How to relax ...

Most of what i have written so far has been about the difficulties problems and stresses that we as a bootstrapped startup face everyday. Yes we get stressed and at times get anxiety attacks but we are all still here and we continue to press on because we can keep those levels of stress in check. I have noticed that stress at certain levels is a great motivator to get things done ...

So to keep stress at those healthy levels and not excalate we have to use techniques. So to relieve stress what are some of the things that i do. Well i cant give any specific advice here other then to say, do what you like doing and spend some time outside. Our hobbies differ so do those things that relax your mind and your body cause working on a startup attacks both the mind and the body. Personally, I do various things like watch a movie (comedy if any are showing), play my guitar, sing in the garage on my karoke machine, call some mates over for poker or read a book or news.ycombinator.com :P. I do these things because there are times where problems your having with the code, with administration or with something external just cant be solved and rather then taking the stress levels to unhealthy limits its best to wipe them away doing things that you enjoy and can laugh about.

One of the things that i do to take some of the pressure of is to take myself to a place where i can sit down without being distrubed. A place where i can think about various different things that are going on, order them, put them in perspective and thinking of execution plans if need be. For me I found this place to be a very relaxing peer of darling harbour in the beautiful city of sydney overlooking the cockle bay with a view of the opera house and harbour bridge. Locate a place like this for yourself in your city and when things get to much take yourself there and forget about the problems. After spending some time there and thinking things through in a comfortable setting you will feel relaxed and be ready for more action again.

Relaxing is just as important as working hard, because if you dont find a channel to blow of steam eventually you will burn yourself out ... find your place of relaxation, read your book, play the guitar, watch the movie and take time off when you need to ... it always helps ...