Thread: So, how do YOU handle stress?
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Old 01-18-2009, 11:39 AM   #113
vivaldirules
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Originally Posted by nekokami View Post
VR, you and I are twin souls.
We are, aren't we? Okay, less metaphysical now.

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Originally Posted by nekokami View Post
3 - Creative projects - as long as I haven't promised the results to anyone. (Otherwise it becomes another obligation.)
Yes, I agree completely, neko. In particular, I have found that drawing is particularly satisfying and stress-relieving for me so long as I am engaged at it (that is, I push myself to get into the drawing and try to excel at it) and, like you, no one is expecting anything from me out of it (or even will ever see it).

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Originally Posted by nekokami View Post
4 - Meditation... but sometimes it's hard to focus, if I'm really stressed. I have a biofeedback program (The Journey to Wild Divine) that has helped with this a lot. That was how I discovered that creative projects help so well.
I may be very interested in this program so long as I'm convinced it's not a rip-off or some trivial game. I'm not saying it is, I'm just pretty skeptical of commercial products of any kind.

For me, I seem unable to meditate while at work even for very short periods. Instead, I have taken to look for live streaming videos (webcams) of nature (if I can't just get up and walk outside). I don't want to hear people or music or see morphing screen shots. I just want to watch a continuously updating view of some place beautiful as I listen to the natural sounds of the setting. I have found only a few so far and am always looking for more with higher resolution, better sound, and faster streaming. Here's an example (click near the bottom to turn the sound on and then right click on the video and select Zoom and Full Screen - it's not quite awful): http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_mbay/mbay_cam.asp?bhcp=1

If I watch something like this for a few minutes, I can feel the tension release in my muscles and I'm a bit more calm. But then (and this is the important part), after about ten minutes, I need Jimminy Cricket to whisper (or yell) in my ear that it's time to go back to work and be productive again for awhile.
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