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[CHAT] Relaxing vs distracting: How do we actually switch off?
We all know that relaxing is important in so many ways. From the physical health benefits to the usefulness of relaxation for our mental health, relaxation is practically necessary for our lives. It’s definitely necessary when you have a lot of responsibilities to juggle during the week, like school, work, volunteering or chores. But even if you’re having a rough day, and only managed to do a few things, relaxing is still important to unwind after all that stress.
What do we actually mean by relaxation though? For a long time I thought I knew what it was – if something stressful was happening or about to happen, you took a break and did something else. For most of my final year of school, that meant hours at a time on Tumblr or Youtube, reblogging post after post or watching one video after another. Except that once I decided I was bored of that, I didn’t feel relaxed afterwards. Instead, all of the responsibilities I’d tried to forget came rushing back into my memory, along with even more stress and anxiety.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who has been in this situation: sometimes, instead of facing up to our responsibilities, we avoid them. While sometimes avoiding our responsibilities for a time can help us recharge and come back to them with even more energy, at other times it can just feel like a cop-out, and once the time to finally face the music comes, we’re overwhelmed. Sometimes it can depend on the situation, and at other times on the way we decide to switch off, but learning to relax can be more than just teaching ourselves to let go of our stresses: it can also mean knowing when to do so, and how to go about it.
So how do we switch off, without switching back on and becoming giant piles of stress? Join us on Monday the 2nd May at 8pm AEST, where we’ll learn the difference between relaxing and distracting.
I agree with @FootyFan26 as well. You feel better after finishing a relaxing activity (most of the time, depending on situation or whatever) but after you complete the distraction activity, whatever you were distracting yourself from comes back. Most of the time.
ALTHOUGH (pretend it's in italics :P) sometimes after a distraction activity you feel better because you're using the distraction activity to get through a tough event. For example, I use music or TV to distract me from the squawking bird or noisy siblings after after the show is finished or I stop listening to music, I feel better (If the noise has stopped :P) because I got through it by doing the activity.
Okay, so we have identified whether something is relaxing or distracting, but how do we know what is what?
I'd say if it's relaxing it helps wind you down and makes you feel better long after you do it and distracting is when you do the activity and after you finish it you just go back to the way you were feeling before.
I, for one, am still stuck on the identification part. 😛 I know when something is relaxing, but when it's distracting is harder because, unless it's planned, it's distracting from something. Studying, chores, life, boredom, something. 😛
It's hard to say what's what because something can often (or at least, I've noticed) it's often both. So, how do you determine what's what if it can be both? Answer, it's situational. I guess one way of telling is if you've started the thing to not do another thing, then it's a distraction. But if you've started the thing to chill or relax, then it's a relaxation.
But yeah... I'm not sure.
How do these activities make you feel? Do you think they relax or distract you?
Mostly they do relax me. @safari93 sometimes I do find that social time can be great, but other times (especially after a long day) I'd prefer to be a little bit more introverted - which is okay!
@N1ghtW1ng that's sort of how I think about it as well - it depends on the situation and also why I'm doing the hobby in the first place
It depends what it is and how long I do it for, but most of the time I'm pretty guilty at using them as distraction rather than relaxation.
@stonepixie I spend far too long in the shower, pondering all the existential questions
Hey there @FootyFan26! I think we have a theme of using RO for relaxation here
How do these activities make you feel? Do you think they relax or distract you?
Let's see... reading mostly relaxes me, so does watching show and RO also does relax me. I guess they're both. It depends on what I'm doing or what's happening around me. If there's nothing really happening, then it might be a distraction or relaxation... Haha that cleared it up.
My final answer, both. 😛
Certain things relax me, certain things distract me.
So things like going for a walk - relaxing. Things like playing drums, drawing - distract me.
I think we're all pretty set in the relaxing department! So let's go further:
How do these activities make you feel? Do you think they relax or distract you?
How do these activities make you feel? Do you think they relax or distract you?
Pretty much everything is a distraction. I've started playing RO Orb recently and it's not bad, probably the most relaxing out of them all although I finished the storyline in no time. Footy is probably the longest distraction and drums is just good for tiring me out so I don't have enough energy to use negatively.
@khaleesi_18 social time as well! I also like catching up with a friend or two as a way of taking a break, although it can't be too many people
What are some of your favourite things to do when you need to have a little break?
So many fantastic things to do to relax so far!
Reading, listening to podcasts, going for coffee with a friend, watching some Netflix, yoga, walking my dog
I'm rambling. Sorry. 😛
RO, tumblr, facebook, colouring/painting, exercise, and most of all- sleep.
What are some of your favourite things to do when you need to have a little break?
Sleep! That is my go to at the moment, but otherwise it is crocheting, colouring in. Taking a shower is also a favourite of mine at the moment.
How do these activities make you feel? Do you think they relax or distract you?
Well they all make me feel pretty excellent, I guess they all also do a little bit of both, I think it's much like @N1ghtW1ng said somewhere in here. It's how and when you do the activity that make it relaxing or distracting ...or coping...