws), little things (hats, coasters, dishcloths), and in between (stuffed toys).   

The more involved or unfamiliar patterns make me concentrate and/or count and take my mind off other things, and the simple things or patterns I've done repeatedly are relatively automatic and relaxing.

In warm weather, I work on my flower beds, too. I never weed so well as when I'm aggravated at students or Admin!

[nonsensical]

Read, play board games, take warm baths, take naps. Those all sound like lovely things to be doing right about now.

[waterboy]

Pandora - Christmas music right now and for the past few weeks. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know.

[apl68]

Long walks first thing in the morning.  On frosty mornings like this morning, it helps me to chill in more ways than one.

[RatGuy]

Board games -- either with my partner or solo.

Recently we've been playing Rococo: Deluxe Edition. It's a reprint with a high production value. In it, you manage a dressmaking business, earning points by selling dresses to people attending one of Louis XV's fancy-dress balls. Art byh Ian O'Toole.

[Langue_doc]

Reread British detective novels.

[downer]

You guys are giving us your PG answers, right? Is there another thread for the uncensored versions?

[mamselle]

Watch old BBC films and TV serials.

Walk 300 paces each time I put the teakettle on to boil.

Do ballet bar while waiting for my morning 1/2 croissant to heat up.

M.

[smallcleanrat]

Literally.

Cold packs or washing in cold water. It can be like a mental and physiological reset button.

[dismalist]

Alcohol.

[Puget]

I miss spending lots of time outside and working in the garden, which I found very relaxing this summer and fall, but I try to get out for a walk every day, following the motto that there is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing (the the nor-easter the other day was an exception).

I guess this falls into the category of warming rather than chilling, but the gas wood stove look-alike I had installed this fall has done wonders for my winter contentment. I think humans are programmed to find a fire comforting (the cats are also big fans, and a fire with cats blissed out in baskets in front of it is even more comforting).

Planning to start knitting again after not having done much in recent years.

Books, audio and print. When I'm particularly stressed, I reread old favorites.

[sinenomine]

Piano. Jigsaw puzzles. Now-legal edibles.

[Vkw10]

You guys are giving us your PG answers, right? Is there another thread for the uncensored versions?

Yes. Posting While Plastered.

I find Tetris, bubble shooter games, and such relaxing. Making bread or soufflé is relaxing. Logic puzzles are relaxing. Reading familiar novels is relaxing. A long hot shower is relaxing. I also have a short list of censored activities that are relaxing, most of which don't involve alcohol.

[Harlow2]

Hiking or walking briskly for a few miles.  Reading good gardening  sites and growing indoor tomatoes (micros) and lettuce.