itsjustme From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2765 posts, RR: 10 Posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 941 times:
I initiated this thread a few years back and got some favorable and interesting responses so, I thought I'd do it again. The title is self explanatory. When you need to "get away from it all" to clear your head - either after after a particularly stressful day on the job, or when the kids or your spouse are being a little unbearable, or when you just need an hour or two or three of "my time", what's your escape? What do you do? Travel? Read? Shoot? Run? For you locals, maybe head to In-N-Out Park at LAX?
My get-a-way is a motorcycle ride - typically, with no destination in mind, although it's not uncommon that I end up at Sky Park at SNA and watch the a/c land in front of me. I am very fortunate to live in a climate that is conducive to riding about 95% of the time and I've yet to need to get away and have the weather not comply.
flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6323 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 933 times:
A few things come to mind.
A drive around town with no place in mind is one. Especially on a nice day with the sun roof and windows open.
Some exercise, usually games of pick up basketball. Exercise is probably my best way to get rid of stress and anxiety.
YouTube. It sounds weird but I can just search one thing, usually aviation related and I can get lost watching random videos for hours just clicking on the links to the right. It is crazy how many videos there are out there on just the subjects I enjoy.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
iFlyLOTs From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 388 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 926 times:
My biggest thing to relieve stress is there is an airport about 20 miles from my house and to get there there are some pretty nice roads to drive on (lots of turns, high speed limit and rarely any cops) and I then sit in a community college parking lot and watch the biz jets land over my head.
If I can't do that I can easily get lost in a book or I'll go for a swim at the local fitness center. I usually just try to get away from people because they're the primary cause for my stress.
EISHN From Ireland, joined Feb 2007, 1506 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 902 times:
I find that going on long walks really helps me to clear my mind or gives me a great time to think. I do my best thinking when I'm active.
I also find showers and baths to be very relaxing as well.
St. Flannan/ Fhlanain- She took off to find the footlights, And I took off for the sky
cmf From United States of America, joined Jun 2011, 2526 posts, RR: 35 Reply 8, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 838 times:
Play golf. I know I must clear my mind or my game will be a disaster. A round is better for my brain than a nights sleep.
If I want to find solutions I walk. I turn off the phone and take the dog for a walk. By the time I get back I have almost always decided what to do. I'm fortunate enough to set my own schedule so that isn't a problem.
Don’t repeat earlier generations mistakes. Learn history for a better future.
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13369 posts, RR: 64 Reply 9, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 834 times:
I fix or build something (I especially find welding very relaxing), work in my garden or play one of my instruments, depending on my mood either one of my banjos or guitars, though since a few months I´ve been in the process of teaching myself how to play the fiddle.
SpaceshipDC10 From Canada, joined Jan 2013, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 805 times:
It all depends of my needs and how I feel. If for instance my day was very busy and I need quietness, I go for a walk in the countryside (weather permitting) where I can enjoy both silence, or close to it, and not having my mind constantly drown to attention by outside noises and moving or flashing things.
If the weather is bad, I'll probably end up in a public library where I'll either write down what's in my mind when I feel the need, draw (nothing specific), color up a mandala or simply spend time looking at pictures in books about countries or nature.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38594 posts, RR: 79 Reply 11, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 802 times:
Back in San Francisco, I would either go for a long bicycle ride or a joyride in the car and get lost somewhere up the coast or in the hills.
My favorite bike ride was from my house, across the Golden Gate Bridge, in to the Marin Headlands up to the lighthouse, then return back.
Joyrides in the car were usually up to Stinson Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods, Dog Town and sometimes up to Fort Bragg. Weather of course would determine my journey. I enjoyed driving up this way, even in the fog and rain.
A great Bay Area drive in sunny weather is down highway 35 along the top ridge of the Peninsula. It really gives you the feeling of being on top of the world, looking down on creation.
Here in Bangkok I like to ride on a boat somewhere and get off in a part of town I've never been to. Sometimes I'll go up to an abandon parking garage at Don Mueang and take photos or random planes coming in and out. Lot's of Russian cargo jets and rich oil baron Sheiks with their 747SPs come through.
Or I'll just go to a massage parlor and clear my head.
