Ways to Relieve Stress?

[yakiimo]

What sorts of things do you all do to relieve stress? Stress from relationships or school, family or friends?

I work in retail (Wal*Mart actually (I know, "booooo!")) and I'm the department manager of the cosmetics department. It's a highly stressful job just because of upper management getting on my case. Sometimes I don't know what to do to unwind, so I end up tossing and turning all night long. My hours are 7am - 4pm, so I go to bed about 10pm and wake up at 5am! Then I'm at work all day long, trying to get everything done.

Stock the shelves, do all the required paperwork, get my screen done that controls price changes (both mark-ups and downs), not to mention make sure all my stock in the back room is kept in order. I have one helper and she has discs in her back that are slowly deteriorating. She can't move very fast so that's just more work heaped on my shoulders.

I vent about work to my husband on the way home, but when I get home all talk of work stops. I want to leave work elsewhere, but the stress is still there. If anyone has any suggestions of what I could do to help alleviate stress, that'd be awesome.

As for video game suggestions (since I know at least one will mention this, and it'll be welcome!), I own the following:

SNES, PS2, NGC, GBA, NDS, PSP, PC (obviously). So any good games to recommend for that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance for all your help. <3

[Sabrina]

[FONT="Tahoma"]It depends on the type of stress that I'm experiencing. I go between listening to music, reading or going on a walk or even playing a video game.

When I was at home, I'd find my cat and get him to lie on my lap while I petted him. He didn't seem to mind since he always fell asleep on my lap when I did that. [/FONT]

[visualkei]

I think one of the best ways to deal with stress [I]on your own[/I] is through physical activity. Beating a punching bag, running, anything that would make your heart race and sweat a little could help take your mind off of it and help you... well, take it out on something.

What I'd do sometimes is ride my bike. Just me and the quiet melodic clicking of my bike through the neighborhood. I'll do it on a whim just because. It's a calm experience, and your heart races without you really being aware. Sometimes I'd even bike at night really fast. It's a quiet excitement because it's a bit more dangerous. :animeswea

[Lady Aura]

[CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]You have a SNES? Ooooh. -Jealous- ><

What I usually do with school stress is kinda take a step back and say something like, "Stop freaking out. I have time." But that's usually when I have big projects to do and I'm worried about getting them done in time.[/FONT][/CENTER]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Try burning some nag champa. You can pick it up online, but there must be some, eh, "counterculture" or "alternative" (I guess is the term for them) stores that sell hand dipped incense sticks for cheaper than online.

It's surprising how soothing a good scent drifting around your house is.[/color]

[Persona]

[B][SIZE="1"][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][INDENT]Video games for stress is a [U][I]no no[/I][/U], for I have gamer rage. In times of stress, I simply whip out the good old notebook and write. Now I'm not talking about the, "I hate this world crap". Sometimes I write poetry or stories (Which I make myself into some goddess and bishies fall in love with me j/k.). There are times I just go on forums and discuss topics (Just something to take my mind away from). But all that was back in the days, when I lived with my mother. Now I basically do some yoga or sit down (Breathe and relax). I have a stronger head on my shoulders now, so I'm able to panic for like 1 minute (lol). Then realize I just need to get through with it and hope things go well. My old stress techniques no longer work or simply lost passion for them. Well here I go rambling, so I'll stop any unnecessary chatter. [/INDENT]

[I][U][CENTER]Also my first post in such a long time yay![/CENTER][/U][/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

[yakiimo]

I don't have gamer rage or anything, so playing FF4 on the DS helps. Though "Earthbound" on the SNES really doesn't. XD Yes, I have a SNES. It's my husband's and sort of came with him when we got married!

The thing about physical activity is that I do a lot of that at work as it is. Stocking the shelves and running all around a 10,000-square-foot building makes me very tired. I just want to unwind my mind and body after a day at retail. The physical activity isn't that hard, it's just when management is breathing down my neck, I get agitated more than anything and need to recover from that.

Work v. school, though ... when you have crunch time for a project the worst your facing is an F or a meeting with parents and the teacher. When it's work, you can get fired. So having crunch time (like the 100+ price changes I'll have to do tomorrow!) can lay a little heavier on my shoulders than anything in school ever did. That's not to discount school. It's tough (I've been through it!) but work is a whole new thing when it's your absolute livelihood.

I actually have several (thirty) sticks of Nag Champa in a box! I might bust that out tomorrow after work. I should be in bed right now, actually.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. And, Goddess Katana, writing about how much I wish I had help and all that from work, I realized, didn't help at all. So sometimes I'll draw my boys Jim and Chance. That helps a lot, too.

Thanks again!

