What to do to relax? How do I do nothing?

[Frank303]

Not an anxiety question per-se but one of relaxation but there's not a 'relaxation' or chill out room.
I've never been one to relax easily, I'm always working and when I come home I've usually got to be doing something, even if I'm just on the interweb learning. I can't sit down and watch television for instance,not having a television help s but if I did I just couldn't focus on it for more than 10 minutes.  Having gone on like this for years it is a pretty engrained behaviour. I find holidays rather difficult as I don't see the point in them - spending a fortune, travelling for ages to sit and do nothing on a beach somewhere or sit in various hostelries and wait for waiters to serve food.
Any suggestions on things to do to relax? Or rather how do I not do very much?

[JSGeare]

There's no law I know of that says that relaxation is somehow all about a lack of muscle tension or a blank mind, or zoning out on new age music. But people, nonetheless, seem to THINK of it in that way. To me, relaxation is more about feeling easily in touch with what's going on around you, the sense that your natural predispositions are in harmony with whatever is going on in reality. And what that is for you -is whatever that is for you. Often, there is a literal relaxation in the muscles, because you are not tensed up, on alert for the next thing to appear on the "threat board." And often, your thought are self-generating, based on whatever entertainment your brain is serving up at the moment. I see no reason why being "busy" can't also be "relaxing."  The key is that the busy-ness is of your own choosing; reflects where you want to be and what you care to do. Do you go to sleep easily at night? If so, what is in your brain, generally, when you nod off?

Hey! Don't worry about this. Relax.

[Frank303]

I was thinking along the lines of meditation really but apart from the breathing techniques I don't know much about it. My last partner was trying to teach me but it all went a bit pear shaped and she was bringing elements of foreign religions into it.

[Suzyq0826]

Well try to enjoy yourself....maybe your goal of relaxing more is achievable if you try to do it a little bit at a time...guess a working holiday is a bit of a start.
Enjoy! :-))

Suzy

[MrGreen]

I watch UFC fighting nightly. Man that sure relaxes me. Then I have a few hobbies. I like to burn images onto wood. You have to be calm doing that. Plus I listen to a radio scanner. Just all helps me to chill out some.

[Frank303]

Thanks for your response, I just know I need to relax more, cut out the non impotant stuff and re-focus my life (which is rapidly going nowhere by trying to do to much and not achieving much of it.)

I'm going away this weekend, just printed off my coach e-tickets, 12 hour journey e/w Yikes!. Sort of short working holiday.

[Suzyq0826]

You don't really seem like you're unhappy keeping busy all the time, and most of the things that people do to relax don't appeal to you such as vacations and dinners out. Maybe things like learning on the Internet are relaxing to you.

I can't see forcing yourself to sit on the sofa and fidget and think about all the other things you could be doing...that would have the opposite effect of relaxation.

The only thing I can suggest is a vacation where you remove yourself from all of the things you do, but if you wouldn't enjoy it, then what's the point? I think you might be one to try to keep busy seeing and doing everything there is instead of sitting on a beach and would probably need a vacation after his vacation.

Are you really unhappy keeping busy, if not, why do you want to change?

Suzy

[Jikan]

Namaste,

If all you want to do is relax, try yoga, tai chi and what is especially good, is meditation.

Michael