In honor of National Relaxation Day.
In honor of National Relaxation Day celebrated annually on August 15th, I wanted to share a few ways I personally like to relax.
In case it's helpful, below are the topics covered in this post:
Laughing at Something
You may have heard the saying, "laughter is the best medicine." I do not know if I would consider it the "best medicine," but it is just so much fun!
Whether I am reading, watching, or listening to something I believe is funny, a good laugh helps me feel better and unwind. When my heart stops racing fast from excessive laughter, I feel a bit more relaxed.
While I am busy, I sometimes like to listen to standup comedy or any funny content online. While writing this blog post, I have been listening to people telling dad jokes to one another while trying not to laugh. Sometimes another person's laughter is enough to get me laughing and unwind a little.
Playing Games
Playing cards and board games are sometimes ways I like to relax with others. My family loves playing card games like Mao, Speed, BS, and Rummy. What starts as friendly competition could turn out to be stressful, but it is typically just relaxing fun with my family.
I have also enjoyed playing various card and board games like Gloom and Fluxx with my friends and former colleagues. Quality time spent with family and friends have are often relaxing times for me. However, a lot of times it is just me, so I would spend my solo time playing video games.
I once mentioned that video games are one of several ways I personally de-stress. My favorite games can capture my undivided attention, taking my mind off reality for a while. However, there are some games that could be stress-inducing, especially if I am stuck on a level or scenario that I cannot solve or navigate.
I tend to play video games that allow me to do whatever I want. Games with an open world for me to explore or a sandbox mode for me to do things without limitations are my favorite go-to games when I want to relax. If a game's objective or mission is not difficult to achieve, I may go ahead and complete it.
Below are just a few video games I enjoy when I want to relax and do whatever I want during a play session:
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - I like visiting Brewster's Cafe for a cup of coffee, touring Blather's Museum, and sitting by the beach to hear the sound effects of the water hitting the sand and rocks. I especially love listening to the rain and thunder in-game.
SuchArt! - If I do not want to complete an art commission (a.k.a., in-game objective), I can paint whatever I want, wherever I want. In fact, I can paint the walls, furniture, and plants if creative chaos will help me feel relaxed!
House Flippers - I enjoy buying a house and remodeling it to suit my fancy. Thanks to the last two dlc's, I can distract myself with caring for my pets and farm animals if I want a break from flipping a house.
Forza Horizon 5 - There is something relaxing (to me) about driving around in the large open world available in this racing game. I could speed around the map in my Koenigsegg Jesko or view the sights while cruising the different biomes in my Peel P50.
Sleeping
Sleep is the best form of relaxation! Of course, this is easier said than done for many people including myself.
Naturally, I feel more relaxed when I had a full night's sleep. Unfortunately, I have not slept for a full night in over a year. It does not help that my puppy is active at random times throughout the night.
The next best thing is a nap. It feels good to take a nap for a few minutes or a couple hours whenever possible. Setting up a hammock outdoors when there is a cool breeze is one of my favorite ways to nap. Bonus points if my dogs nap alongside me.
A Weird Way I Relax Sometimes
This may be specific to my weirdness and unrelatable to many people, but I find texting my friends random things relaxing. I enjoy sending them odd images of animals smiling, asking them strange questions that seem out-of-the-blue, and telling them weird stories to distract them for a moment.
For example, I started a conversation one day by mentioning that I was thinking about which WDW theme park rides my dogs would like and enjoy. (Ooh. That sounds like a fun daydream blog post to write about!)
The conversation somehow led to us discussing and planning a fictional pet-focused theme park that included pet-safe rides, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, waterpark with lazy river, doggy school (training center), luxury hotel (boarding facility), and more.
A lot of times, I worry that I am annoying my friends with my random texts, but I am always hopeful that whatever I send brings a smile to their faces. They are good women who could use extra joy in their lives.
On the rare occasion that my randomness leads us on a fun conversation, I feel relaxed knowing that I kept them preoccupied from the struggles of daily life with something random and silly, even if just for a few minutes.
What's Next?
At some point later today, I plan to relax by playing a chill video game. Maybe I will play something new, like a casual game about unpacking moving boxes (Unpacking) or organizing items and trinkets (A Little to the Left). I will not know if these puzzles games are relaxing unless I give them a try.
Comment below to share ways you like to relax.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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