Teachers and Students Find New Ways to Wind Down

By Ariana Marquez

Many students and teachers at Redwood High School have different ways they try and relax in order to help them get through their day.

Ryan Blair, a math teacher at Redwood High School, says “One thing that I do to relax is read.  I have to read every night before I go to bed.  It helps me turn my brain off and redirect my thoughts away from the daily grind.”

Blair also adds that it allows him to take time “away from my to-do list, away from school and away from “life” problems.  Reading provides an escape for me with experiences, imagination molds, and interprets the environment the author is painting, which is why most of the time I will refuse to see the movie if the book has one.  But, once I fall in love with a character from a certain author, I will read the entire series in order. “

He says, “Ultimately, I would say I am an active relaxer.  I coined this term to describe that I can relax while engaging in activities that help remove me from my daily routines. Such as lifting weights in my garage gym, tinkering and building in my garage workshop, plopping down in a lawn chair in the front yard and watching my kids run around outside, hunting and golfing.”

Blair also adds to that with, “Some might say these aren’t relaxing, but to me, there is something relaxing in physical exhaustion brought about through an activity that allows your mind to be turned off.”

Haley Michelson, ’23, says “Something I liked to do when I’m wanting to relax is either binge-watching a TV show on Netflix or working out… it helps me not be as stressed if I am.”

Michelson also adds, “I think it’s really important to relax and get away from any anxiety and stress anyone is having and I wouldn’t know the right amount of time for me to relax is but having the time of the weekends is really nice.” She also says, “I try to make sure that I make time for myself every day but sometimes it’s hard doing so if I’m busy.”

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