what calms you

A good soak in a hot bath. Being outside looking and listening to trees, especially in woodland.

Someone on Gransnet mentioned the InsightTime app. I went into it and found some excellent free meditations - I use one that is a sleep meditation - it sends me off every night with sounds of the sea, and a nice lady talking gentle talk.

Some of them you have to pay for - but if you click on the headphones at the bottom of the page the there are loads of freebies.

‘Art thou troubled? Music will calm you

I don't fully understand why people have so much stress. I'm calm, relaxed and laid back. I need something much stronger than coffee and smoking to keep going, really!

I too am calm and relaxed, proactive if something can be done about a problem but otherwise I let it go with the bathwater.
Life's too short to worry about things you cannot change.
Luckily, I don't live in my children's pockets as they live too far away and are in very stable jobs and relationships, therefore when we meet, it's all good news.

Fishing.

And now back to the actual question...

I go for walks in the woods, do yoga or tai chi at home via YouTube, read, listen to relaxation apps, watch a nice film or TV programme, go out somewhere nice (museum, out for coffee etc). I do have to work at my anxiety (which often goes along with my depression) and sometimes I take meds for a while to get it under control. I’ve used online sites before as well - Moodjuice is a brilliant website, I can highly recommend it.

Music
Mozart never lets me down but since Paw’s last weeks and death, Bynge’s “Sailing By” (also known as the music which precedes the 00.45 Shipping Forecast. )

Some deep breathing and playing my Il Divo cd's.
I suppose the Bisoprolol helps too

Oops can’t spell Binge - apologies.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic0mjPpCsks

Hand sewing. Something about the regular movements calms me.

GagaJo me too. Knitting soothes me.

Walking.

Sitting on my roof terrace here in Spain at night, wrapped up in a fleece blanket looking at the stars and realising I’m a tiny speck in the universe!

Back in Wales I live near the sea and seeing the tide come and go daily I’m aware that life goes on no matter what. These things calm me.

No mention of Brexit, Prince Andrew or Christmas.

Mindfulness meditation, slow breathing, playing hymns on youtube, distract myself by painting or playing tin whistle (which calms my breathing.) Foot massage by OH is best thing though.

Much the same you SirChejin and yes I also have to work at it.
I will check out moodjuice.

Breathing exercises help.
Deep breathing and quick fast breathing (imagine blowing out a candle, quick breaths down your nose with mouth closed, for a full minute).

I envy the laid back type personality.

I am very proactive in
trying to solve problems and issues.

However not so easy when there are close family health conditions, which unfortunately cannot be cured only managed.

Sitting in silence with just the sound of a clock ticking and stroking our dogs.

I do not really stress but if I did it would be a cup of coffee, an early night and a good book to read.

Baking, I find it very soothing.

Like GagaJo, I used to find sewing was relaxing (I don't know about calming, I'm rarely irate enough to need that)
And, strangely enough writing letters, by hand, and making the writing beautiful - not quite calligraphy, just nice.

All these other things: hot baths, going into the countryside, or to the sea, reading a book, walking, looking at the stars and much more that used to make my life worth living have all gone with the eyesight. And music would irritate the bejangles out of me.

So it's probably as well I'm too thick to get stressed very often.

Except when the ATM eats my cash card

Marydoll My mother always did that. We always knew when she was stressed or upset as a Victoria sandwich cake would appear.
Myself, I like quiet and warmth. And knowing everything is done ( for the moment anyway)

My teaching colleagues always knew when I was stressing over my forward plan, when I came in with lots of homebaking.
Plenty cakes, but no forward plan. .

Before my painful hands let me down, I also used to make jewellery, it was so relaxing.

I find knitting very relaxing. The rhythm of the needles just backwards and forwards lulls me. Of course if i am doing a complicated pattern it could be another story until i get the hang of it!!! lol