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Engaging activity to switch off?

seekeraftertruth

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. 

Parents

  • Maybe when you are doing the tasks they need a focus and purpose. So looking at a map is good but what is the focus of the task? 

    I have recently re-discovered puzzle books. I like the ones with a variety of different types of puzzles. They focus my mind so much I don't think about anything else. When I feel anxiety coming on, I get my puzzle book out. My mind is on nothing else while I am doing the puzzles. Ive also flirted with jigsaws but I got a bit bored.

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  • Maybe when you are doing the tasks they need a focus and purpose. So looking at a map is good but what is the focus of the task? 

    I have recently re-discovered puzzle books. I like the ones with a variety of different types of puzzles. They focus my mind so much I don't think about anything else. When I feel anxiety coming on, I get my puzzle book out. My mind is on nothing else while I am doing the puzzles. Ive also flirted with jigsaws but I got a bit bored.

Children