How Do You Relax? - Appleton,WI

Yoga! Seriously, you'll feel relaxed and refreshed. I try to devote 10-30 minutes everyday for this.

I take a hot bubble bath with a book.

9 out of 10 times I do have one of the younger kids coming in to go to the bathroom then try to play in the water from the side or sit on the toilet and talk to me... If I try to lock the door then I have them banging on the door just trying to get in.

but yup that is my relaxation.. lol

I just figured that I'd relax after the four kids were well into their 20's. ...and my youngest is still 3.

It's hard for me to sit still for long too!
But I do love a good book, and a nice hot bath. A glass of wine with the hot bath is extra relaxing :)

I relax by cleaning, doing yard work, projects on the house, and exercising. I too cannot sit still anymore. I used to LOVE to sit and read, but have been unable to for the past 4 years it seems like, since having kids...I just get too distracted.

Sounds like you relax by cleaning!!! I have 2 friends who do this. Bless their hearts... Best. Roommates. Ever. Seriously, though, that was their preferred way to relax, and with one, how he took 'timeouts'. We used to deliberately piss him off (he would ask us to!) before inspection. Spotless!!! Loved it. He'll make some woman a GREAT husband. He'd go beet red, clean for 2-3 hours, and never once raise his voice, slam anything, say anything mean, nothing. Mad = clean. Then he'd be calm and rational and lovely. BOTH of them have to expend effort to do nothing. It's NOT relaxing to them to kick back. Reading, movies, beaches, whatever require hard work on their parts. Both pretty much have to drink to be able to stand not doing something productive.

Myself?

I actually relax cleaning saddles or guns... But ASIDE from those two very specific things cleaning is super stressful. So not cleaning!!! At least, not mostly. Ironing is relaxing as long as its not on a deadline. I like ironing Camis because they're fire resistant. I can ZONE. You'll set your ironing board on fire before scorching Camis.

So 'normal' relaxation?

Books
Movies
Taking pictures
Writing
Swimming
Range shooting

Social things are NOT relaxing to me (introvert), although I do enjoy them. Ditto no other sport EXCEPT swimming or shooting, although I love love love several sports (surfing, snowboarding, riding, diving, etc).

I read or cross stitch (the latter no longer happens with my toddler son running around).

My husband used to be like you. I sat him down one time and asked him why he had live like a headless chicken. Life is not an endless succession of chores and to do lists unless you want it to be that way. He made a deliberate effort to learn how to sit to relax. After about a year, he now enjoys sitting down with me and/or the kids and doing nothing (chatting, having a glass of something, watching the kids be kids, whatever). He jokes about becoming lazy but I prefer to think he's learned to smell the roses. As I tell him there is always something to do even if that something is nothing. Finally I told him I highly doubt any of us will get to our deathbed and wish we'd spent more time being busy.

A glass of wine and a good book.

My stress level was really out of control after having cancer. In January, I took a Zentange drawing class. My blood pressure dropped 10 points right off the bat. It is so relaxing and meditative. I also won 3rd place in an art contest!

I read, cross stitch, go for walks, watch some tv, surf the net, drink some wine.

TV, Scrabble, Algebra. I can rarely calm down enough to finish a good read.

I love being outside, even if it's doing yardwork it relaxes me. If that doesn't count, then I would say sitting around our firepit as a family. We can all talk, laugh, and I get some snuggle time with my girls!

I'm like you, I have a hard time just sitting and relaxing. Honestly, since that's just how we are then why bother forcing yourself to change??

Yesterday was the first time in a couple weeks that I actually relaxed. I took an afternoon shower after gardening, grabbed a bag of chips and turned on the TV. It felt good at the time, but it's not something I crave all the time. Otherwise, I often multitask when I'm doing something more relaxing, otherwise I'd be up and moving around. I often flip through a cookbook, fold laundry, read a magazine while watching a movie.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. :)

I relax by eating my lunch (late) and watching General Hospital! lol, I also like to read, play on computer and go out for a Girls' Night (that happens maybe once or twice a year!) Those are things I like to do to relax alone. As for relaxing things with my hubby and kids, we like to have family movie nights, watch the Giants games together or just hang out in the back yard!

Maybe that is your way of relaxing. Sitting still acutally made you more agitated.

I relax by cooking. When things are really stressing me, I get out my knife and start chopping veggies. I'll have 4 pots going at once. It allows me to turn my mind off of my real life and just be in the moment. That is what relaxation is all about right? Recharging mentally.
For that reason, vigorous excercise is relaxing too.

When I want to relax my body, I go to Yoga or go through my Yoga taught mindul breathing excercises.

Sometimes I veg out. Yesterday we took the kids to the splash park and I laid on a beach lounge chair in the sun just laying there. That was wonderful! But doesn't fit into my daily life. I'm better off looking for mindful relaxation in my every day stuff.

Crotching, movie watching, playing board or card games with the family, going for a brisk walk or jog, a long hot bubble bath, etc.

Discover what works for you and work it. You are worth it.

Oh my gosh, I jump at every chance I get! ;) I LOVE sitting by the pool or lake (or ocean, but I rarely get there!) and just reading. I'm happy to sit and read in the sun all day long! I also enjoy naps! While I'm at home though doing the daily grind, I usually relax with a little Mamapedia break mid day or watching some TV after the kids go to bed.

I Mamapedia & Facebook when the kids are down for naps, or doing something that they don't need me for. After they go to sleep for the night, hubby & I watch cable news so we can laugh at Sean Hannity (even though I agree with much of what he says), and then find a mindless program to watch until we both fall asleep on hte sofa :)