What is your therapy? Mine is.... - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

What is your therapy? Mine is....

Tammyb

Harmonica just posted about shopping being her therapy and needing a different outlet. It's inspired me to ask others what you do to let off steam.

My three hobbies are gardening, home improvement/decor and my closet. I do a TON of planning around all of these. For the garden I had a bit of a clean slate with our recent move so I have been researching what to plant, then doing the shopping and the work of planting. And then "my crazy" comes out and I take field notes weekly (sometimes daily) about what is growing, what I might move, what I need to buy to fill in, etc. and I do similar activities for my closet and house, as well.

What about you?

Off Topic

40 replies

Latest reply was from Karie

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Mine are similar!
I can't really call it gardening, but I am a little obsessed with my plants.... houseplants, succulents and grass on the patio. Yes, I decided to grow grass in the desert.....in the summer.....from seed. I just have a small patch of dirt and I wanted it to be green. I have so many houseplants that I can barely find places to keep them away from the cats. I have killed even the "hard to kill" varieties, but I have learned a lot!
Home decor is another one for me. I am always working on projects around the house......painting, sewing, hanging artwork, etc. I've been here a year and a half but I still have a list of unfinished projects ( next up...... slipcover the sofa!)
And then fashion/wardrobe planning. This is a biggee right now as most of my old clothes are too big. Luckily, I enjoy a small wardrobe.
Lastly, I find my cats very therapeutic. Sitting with a purring cat on your lap does something good for your soul. Unfortunately, they don't always have the same idea about their 'job' as I do LOL!

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

harmonica

Veteran

Tammyb, thank you for this post, it's so on spot and really warms my heart. I'll come back to you later.

chewyspaghetti, love your home decor and sweet kitty. looks really tidy and fresh.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sam, tea, yoga, walks and tele.

Eliza

Veteran

Walking, the ocean, cooking, friends and family.

Anonymous

Gardening and long walks have always been my stressbusters. I'm happiest when digging in the dirt. My worries and cares just melt away. If it weren't so gosh-darned hot right now, I'd be out there instead of on here! The only drawback is the blisters I always manage to raise.

rabbit

Veteran

gardening -- especially growing veggies, although i make forays into blooming things. it gets me out of bed in the morning (along with the meowing cat who wants to venture out with me) to check on what grew overnight. Then there is the needed corollary of cooking what we grew.

jazzercise, running and meditation - for the mental reboot, don't do all of them daily, but at least one of them everyday or I start to feel out of sorts.

fiction -- whether on tv, in movies, audiobooks, online stories, novels -- slipping into other worlds gets me out of mine for a restful break.

like chewyspaghetti -- hanging out with cats, taking them out in the back garden, snuggling, playing with feather toys is always a joy.

catgirl

Veteran

Rock climbing, reading and hiking with friends. Also playing with the pets. Oh, and going out dancing!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Shopping. Playing with my dogs. Reading. Walking. Cooking. Container gardening (currently I have loads of succulents because our weather is just horrid) Watching shows on Netflix. (Watching Ray Donovan & Orange Is The New Black right now)

deb

Veteran

Reading, gardening, projects of ant kind where I can lose myself.

Thistle

Veteran

Walking or reading.

Anonymous

Exercise and my therapy cats.

SandyG

Veteran

Hiking with dogs, urban line dancing class, long novels, and for high stress, using my new steam mop to set the world in order.

rachylou

Veteran

Well to be honest, McDonalds. When I'm sick, a bland tasteless hamburger is comforting and easy on my stomach. I also feel a trip to the doctor, which is a traffic odyssey, deserves a McGriddle. But if I need to occupy my mind, I think about rearranging all my stuff, lol.

Cerinda

Veteran

Fiction, fashion (reading, planning, as opposed to shopping), sailing, skiing; also gardening and hiking. Exercise (urban walking, yoga, pilates) is a must to keep my head on straight, but I don't necessarily enjoy it.

Anonymous

Organization is my therapy. When I am stressed, I find a part of the house that I have not tackled in a while, like a closet or a drawer, pull everything out and reorganize.

shedev

Veteran

Fitness is my therapy.

jill58

Veteran

Running, aerobic dance class, reading, growing orchids, knitting, gardening outdoors.

Peri

Veteran

Reading, movies with friends, talking to friends, dance, and makeup.

Tammyb

Chewyspaghetti, that dresser is beautiful. Did you do it?
Gotta love cats. They are their own masters.

So interesting to read what everyone else does. We have a lot in common!

Gaylene

Veteran

Walking, hiking, biking, skiing, and reading. Mr G laughs that he is the only guy that has to walk his wife regularly to keep her happy. Cheaper than diamonds, though, so I tell him he's lucky.

Gardening is a chore for me, so I'm fascinated by people who find it relaxing. Same for organizing my closet--and TV watching puts me to sleep, so my "binge watching" lasts for only an hour, but I can read for hours on end if I'm into a book.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Walking. Weightlifting (though I have to persuade myself into the gym by reminding myself how good I will feel afterwards.) Reading. Writing. Cuddling my cat. Laughing with a friend.

Staysfit

Veteran

Exercise - walking with my neighbor everyday we can when the weather allows. Pilates . Weight lifting. Running (only 4 days a week now, no more marathons), hiking, bike rides, snow shoes, cross country skiing, swimming, any type of boating.

Reading - I always have a backlog of both fiction and non-fiction. This year Mr. Staysfit and I are going to a series of author talks so I have extra motivation to read their books so I can be familiar with them before I hear them speak.

Study - (is that an outlet?) I am taking a class about Opera with my DH. I also am preparing for my second maintenance of certification exam. It's a once every ten year ordeal. I enjoy reading anything related to my profession. It's a great thing to love what you do for work.

Organizing - I love to clean up and organize things. I may have OCD. I make plans, I clear out drawers and cabinets. Clutter is never safe when I am around. Funny how my wardrobe is rarely included in this.

Netflix - I typically pick a series and watch one episode at a time until I finish.

Cooking - that really means menu planning, reading cookbooks, baking, and preparing dinner. I especially enjoy cooking with my DS and my DH.

Morning tea - I love to drink a huge cup of tea in the morning before anyone else in the house is awake. Just me, and my dog, and the newspaper.

Girls night out/hanging out with friends - I love hanging out with my friends. We go for dinner and sometimes a move, but not always.

Games - I love to play all sorts of games. Card games, Scrabble, Rummikub, whatever......

Laundry - I like to do laundry. Yes, it's true.

Laurinda

Veteran

Another gardener here -- the smell of earth is a natural anti-depressant (!) How to Get High on Soil.
Also bike riding, star gazing, shopping at the farmers' market and outdoor pool swlmming. Interesting how my favorite activities are all outside ;-).

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Under the "productive" heading - sewing, knitting, and polymer clay. Under "mind, body, and soul" - running and yoga. And for "instant gratification" - apple and banana, eaten together. Yum!

Echo

Veteran

Exercise, reading, coffee and radio (I am a Public Radio addict).

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Best is a swim, or if that doesn't work, sitting outside. A beach is a wonderful place to be. Walking. Talking with friends. Being here on the forum.

rachylou

Veteran

I find dishwashing very meditative, but not triage for stress. True triage I feel requires a time out, a change of program. And three deep breaths.

Style Fan

Veteran

Yoga and anything to do with Yoga. I practice Yoga as a whole not just the physical practice but the whole 8 limbs.
Reading. I like to read about my profession, novels, non fiction and current events.
Walking.
And of course my dog.

Summer

Veteran

Gardening, country and coastal walks, watching and listening to wildlife, and caring for my dog. All of these are huge stress-busters for me.

12