How I relax
The Bearblog Carnival this month is How I... hosted by Moose. I really had no clue what to write about. Wracked my brain for weeks. Then I asked my wife and she instantly said, "Relax." Not as an instruction. "I think it's really interesting how different people relax," she said. So I basically wrote a nice relaxed day. It's not some idealised thing - I try to have as many days like this as possible, and incorporate parts of it as much as possible.
Time outside. If I could only do one thing to relax myself it would be to go for a walk. Marching along the street with loud music, lying in a field, pottering in the garden, wander along the canal.
Some productivity. Although this might not seem relaxing I actually love running errands, having a little tidy or declutter. It makes me feel productive which helps me relax later. But also in the moment if it's not under too much pressure or a tight deadline.
Spending time with people. Hanging out with my niblings is always fun but not necessarily relaxing, especially if I'm in charge of them and have responsibility. So, with them and their parents, and my wife. Or friends, maybe doing those errands together.
Favourite food and drink. Samosa chaat. Then some mogo chips or chilli paneer to continue snacking on. Also, later in the day: chocolate biscuits. My drink of choice is a constant stream of Pepsi Max. With ice. Several slices of lemon and lime. In a gin glass. Got to be fancy and silly.
Music. There is no relaxation without music. As a soundtrack to the errands and cleaning to have a singalong to. Later on, something familiar I've listened to a hundred times before. A little louder than it ought to be.
A project. Something to get nicely in the zone about. Flow.
Jigsaw puzzle. A nicely meditative experience. On the dining room table with the back doors open to the garden and the music in the background.
Reading. Outside would be nice. On the patio, in the grass on the field. A good book or a comfort fanfic. Nothing too challenging, not for relaxing to.
Gentle lighting. In the long evenings of summer it will be light until late. I might have put the patio lights up. Inside I'll put on the fairy lights, a lamp. I find it automatically relaxing. In the winter the lamps are going on by four and the electric fire has a nice flicker.
Writing. For relaxation purposes I'd write some fun scenes. Maybe (probably) some kissing scenes. Maybe an AU of one of my fanfic AUs which is one of my favourite relaxation-writes. Totally useless but very chill and fun.
My wife is probably playing video games in the background or watching Survivor for the nth time and trying to explain tactics to me. Sounds pretty good.