Trouble for me with most of the calming activities mentioned here is that they are rather time-consuming, and most of my stress comes from demands on my time, in other words, from not having the time to take a walk, fish, write, etc. However, I have discovered one sure-fire non-self-destructive instant escape from the normal pressures of life, and that is, to play my harmonica. Within a minute or two, I've forgotten everything else. Trouble is, once I get going, it's hard to stop ...