Relax, relax...

[flan2dave]

This week has been an exciting time because of school starting, meeting new people, learning new things rapidly, and just seeing all the pieces fall together in place so nicely. It has boosted me into a higher mental energy state, and has been great so far, but now I recognize what a short time span it has been (I mean, from the perspective of trying to keep this pace for the entire school year), I will have to fall back into a lower mental energy state sometime or another. I realized this does not necessarily happen gracefully, if I keep pushing myself to stay in the higher state I'll eventually "crash" into the inevitable lower state. In essence, I have to learn how to relax so I can ease into the recharging state, instead of aggravating the process.

I have an idea about the best way to do it: choose some activity that requires a mild amount of concentration, so the mind is too busy to cause anxiety to itself by attempting to maintain the higher state. Maybe a walk, solving little puzzles, visiting a museum, something not straining but nonetheless requires focused, quiet attention. While this is not nearly as exciting when on the upswing, it provides a ladder between the higher and lower state where otherwise it could have been a jump, which is bad on the neural joints.

Pretty solid idea? Perhaps easier said than done. In any case, how do you quiet your mind, how do you relax?

[Jezebel]

back massages & listening to music/watching movies

[int]

I was working in Boise a few weeks ago and decided I needed some time to myself, so I went for a 4 mile walk from the airport area to downtown, grabbed some dinner, had a beer, then came back to my hotel room.

[Sam172]

Find a river and sit by it :)

If you can't find a nearby river or stream.......then music and mugs of tea are always good :D

[shaytana]

I second river or stream and add a lake or ocean,

[jimkopelli]

Jug of wine: Check.
Loaf of bread: Check.
A tree (w/ at least one "leafy bough"): Check.
Some chick: Check.
Book of poetry: Check.
All set.

[GraviTass]

Yoga Nidra

[Hypnos]

[....] visiting a museum, [...]
My easy favorite. East Gallery in Wash., DC was always a great place/way to chill ...

[Mnemosyne]

I read and listen to music. Sometimes at the same time, but only if I can find the right combination.

[spirilis]

If you are energetic, it is difficult at best to find yourself in a quiet, peaceful state of mind. Do whatever it takes to expel the excess energy, then find yourself in a quiet, unmotivating area free of as much noise as possible and introspect.

Or do it like the occupational hypnotherapist did in Office Space... (your stress about your job, melts away... deeper and deeper... deeper and deeper... way down... ww w way *thud*)

[CthulhuLuvsU]

I love taiji quan and danjeon breathing

[cloakable]

It may be counter intuitive, but I find that the amount of focus needed for mountain biking to be intensely relaxing. I do not know why, but it is.

[Google Monster]

When I want to relax I go to my entertainment room and sit down in front of my DVD player with lots of music CD's. Then I play some music and zone out. Nice and loud so that the music is all you hear.

[EternalCynic]

Hum. The music thing works with me, too.. else I'll bring a movie up into my room, curl up and probably fall asleep while watching it.