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What is Your Stress Reliever?

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

What is your stress reliever? We all have one. Grabbing the remote and vegging out in front of the TV? Curling up with a book? Taking a walk? Having dinner with friends?

Your choice of reliever will have something to do with if you are an extrovert or an introvert. Extroverts rejuvenate by being out with friends and around groups of people. People provide them with energy and relaxation.

Introverts however rejuvenate by having quiet time away from others. They will usually want a night at home by themselves with a book or going for a walk. People that are outgoing and great with people are not necessarily extroverts. What a person does to unwind and de-stress is the true key.

I have a friend who could be at a party or social gathering every night. He thrives off of the energy of others and finds it very relaxing. I on the other hand find having an event even three nights a week exhausting. I need my alone and quiet time to get the wind back in my sails.

I have two stress relievers. One is reading. I read every night before I go to sleep for at least an hour to shut off the days events in my mind, to make it stop thinking about my "to do" list. I read on average a book a week.

My other favorite destresser is knitting. I sit in my overstuffed chair to catch up on the weekly programs I have DVR'd and knit away. The best part about this is after a couple weeks of vegging out in front of the TV I end up with something fun to wear! Proof is this silk shell I just completed.

Silk Shell;

 

What is your Stress Reliever?

 

Nancy Timberlake
RE/MAX Shoreline - Portland, ME
REALTOR - Southern Maine

I like to be around people but I also love reading.  I also like the sweater---very cute style!

Sep 01, 2010 01:45 AM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I love working in my garden, and taking my dog for a long walk. My dog is a great stress reliever, because he helps me put things into perspective. His enthusiasum makes me laugh, and see what's really important. He actually thinks I'm doing him the favor.

Sep 01, 2010 01:53 AM
Phil Cogan
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Coral Springs, FL

Shae, Maybe it's age, but I've been putting on the headphones and listening to a broad range of music,,,Sinatra, Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac. Seems Frank relaxes me the most lately

Sep 01, 2010 01:55 AM
Linda Scofield
Toccoa, GA

Shar - My stress reliever is reading blogs on Active Rain. Sounds crazy but I find that is the way I start my day and end it. I have my favorities that I never miss reading and find new ones of interest. By the way Shar, how did that contest go?

Sep 01, 2010 02:00 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Thanks Nancy. All my creations don't turn out (ha) but this one fit perfectly.

I agree Debbie, pets can sure do that. If I am down or grumpy all I need to do is take my 2 St. Bernard's to the dog park and I am smiling and laughing. Watching their joy as they bounce and run is infectious.

Oh that's a good one Phil! A little Dean Martin would be good too!

Sep 01, 2010 02:00 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Shar...

I don't think that I could ever have the patience for knitting ... and it would take one of my kittys about 10 seconds to undo all of the hard work!

Sep 01, 2010 02:17 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Shaken...with a Twsit..............does that tell you anything Shar?  So you're not only a fabulous stager, you knit too, very nice my friend.  Great work.

Sep 01, 2010 02:18 AM
Sandi Gerrard
Toronto, ON

Time spent at the Cottage !

Sep 01, 2010 02:49 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Shar - Great subject.  I destress with quiet time - it used to be by making a cup of tea, and reading the latest House & Home magazine.  Now, it's still making a cup of tea, but now I'm curled up on the sofa with my laptop on my lap, reading all the great A/R posts, just like Linda above! 

Sep 01, 2010 05:06 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Linda,I find that I get more motivated when I am on AR so I have to try stay away in the evenings or I won't sleep! It's a good thing though, how much we learn. I am not suppose to say about the contest until they announce it on Sept 8th (that's why I didn't blog about it), but lets just say I was not in Nashville last week for a photo shoot. lol. I was a little bummed but I was so swamped with work last week I was blessed anyway and not sure how I would have managed. They said I was "very close" so I probably should have hired Roger Mucci to be my campaign manager. He is up for it next year but I don't know if they'll have it again or if I will apply anyway. We'll see what a year brings! Thanks for asking.

Hi Richard,it took me a few trys at knitting before I had the patience for it too. It is stressful while you are learning and then it becomes relaxing. It doesn't take a kitty to have an issue with the yarn. My 155 lb St. Bernard just happened to love my expensive wool that I was making a sweater with. We had just adopted her last year and she would take my sweater with the ball of yarn attached when we were gone and run around the house! Yarn was wrapped around the DR a few times, up the stairs,down the stairs, and then I'd find my sweater in a heap somewhere but perfectly fine. After the 3rd time she did that I had to start hiding my yarn. But she hasn't touched my yarn since. Either she loved that yarn or she was so happy to be adopted that she couldn't contain herself!

Thanks Roger,I have so many hidden talents. lol

Oh that's a good one Sandi. Time at the cottage would definitely be a stress reliever.

Tea and reading is a great relaxer Sally and what is it with this AR theme? lol

Sep 01, 2010 06:30 AM
LaNita Cates
REMAX of Joliet - Joliet, IL

I love to cross stitch as much as possible. It helps me relax tons and I'm not the type to relax! I can't watch a movie without reading a book!

Sep 01, 2010 09:03 AM
Karen Rice Madison AL Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Madison - Madison, AL
256-348-1527 Call/Text

Shar;  Your shell is lovely.  Knitting is very relaxing (as long as the pattern turns out the way it's supposed to).  I used to knit for my children.

Sep 01, 2010 10:06 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Oh I used to cross stitch all the time LaNita. Haven't done it for years since I started knitting. In fact, I think I have a bunch of half finished projects!

I know Karen,the pattern thing can be tricky. I've been lucky, I don't think there is anything I have made that I don't wear. Plus I have knitted DOZENS of felted bags. I just design those as I go usually, no pattern. A girl can never have too many purses. :)

It is fun getting to know everyone better by learning how they "destress"!

 

Sep 01, 2010 11:36 AM
Barbara Heil-Sonneck
Design2Sell - Atlanta, GA
Home Staging Atlanta

Hi Shar, I am with you on reading, a good book can send you on a mini vaction for the mind....

Sep 01, 2010 02:14 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

A mini mind vacation, love that description Barbara. Books are a true escape for me.

Sep 01, 2010 04:03 PM