I hope the image just symbolizes booze as a whole. I hope you're not telling us that your drink is an apple martini.
You're gonna lose some stripes over that one of so.
hkg82 From Hong Kong, joined Apr 2002, 1219 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 663 times:
The walks and jogs are for me the best remedy for distracting myself from unpleasant thoughts & freshening up my mind. A jog especially gives huge mental relief.
Sometimes photo editing or watching a movie, but on the really bad days I need to step out.
Aesma From France, joined Nov 2009, 4934 posts, RR: 9 Reply 17, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 625 times:
Only two things work for me, adrenaline and sleep. So taking the car (or worse a motorbike) is not a good idea at all. The safe thing I used to do was skydiving, but you can't do that on a whim (and not at all during winter).
Sleeping works fine and I have no trouble doing it at any time since I don't sleep enough at night.
Now that I think of it, a booty call works too (no wife on the horizon), but I'm out of sex friends currently.
But all in all I'm either too stressed to realize it or stress doesn't affect me, and the things I'd like to forget are my own obsessions, so getting my brain to focus on something else is the only way, walking for example will have the opposite effect as it doesn't involve the brain at all.
New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams
af773atmsp From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 2587 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 611 times:
-driving around with no destination in mind
-watching planes at MSP
-watching trains on the local railroad line
-biking with no destination in mind usually; sometimes in the summer I bike 20 miles and don't even notice how far I've biked
-listen to music or watch funny videos on YouTube with my noise canceling headphones
Its always such a pain when someone interrupts my "me time" with a text or call. Sometimes I have to put my phone on silent to make sure I have no interruptions.
It's the same for me. Except rather than do short aimless rides, I do really long ones with a vague plan holding things together, but the specifics are always worked out on the spot. Often end up doing a few thousand kilometres. And I do this 2-3 times a year, which means I usually wait until work or relationships or whatever else is bothering me brings me an inch away from insanity
In the short term, FSX or X-plane helps me a lot to calm down.
planejamie From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2011, 572 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 569 times:
For me, like someone mentioned above - YouTube
Lately I've got on a train and gone to Manchester (nearest major city to me and pretty cheap/quick to get to by train - only takes an hour) and that clears my head on my own. Mainly as I can sit and think on the train or just get lost in everyone rushing around with the trains or overhearing other people's conversations/people watching.
N172DM From United States of America, joined Jul 2012, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 530 times:
Just get in the car and go. There's a parking lot not far from my house on top of a hill east of Denver with great views of the metro area. I'll sit in my car for a while and just watch people come and go.
Listening to the radio is great, too. You can really forget all your problems with a good station.
itsjustme From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2765 posts, RR: 10 Reply 25, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 523 times:
Quoting sturmovik (Reply 20): Except rather than do short aimless rides, I do really long ones with a vague plan holding things together
I do this on occasion, as well. I have a "jam bag" that is always packed and ready to go. It's just a small duffel that fits on the back of my bike but it's always packed with necessities (a credit card for this purpose only, tooth brush, a change of clothes, $500 in cash, and a cell phone charger), for an impromptu trip.
A few of you mentioned You Tube and you're right - that is a great way to tune out of whatever you need to tune out from. The stuff you can find on there nowadays is limitless!
ER757 From Cayman Islands, joined May 2005, 2249 posts, RR: 8 Reply 27, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 510 times:
For me, it's hiking in the mountains. If I really need to get away from it all, I'll choose one of the lesser travelled trails in order to increase my chances for solitude.
If I want to vent frustration over a bad day at work, or some jerk on the road or something, then I'll choose plugging in the guitar and turning the amp up loud
texan From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 4206 posts, RR: 53 Reply 28, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 500 times:
Run when possible. A good, long run clears the head, stresses the muscles and brightens my mood.
Reading a good book often works, but not always.
Cooking a huge meal or baking something big. Gets my mind off things quickly.
Shower while listening to classical music. Works wonders.
Driving out to Eastbourne, Martinborough or Masterton and getting out in the sun and away from the crowds.