[Persona]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="1"][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][B][INDENT]Very interesting indeed and drawing does help. I use to draw a lot during my high school days. But it wasn't so much as stress, it was more of my creativity bursting. I wonder what happened to it? I still of creativity for writing, but not for designs (I use to design dresses and clothing for people) and drawing. But for one last time, I at least would love to draw. My drawing will be of my sister and how I think she'll look like when she's in her teens. Wish I could see her in person though, but to at least have one picture (Even if it's drawn), will relief some stress and much more.[/INDENT][/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[chibi-master]

Hmm...I've found that one of my favorite ways to reduce stress is target practice. If you get a gun (I say hunting rifle or pellet guns!<3) and get some empty soda cans and set them down in your back yard, you have hours of stress releiving fun. In fact, that's how I spent my Easter this year! If you don't have any of the stuff I just listed, go to a nearby shooting range.

And if your not a big fan of that idea...
Naps. 5 hour naps!!!
Doodling!!!
Swimming...
DAYDREAMING!!!
Reading!

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff]Playing the piano usually helps me relieve stress, or put me in a better mood if I'm feeling unhappy. Reading a novel or manga also helps. Basically, from what most people had said in this thread, creative or imaginitive things help with relieving stress.[/color]

[Rachmaninoff]

Music is what I like the best for relieving stress. The only thing that changes is the type of music depending on what the cause of the stress is. It's almost always classical though since I'm not a big fan of other types of music. If the stress is from someone annoying the hell out of me, then violent video games does the trick. =P

[Neptune]

[FONT="Arial Narrow"][COLOR="DarkSlateGray"]I bottle all of my stress up. Healthy? Definitely not. I don't recommend it.

And as for gamer rage, I have that too. I get mad playing certain games like Soul Calibur 3, they make me want to throw things. So that's why I have two broken PS2 controllers. Sucks.

I try to brush everything off like it's no big deal. I don't get emotional often, and when I do it's well worth it. I don't waste my emotions on trivial things, well, besides breaking controllers I suppose. But that's not what this topic is about, is it? You want to know good ways to relieve stress. Well, I usually cook up some popcorn, kick it back in the recliner and pop in my favorite movie or television show. If I surround myself with things I like I usually calm down real easily. No big. Maybe it'd work for you.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[DeLarge]

[SIZE=1]I punch a stray cat in the face.

No, seriously, I usually either go to the gym, play my bass as aggressively as I possibly can, and as loud as polite society will allow, or sit down and watch something funny on DVD.

I find a good laugh is a brilliant way to relieve stress - there's always something new to watch, whether it's a new DVD, something on YouTube, or a comedy podcast, so it's easy to do.

I also sometimes write new comedy material when I'm stressed - stress and anger are good motivators to write funny material. I used to eat when I was stressed, and then I ballooned up to fairly huge size, so I replaced comfort food with going to the gym - much healthier!
[/SIZE]

[yakiimo]

What great suggestions!

I think I'll go through here today after work and reply more in-depth and try out a few of these. As for right now, I have ten minutes to get ready to go!

[SaiyanPrincessX]

[SIZE="1"]Martial arts is my stress reliever. Kicking, punching, and kneeing seems to work wonders.[/SIZE]

[Persona]

[B][SIZE="1"][COLOR="Sienna"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Music would be an obvious choice for stress relief (Basically relaxation). But for mer I can't do that, because I get headaches. But martial arts is a good way too, I'm actually signing up for classes next week. My friends looked at me with fear..They claim that will make me more dangerous (lol).[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

[Korey]

[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]I don't get stress... so I'm good.

Nah, I kid. I find lots of things help me when I'm stressed, especially from work related thigns. My favorite thing to do to relieve stress is to talk to other people about what is making me stressed. It helps me get of the feelings that I have and by the end of the night, I'm often very comfortable and back to my same old ways.

If I don't feel like talking to someone, I often listen to music or play a video game. I don't really get gamer rage, but I do like to use violent video games like Street Fighter to help me destress. For me it's not the violence that helps me, but the amount of thinking that I do to play these games that helps me take my mind off of what is stressing me out.

Ah yes and last but not least, drinking tea helps me relieve stress. Nothing like having some fresh brewed tea after a long day. It is very very relaxing. I would suggest you give it a try once and see if it works for you.[/FONT]

[RiaBinx]

I've had the problem of stess since I've been four and I grind my teeth in my sleep, it has taken a terrible toll though, my teeth are now so ground down that they are down to raw nerves (don't worry, you can't see anything).

[Japan]

I usually like to listen to my zune or listen to music on youtube. Right now I am listening to a lot of fushigi yuugi and akeboshi music.

I also like to inline skate, walk around and chat on the phone

[Aberinkula]

[COLOR="DarkSlateGray"][SIZE="1"]I listen to music when I'm stressed... than again I listen to music almost every minute of the day. Usually, I bring out my bass and play (it helps to play along with a song, for me it's Welcome Home >_<), or I write poetry.

It helps to hang out with friends too, ones that DON'T create stress.[/SIZE][/COLOR]