Hello,
I don't have any activity or hobby that helps me turn my brain off. My hobbies are reading and playing video games but I tend to find games quite tense, so although I play them, I don't feel relaxed during or afterwards, even though I tend to play adventure games or RPGs (so, it's not fast or shooty games that I play).
I think I would find detail work quite relaxing. I tried drawing a map like this guy: https://youtu.be/63DZ7nLpSDE
but it wasn't very relaxing. I think maybe looking at a map like that really close up might be quite relaxing, like having my face really close to it so it fills my vision and I can see detail or trace pathways through the city.
I once got a new board game and spent an hour sorting all the different components into small plastic bags very relaxing (I didn't realise whilst doing it, because I was so engaged in it, it was only when I sat back at the end when I noticed how relaxed I was, it literally felt like I'd just spent the entire day at a spa).
I'm looking for an activity I can do to make me feel like that. I think it will be something I can do at the kitchen table and without a screen (I want to switch off so I'd be happy if it was done on paper).
Does anyone have any suggestions for things I can do, or what you do? Happy to take suggestions from psychologists too, if there's something obvious I can try.
Thanks.