Texan
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
qantas077 From China, joined Jan 2004, 5751 posts, RR: 48 Reply 30, posted (4 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 452 times:
I've been going through a particularly rough time with my mother having a mastectomy and my living on the other side of the country to her. I like to visit the cinema when I want a short escape, for longer ones I usually head to the ocean for a few hours just to sit quietly and meditate.
I've been here with my mum for 3 weeks now and as much as she is going through a rough trot she still knows how to give me the shits! So, I usually hit the road for a few hours while I've been here and head for a pie shop called Bakers Hill.
it's good thinking time and I enjoy the feed at the end of the line...tomorrow I go back to Melbourne and Thursday I am back at work after 3 weeks and that in itself will be a great distraction.
a true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes, while everyone else believes the smile on your face.
AF1624 From France, joined Jul 2006, 586 posts, RR: 0 Reply 31, posted (4 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 432 times:
Quoting itsjustme (Thread starter): My get-a-way is a motorcycle ride - typically, with no destination in mind
This.
Just get on the motorbike a ride somewhere random. There's something essentially beautiful about being alone in your helmet to gather your thoughts or just empty your head. It works very well, riding motorbikes, for that.
Darksnowynight From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 1013 posts, RR: 2 Reply 32, posted (4 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 412 times:
Quoting itsjustme (Thread starter): My get-a-way is a motorcycle ride - typically, with no destination in mind, although it's not uncommon that I end up at Sky Park at SNA and watch the a/c land in front of me. I am very fortunate to live in a climate that is conducive to riding about 95% of the time and I've yet to need to get away and have the weather not comply.
Just add that to the 13,012 things that are great about life in the Basin.
Quoting flymia (Reply 1):
YouTube. It sounds weird but I can just search one thing, usually aviation related and I can get lost watching random videos for hours just clicking on the links to the right.
No crap! (Sorry, I think I've used up my monthly quota of actual swear words here). That thing can be a veritable rabbit warren. But what's really great about that is just how much stuff I've found (mainly music wise; though crash course history is pretty spiff), that I likely wouldn't otherwise have.
Quoting vikkyvik (Reply 3): Absolutely, or Imperial Hill, or Dockweiler Beach, and take a few (hundred) photos.
Personally, when not using the UPS/HAL ramp out back for this, I like Proud Bird. I think it's really great in the late morning/early afternoon when the second wave heavies come in.
Quoting cmf (Reply 8):
Play golf. I know I must clear my mind or my game will be a disaster. A round is better for my brain than a nights sleep
Just started this one up last year myself. I picked up a set of clubs (that hopefully weren't too obviously crap to my boss and his boss) 2nd hand. I slice a damned lot though & I know some of that's me, but I can't help thinking that clubs make a difference. Any recommendations for this noob?
Quoting fr8mech (Reply 12): I never drink to get away from it...bad practice.
Me neither. But I do drink to get into it. Yes, there's a difference, well, to me anyway...
Quoting Aesma (Reply 17): Sleeping works fine and I have no trouble doing it at any time since I don't sleep enough at night.
Here here. I don't think I've had a regular sleep schedule in years. But I will say that I've got good at sneaking in short tracts of it here and there...
Quoting Aesma (Reply 17): Now that I think of it, a booty call works too (no wife on the horizon), but I'm out of sex friends currently.
I know what that's like. I went through a dry spell (thanks, job) about two months ago. Better now though.
I will say though, I must be getting old or something. I had one a few weeks back that (likely because I wasn't clear enough) actually thought she was a girlfriend for a minute there.
I would say it really does depend on the woman though. Some really do know how to make you feel about seven parsecs from you problems. And then some make you feel like you have about seven cubic parsecs full of problems, lol. But I guess you get better at figuring out which is which after a while. One lady I spend time with is actually so good at the first bit there that she thinks it's cool when I occasionally get her name wrong. I sincerely hope she's still around over the next few years.
Quoting AF1624 (Reply 31): Just get on the motorbike a ride somewhere random. There's something essentially beautiful about being alone in your helmet to gather your thoughts or just empty your head. It works very well, riding motorbikes, for that.
I keep hearing this. And while I definitely need to get into this, I'm not sure if it would be relaxing here. LA drivers try hard enough to kill you when you're in a car. But then, maybe riding somewhere off the beaten path is where it's at, huh?
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