Cheap / free ways to de-stress?

RainbowDreamer

Due to my current situation I am in desperate need to de-stress.
What do you do?

I've spent the last 2 weeks reading online. Playing on my DS and just sitting doing nothing. It's not helping me.

StaffieTerrier

I always find excercise is a good way to de-stress. Going out for a walk (or run, if you're inclined). It's a chance to blow the cobwebs away.

I also love to stick music on and dance around like a lunatic. By the end I'm too hot, sweaty and exhausted to be stressed :rotfl:

Mupette

Declutter.

do you have anything to de clutter? getting rid of what is not needed. Mentally attach the stress to what you are chucking out.

Gardening, a little weeding, or what i am doing is germinating seeds. Daft as it sounds, what i see that tiny little shoot coming out of the soil, softens my heart i feel proud that the seedling has managed to come that far and proud of me for not killing it off yet.!!

A bar of chocolate and a chic flic..
Marley and Me is a good weepy, a good cry over a film, get those tears flowing, you hopefully will fill better for it.

youngie

Get out of the house go for a walk,smile at passers by say hello surprising how much nicer the world seems when you make a bit of human contact.

RainbowDreamer

The declutter got done last week. the entire house!
I have a yard rather than garden but have alsorts growing atm. Garlic, strawberries, tyme, chilies, broccoli etc. So that does give me a little something to do.

I love chocolate and films, but since all this has happened I've gone off both. Even struggle with a half hour program.

Exercise I do like, but need motivation. Tried the biggest loser demo on xbox and it looked great. May see if i can pinch the pennies from somewhere to buy it.. then do it daily.

MrsManda

I'd definitely go along with the suggestion of going for a walk, even when it's raining, providing you're dressed for it. It always amazes me how good I feel when I receive a smile from a stranger. Staying in the house even if I have contact by talking to people online or on the telephone makes me feel lethargic and mopey.

I know what you mean about motivation, I'm severely lacking in it but once I do manage to drag myself out I never regret it even if it does make me exhausted.

I find spending time on the computer doesn't relax me, I much prefer popping to the library and curling up with a good book and a cup of tea or hot chocolate Plus going to the library means I have to leave the house.

CH27

Fresh air & lots of it. Walk, cycle, run etc.

euronorris

Mupette wrote: »

Declutter.

do you have anything to de clutter? getting rid of what is not needed. Mentally attach the stress to what you are chucking out.

This is what we are going to do this weekend. It will also help to come home to a space that is relaxing each evening, rather than another stress to worry about.

I'm also putting in a holiday request to have several Wednesday's off in a row. The idea being that it will break up the week for me, and allow me to keep the stress levels down.

Exercise is a good one. Going for walks, particularly if the sun is shining.

If there is something in particular that is bothering you, have you considered getting all your frustrations and emotions out onto paper/computer, by writing a private letter? You can write it to whoever or whatever is stressing you out, but not send it. Just getting those emotions out can be really beneficial.

Also, are you sleeping well?

RainbowDreamer

I am not sleeping well at all. Have been taking Kalms on occassions before bed, but it doesnt seem to help too much. Have spoken to my GP about sleeping tablets, but he is reluctant to prescribe them as I am in a situation that may be ongoing for a while and it is not advised to take them over a long period as they can be come addictive.
He has recommended I go back on antidepressants, but I am trying hard to avoid this so that it cannot be used against me in my situation and I am also aware that it takes up to 6 weeks to show any positive effects. That plus the first 2 weeks can make you feel much worse and cause anxiety etc. At the moment I need to stay as calm and stress free as possible.

I do like walking. So I may try and take myself for a nice long walk. I suppose I have been keeping myself inside because I am struggling to deal with seeing other peoples children at the moment. It makes me emotional which results in being more down in the dumps.

Your right about it causing me to be moping about. I am spending my days online on facebook and on here, but the rest of the time I am sat dwelling on the situation, over thinking things and crying about my children.

I am also not eating well, which I suppose isnt helping motivation. I am going to try and force myself to eat more and to do more exercise.

Seanymph

A diary.

It's an effort to keep - but once you write it down it's sort of 'out' rather than 'in'.

Treat yourself to a lovely hardback book that really appeals to you, an ink pen (if that's your bent) and write in it every night before going to sleep.

RainbowDreamer

Seany I think if I kept a diary it would just be full of rants. But maybe thats a good thing?
I used to love downloading books onto my mobile phone and reading them in bed or chilling on the sofa reading.. I cannot even do that at the moment.
I guess it hasnt helped that I have not seen my friends for a while. I have distanced myself from everyone because I cannot bear to be around their children or to hear stories about their kids. Harsh I know.. and def not their fault. But I just cannot help how I feel at the moment.

I may actually try baking at some point. That may keep me busy enough to forget about things for a while?