Writing is what I do to focus my thoughts. The mental exercise is naturally relaxing, whereas physical exercise tends to put my mind in overdrive. In fact, that's what originally inspired me to write, starting with personal essays and progressing into fiction, which I tend to write for the same purpose--to explore a topic. Sometimes, a problem is too broad in scope and too complicated to work out entirely in my head. If I just sit and think, I'm like a cat with a ball of yarn. But when I write, the tangles and knots quickly unravel, so I can reach a meaningful conclusion. I usually finish tired and ravenous, but content. . . until revision time.
I can read, crochet, listen to the radio, just chill out, go for a walk - anything that doesn't call for a whole lot of attention and allows for a bit of mind wandering will do. Cheers, lavendershy
Listen to music, sing, or write something completely unrelated. Relaxation is a form of escapism, I think.