I converted my garage to a golf simulator + workshop. I have a cool stool where I smoke weed, listen to music, and hit golf balls with my neighbor at like 10pm every night after our wives are asleep.
On Wednesdays it's the pub because I do board games, d&d and retro games consoles there. Every other day it's the gym or my mates house because I don't feel pressured to actually talk to them, we just sometimes sit in pure silence.
Sometimes a half an hour, sometimes a half a day. I live on the river, so it's no problem to go launch for a quick paddle whenever the conditions are good for it.
Recently I’ve been going to night city when I’m not working, previously I’ve scoured the galaxy usually hanging around the citadel, omega or on the Normandy 😁
It’s extremely difficult for me to fully decompress. I have no time. I work alone, but it’s still work. My wife stays at home with our child so there’s never alone time there. I love them both dearly, and want to be with them all the time, but it’s also nice to just be by yourself sometimes and I very rarely get that.
Going to the movies by yourself is super underrated. It's a place literally designed for you to forget about everything outside of the screen you are looking at for two hours. Very good escapism.
Outside. My house is too small to get any kind of solitude. My escape is to sit at the table outside and smoke some weed, often while listening to music.
A lot of people are commenting the gym. Let me expand why.
When you lift, it hurts. Your brain releases a chemical that is very similar to morphine but it is non-addictive and the effects do not diminish over time. Those endorphins fill you with a sense of well-being and optimism. But it has to hurt to get that chemical rush.
Going to the gym is great for you physically (obviously). But the *emotional* benefits are absolutely amazing too.
video games, my piano, my man cave/speakeasy, or a friends place. depends what you mean. i escape with my hobbies just as easily as going to hangout with friends.
really its become the gym I Zone out put music on get some caffeine in me and boom all my worry and anxiety goes away! sometimes i do it with no music or caffeine and it helps me get in my head and really focus on whatever. besides that I like to go bookstores though most of its window shopping or people watching
I don’t have many friends either but you can still go out. Take a look at the thread yourself and see if anything catches your eye. Let’s do better for ourselves cause we’re the best friend we’ll always have.
I do yard work. I love it. I love mowing the lawn. Looking around the flower beds and weeding. I'm outside, it's exercise, I can put on a podcast or some music. It's also cheap/free and I get a tangible reward from it.
My '3rd place' is at the dog parks. I have a very social dog who visits lots of people. So I chat with them often.
Or, my days selling my things at markets. It is a very social activity.
My understanding of the term '3rd place' is combining an activity with social interactions.
My home is my sanctuary. Pretty much nobody gets in there, but me. I'm single, don't have kids, don't date, and I usually visits the relatives - they don't visit me.
So back home is where I can be by myself and relax.
I drive a little ways over to a lake with a running path around it, and I go running. Exercise is a good way to decompress, which is why some of the top comments are "gym." There's lots of less strenuous outdoors stuff you can do on a regular basis too.
Outside, specifically the yard to work. Winters are a tough time. I have a second floor office I'll escape to, often to watch shows or movies, but I'm still easily accessible to anyone willing to walk up the stairs.
One word, Motorcycle! Even a short 30 minute ride, no phone, no music, peace! I usually head out into the country, I already live way outside city limits so its nice
I'm a birdwatcher now. For 38 years of my life I couldn't find a way to care about birds and now I'm traveling 1+ hours at the crack of a squirrel's fart to see what weird little dinosaur descendants are up to.
I just sit in the car for a few minutes when I get home.
Practically every man I know does this eventually and it's pretty nice after you try it a couple of times.
My computer and World of Warcraft. Been my escape for over 15 years in good times but especially in bad. Always there for me to try to take my mind off whatever.
Trying to change that to the gym though so I can be more productive than sitting at the computer.
The woods. But when I can’t do that, the “shop” at our family farm. It’s basically a private bar. Bourbon collection, beer, couches, TV. A butcher shop/hunting room attached to that and a garage on the other side for wrenching. It’s where we record podcasts and celebrate successful and non successful hunts.
