What do you do to decompress?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:49:39 -0400

Anyone remember last year a study was done to determine the top most stressful jobs? Well it turned out being an enlisted Soldier was ranked #1. Hey i guess we're the best at lossing our mind too i guess. So acknowledging that fact what are some things you do to take a load of? Mine are fishing and working on my car!

Response by SFC Robert Trodahl made Mar 18 at 2014 7:53 AM

SFC Robert Trodahl — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:53:42 -0400

I love to ride my mortorcycle down long backroads!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 8:00 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:00:50 -0400

Pick up heavy things and put them down.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 18 at 2014 9:10 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:10:46 -0400

Motorcycle ride, hunting, fishing....just spending time with the family....all are good options!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 9:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:25:51 -0400

spending time with my family, camping as well as going to the range and take my pistols out and do some shooting.

Response by SGT Richard Souza made Mar 18 at 2014 10:05 AM

SGT Richard Souza — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:05:25 -0400

Reading is number one. My day cannot end on a right note if I don't at least spend 15 minutes reading. Spending time with the family is an added bonus when I'm home.

Response by SFC Vernon McNabb made Mar 18 at 2014 10:40 AM

SFC Vernon McNabb — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:40:10 -0400

I get out in the garage and build stuff with wood. What started off as a hobby has turned out to be a pretty good side business for me. I love taking old pallets and scrap lumber, then repurpose them and make something new out of them. Great stress reliever with a payout to boot. Definitely a "win/win"!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 10:41 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:41:13 -0400

I play golf to decompress. If I am playing well, it works wonders. If I am playing poorly, it compounds the problem! But nothing better to me than playing golf on a nice warm day and shooting a good score.

I also love taking my two sons to the park and unwinding on the play ground or playing a good game of tag. Nothing decompresses me more than hearing my wife and two children laughing.

Response by SPC David Wyckoff made Mar 18 at 2014 10:50 AM

SPC David Wyckoff — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:50:53 -0400

I like turning on some very loud music and building furniture or shelves or whatever happens to pop into my head. Creating and designing custom built furniture is exacting and it helps me get out of my own head.

Mind you most of my stuff looks like a kindergarten art project. But I do it for the stress relief and in time I hope that the chairs I build stop looking like a badly mangled coat racks.

I also shoot my bow. Its an old Bear that my Pop gave me.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Mar 18 at 2014 10:57 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:57:10 -0400

Well if the wife isn't home I like to get in some playstation and just blow stuff up! if she is home and I can't get on the "play thingy" then i go blow money at the range! couple boxes of 45 acp and my 1911 does the trick. and if I an't do that then i go out and find a dirt road out back in the woods and just tear up hell til i feel better or just sit there and listen to the birds and crickets! If all esle fails then I usually call a good friend of mine in the unit and vent. he doesn't judge he just listens til I'm done and then were good!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 11:15 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:15:35 -0400

There are several things that I do to decompress. I like to reload ammunition, it takes so much precision and concentration that it takes my mind off of everything else going on. I also like to do a little wood working, built my own coffee table, end table, work bench, storage racks for the garage, and customized our master closet. I also like to go 4 wheeling with a few of my co-workers.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Mar 18 at 2014 1:56 PM

CMC Robert Young — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:56:00 -0400

It depends on the source of my frustration but as a rule nothing beats hunting, fishing, reading or a good two mile run. But there are days when I just watch mindless TV or peruse the latest offerings on RallyPoint.

And when all else fails, there's nothing better hanging out with my daughter.....when she can spare the time for dad...know how it is with teenagers ;-)

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Mar 18 at 2014 2:34 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:34:11 -0400

Gym, run, Tae Kwon Do, hunting, shooting, walking, play with grandchildren, Call of Duty, swim, ride my Harley, take the Mustang out for a ride... anything to get my mind off of work and on to relaxation.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 2:57 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:57:37 -0400

Color with my eight year old and play the guitar with my teenager.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 18 at 2014 3:14 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:14:13 -0400

Fishing is where I get complete peace of mind, no cell phones, nothing but me and the water.

PT helps me enormously when stressed, specifically when I have an opportunity to do some crossfit or doing a heavy cardio workout with my elevation training mask.

Now you got me singing a cadence....."gimmie some - gimmie some - gimmie some PT, good for you, good for me....."

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 8:07 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:07:42 -0400

I love working on my car, and driving it around aimlessly. When I am not doing that I like to go target shooting.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 11:36 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 23:36:39 -0400

Was #2 being a Chief Warrant Officer in a unit where the Commander is barely there, and the Senior NCOs regularly disrespect you and don't listen, then expect you to pull their nuts out of the fire when shit hits the fan?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 11:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 23:38:58 -0400

Basketball or lift weights

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 12:22 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:22:50 -0400

Act at the age level of my daughter and watch TV because I almost never do

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 12:27 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:27:31 -0400

Working out and doing my college course work. Also watch TV. All of these mentioned take my mind of whats at work so I don't bring it home with me when it's one of those days.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 1:32 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 01:32:09 -0400

Play with my kids. Unfortunately, stress level goes up again when the wife starts singing Karaoke, so, sort of a wash.

Run. Then drive the Mustang to the DQ down the street to negate the effect.

Lift weights. Make it a point NOT to post that I worked out on Facebook (look at me everyone! I lifted legs today! Hooray! Ugh!)

Console games were good until the new systems (XBOX ONE/PS4) were released with nothing but trash for games....

Scour the interwebs for NFL news.

Response by SrA Michael Waldo made Mar 19 at 2014 11:57 AM

SrA Michael Waldo — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:57:12 -0400

I build random gadgets, devise schematics/blueprints for other ideas and concepts, and I work on the abandoned house I bought. I started my non-profit essentially to help vets decompress, but now I've become obsessed with making it a one stop shop for vets after their enlistment concludes. I think more often than not, we get out and have no where to go except for where we originally left from (if that's even possible). I've been looking to get all the help, support, critiques, and criticisms I can get so that I can continue building a better program. I ask anyone viewing this to help me in some way; spread the word, express your criticism to the fullest (positive or negative), donate a couple bucks if you can (I'm still awaiting the 501(c)3 tax exemption status but can back date your contribution once I receive it, if that's your concern), or contact me with any questions comments or concerns.

Thank you to anyone who reads this and takes it seriously.

Mike

http://www.facebook.com/OperationNewBeginning
and http://www.OperationNewBeginning.com

Operation New Beginning

Transitioning back into civilian life is just as difficult as the transition into military life. Our mission is to renovate local homes and/or commercial buildings and convert them into suitable...

Operation New Beginning

The mission of "Operation New Beginning" is to renovate local homes and/or commercial buildings...