De-Stress techniques

[Anu]

I am posting here in the fitness forum because, being stress free is also a form of being fit :-)
What do you do to destress? Please feel free to post your techniques or something you read-n-liked, etc.

[Anu]

* I love to play some masala music and dance with my kid .. pucca mass masala song.
* I love watching some comedy scenes and get lost in the silliness.
* If I am not physically tired, planning & cooking some nice tasty dish is something I love.
* If I need something to pull up my spirits, I will read some spiritual material :-)

[celebi]

My belief is that we stress ourselves more when we hold onto something very hard - like a monkey whose hand (full of peanuts) is stuck inside a jar. If the monkey lets go off the peanuts, it can take it's hands out but it does not realise that.
This is something I read and I liked.

Letting Go Uncontrollables and Unchangables

Letting go of the uncontrollables and unchangeables in life is the:
* Admitting the obvious truth--that you are not responsible to affect a change or correct a problem which is beyond your competency, power, authority or responsibility.
* Releasing over-responsibility--giving permission to yourself to be free from an overresponsible sense of obligation, duty or requirement to make everything "perfect" in your life and the life of others.
* No perfectionism--allowing yourself to rid yourself of the perfectionistic need to control every aspect of your life so that nothing goes "wrong" in it.
* Getting rational about what you can and cannot do--becoming realistic about what is and is not your obligation or duty to correct, change or control.

If you are unable to "let go" of the uncontrollables and unchangeables in your life, you could:
* Become so obsessed with the need to solve everything on your own that you run the risk of physical and emotional exhaustion.
* Never attain personal serenity and peace by accepting the human condition at work in your life.
* Never be at rest, always having these issues stirring up your emotional resources and energy.
* Become anxious, stressed, insecure and depressed over these issues so much that your personal effectiveness lessens at home, work, school or in the community.
* Become obsessed with these issues so much that they are the only topic of conversation or focus of attention you have in your life.
* Be driven by the sense of failure, not being "good enough" or guilt for not fixing the issues and become depressed and very hard in your self-assessments until you believe that you are the failure who is out of control and needing to be changed into a perfect, all powerful, infallible being.

www.livestrong.com/article/14701-letting-go-uncontrollables-and-unchangables/

[happyparent]

I just think of the people(whom I know well and closely observe) who are going through more difficult/stressful time than me and try to calm down myself.

[ShankarDada]

1. Find the issue thats causing the most stress.
2. Ignore if it is not in your control.
3. If it is in your control, make a plan on how you can handle the issue, and ACT on the plan.
If successful, give yourself a pat on the back. If not, since you have tried, give yourself a pat on the back.
4. Repeat the steps for the next issue. :-)

[spurthi]

Very good topic. Usually if I am down I listen to some upbeat music or some songs with inspiring meaning. Last whole year it has been 'kahaan se aaya tha woh' song from 3 idiots. The meaning is so impressive. It tells how by thinking and being different we can solve the problems.

My latest one has been the dance lessons. Since I am in the learning phase, I really need to concentrate well to be not able to miss rhythm / beat. It forces me to have 100% concentration when I am not thinking of anything else but dance. Works great!

And some other times some silent peaceful time praying helps to destress!

[celebi]

Oh yes, I would love to take some dance lessons. It is such a nice way to relax.

[courtneywalsh]

Does swimming help?.

[celebi]

May 10, 2011 9:00:06 GMT -5 courtneywalsh said:

Does swimming help?.

Ohhhh YESSS.. It is very calming, if the environment is quiet. Unfortunately, when I start swimming - it will be quiet initially and then (from nowhere) within few minutes, a group of kids will land in water - splash around, yell, scream, water-fight etc.. It is fun but not very relaxing to me.. I will be scared that someone is going to pull my leg (literally) :-) from underwater. And the splashes can get slightly annoying.
I like kids - but just not when I am trying to relax