What Do You Do to Relax? - Mesa,AZ

I like to make quilts. I can be creative and provide nice things for the family. Especially since this winter so darn cold.

Read Mammapedia, lol

First, I run every other day. If you would have told me a couple years ago that I would be getting up at 5:30 am to run, I would have laughed right in your face!! LOL! I love how I feel after even a 15 minute run and 3 sets of squats/arm raises with weights.

I drink green tea.

Deep breaths. Sometimes, my mind is racing and my body is in constant motion cleaning, cooking, changing diapers, chauffering, etc that I forget to breathe. I stretch my back, and take a couple deep breaths.

I'm a tv junkie. I go to bed and catch up with tivo - Glee!!! HELLO!So good! Modern Family, 30 Rock, Parenthood, Psyche, The Mentalist.....vegging before bed helps me to decompress. If it's a slow tv night, or if it's summer re-runs, I love to read.

We live in a rural community, so I don't get to escape to the local coffee shop or book store like I would love to. But, it's really relaxing to throw the ball for the only dog who will bring them back. The other just looks at me..:) Or, I will go brush the horses- I could literally lose a couple hours doing that. Animals have such a calming effect on me. That is, if they aren't misbehaving - ha ha.

Sometimes I'll color. Don't laugh. I will get the crayons out for my daughter and end up coloring an entire page after she makes one scribble and moves on to cleaning out my enitre tupperware cupboard.

I cannot claim that these things actually make me sane - for that I would need a therapist and some really good Valium - just kidding. Kind of. Not really......yes. But, just taking 5 minutes to do something I enjoy can break the day up rather nicely.

Walking or running every night- I hop on the treadmill every night for about a half hour. My husband plays upstairs with our son and I get 30 minutes of quiet and exercise. If I miss more than 2 nights, I get really crabby!

I try to take a long bath with a good magazine and a glass of wine once in a while too.

Excercise, go out the girls, get a babysitter and have a date night with DH, read and definitely listen to music, and I found if I am awake and have energy I actually can clean and get projects done around the house. I find it relaxing and feel something has been accomplished.

I've been a mom for 18 years, married for 20, raised 5 kids (the youngest now 14). I like to knit, quilt, bake and scrapbook. But to relax and center I both bake or cook and scrap book. I find both terribly therapeutic. Of course a massage every once in a while is an amazing way to relax. I've got a masseuse that barters for baked goods and things for her family and it is the most awesome arrangement! best wishes!

I fix me a hot bath throw some music on and then close and lock the door. I tell my husband and two girls ages 4 and 6 that mommy does not want to be bothered during this time because I am going to relax. And I take atleast 30 minutes to relax and sometimes splurge on an hour. If I don't do that, then I stay up late watch my favorite show and drink a coke and have a candy bar.

I sew or bake. Without those I would be totally insane. When I sew or bake it is "me" time.
I prefer to sew by hand, so I sit in my big comfy chair and sew. I'm currently working on a rag quilt. I also do counted cross-stitch and make my own patterns.
And baking. I love to bake bread. Something about kneading the dough is therapeutic for me. I also bake cookies, homemade snack cakes, and other treats.
I don't have much routine to my day other than starting supper at the same time every day, so I need the down time of baking and sewing to relax and find my sanity.

I like to sew, crochet, read, scrapbook & I watch a lot of TV. Those are some things I like to do to relax and have some me time. I try to squeeze something in when I can.

Hi J.,

I watch movies, read books or do my cross stitch. I hope that this helps!

I. K.