What is "relaxing"?
 

What exactly do people mean when they say "relax tonight" or "do something relaxing"? I get bored at home when I'm not reading textbooks or computer programming.

Doing something less strenuous physically and mentally, taking a break.
Activities that have no real aim except to chill out whilst doing.

Reading a book. watching a movie. surfing the net. playing a game, like world of warcraft.
Sometimes even doing a little writing is how I relax.

Thanks, that's helpful.

I suppose I'm in the minority though - I read medical/pharmacology textbooks to relax and I watch maximum 1 hour TV a week and that's a documentary.

But I do like running.

I read about psychology / sociology / philosophy to relax and watch about the same amount of TV too, but I agree it's probably unusual.

Whatever takes your mind off the stressful side of life.

Being in the bath for 5 hours with a good book and a pot noodle is good for me!

I wondeer this too... in fact i have a thread up at the moment asking how people relax as im rubbish at it but also accoring to my doctor "overly stressed"

If i'm not doing work, reading a text book, or writing an esay I just get bored... Or I start thinking about stuff too much and basically frustrate, annoy or upset myself

I play The Sims with some tv on in the background, or I sit and read a book and drink some wine. I love it. That is my ultimate relaxation.

I've also started standing on the right of the tube instead of walking on the left if I'm not in a rush, which is bloody brilliant.

And when I'm over-stressed at work I sit and spend half an hour with a cup of redbush tea and do the Guardian crossword.

Very small things like that make such a difference to my sanity, it's incredible.

This is something I massively struggle with. I seem not to be able to switch off but I am working at it.

I find that watching a movie such as Disney or one that requires little thinking can be helpful.
Also, reading a book, drinking a cup of tea, colouring in, writing, sudokus, organising stuff, mindless television...
I have to go for a run a few times a week or my mood massively suffers.

Spamming F&D can be good too...

Fr me it's reading while listening to music or watching some reality tv that you don't need to think about.

I find I need to do something at least a little mentally engaging otherwise I'll still be over-thinking about stuff. Watching TV isn't enough to take my mind off things.

I find that TV isn't good enough either...I have to read or do something on my laptop that takes mental effort to do (hence computer programming).

Well I dont know about stuff to do at home. But I go to the stables to relax. Groom a horse. Nothing more relaxing for me.

Yeah, relaxing is just taking some time to do something that you enjoy that makes you feel good.

Like for me its being in bed with a book and hot chocolate (or wine!)
or taking half an hour to go for a walk along the canal, or sit and watch the ducks. Not really going anywhere, just walking.

Relaxing is just when you don't have to think about stressful things like life and work and families and stuff and can just not think about anything really.

Thank you all - the posts have been helpful. I'm glad you have your ways of relaxing. I actually do find something non-academic relaxing, I like playing Solitaire or Mahjong Titans on my laptop while listening to music.

This lol.

For me reading, watching comedy/Disney, having a few drinks, smoking.

for me the only way I can "relax" is if I am physically and mentally exhausted. I play scrabble ( literati on yahoo) and go on my exercise bike, then lay in bed with the tv turned down or put a familiar dvd on in the background, and just let my mind wonder without trying to control my thoughts. failing that, a nice massage always helps me feel physically relaxed.

I like to troll the interwebz.

Go to a spa and sit in a jacuzzi with your favourite drink or book :)