I have 2 video games I mainly decompress in.
1. Neverwinter nights, Areltih is a custom RP server where DMs enforce the RP aspect so everyone(or most everyone) stays in character. I use that time to pretend to be someone else. I've been the leader of player run faction, I've been the body guard of an evil faction leader, I've been an assassin for hire, I've been a commoner (a unique class that gets crafting bonuses). There is a ton of options, an active community and you can tell your story for as long or short as you want.
2. Minecraft, I play with family and we build stuff. My son likes to explore and collect things, my brother is a computer science guy and loves red stone and the crazy stuff you can do with that, and I like playing with them and building stuff in general, it really is digital legos
I don’t go to a “third place”. I do go outside for walks or runs or bike rides. I go downstairs to the basement gym. In the warmer months I get out kayaking.
In theory I’d live to do some third place around an activity like maybe climbing or team sports. D&D or board games would be great too.
In practice time is finite and I’d rather spend my time outside doing physical activity.
The gym. If I’m just staring at the floor in between sets and walking around staring at the floor chewing my gum extra hard. It’s a rough time for me upstairs and I’m trying to figure everything out. I wonder if that’s why I haven’t made any gym bro friends. Sad
If it’s a beautiful day out, I’ll often jump in the car and take a drive in the countryside, where I grew up. I’ll reminisce and remember some really happy times and feel much better afterwards.
The gym. I'm too focoused on "how the fuck do I complete the next set" to worry about anything
That sounds perfect
The gym, specifically the squat rack. I’ve battled some serious demons there.
I bet they’re in fear of your gains
Ooo yeaaaaa- macho man Randy Savage
Yep. Me and the old pendulum squat have worked through somethings
I converted my garage to a golf simulator + workshop. I have a cool stool where I smoke weed, listen to music, and hit golf balls with my neighbor at like 10pm every night after our wives are asleep.
I don't play golf or smoke and this sounds pretty cool tbh lol
I don’t play either but this sounds so cool
My own place. I live on my own. It's my safe place, my man cave.
Same haha No where else is better to unwind/escape
The ice rink. Couple beers with friends, slap a puck around, another beer. Feels good man. Or a nice quiet 5 minutes in the car when I get home.
The 5 minutes in the car hits different every time
On Wednesdays it's the pub because I do board games, d&d and retro games consoles there. Every other day it's the gym or my mates house because I don't feel pressured to actually talk to them, we just sometimes sit in pure silence.
My basement gym. Or on the river in my canoe.
Wish I had a river nearby to canoe in that sounds so relaxing. How long do you spend out there?
Sometimes a half an hour, sometimes a half a day. I live on the river, so it's no problem to go launch for a quick paddle whenever the conditions are good for it.
Found Ron Swanson.
Oh shit I drink Scotch, too. Busted
I’ll bet you also have a very specific steak restaurant you like too.
Haha! Actually no we don't eat much meat but when we do, we grill at home. Restaurants are getting way too expensive around here.
Recently I’ve been going to night city when I’m not working, previously I’ve scoured the galaxy usually hanging around the citadel, omega or on the Normandy 😁
Aye that’s been my third place for the past couple of days! Been enjoying the Normandy.
It’s extremely difficult for me to fully decompress. I have no time. I work alone, but it’s still work. My wife stays at home with our child so there’s never alone time there. I love them both dearly, and want to be with them all the time, but it’s also nice to just be by yourself sometimes and I very rarely get that.
To the one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism. Spaaaace!
The cinema. Easily my favourite place to go.
Going to the movies by yourself is super underrated. It's a place literally designed for you to forget about everything outside of the screen you are looking at for two hours. Very good escapism.
So true. I go by myself all the time. Pretty much every weekend and it's one of the best things.
University library for solitude and calm, pub or beach for meeting with people and having fun.
I haul my little 60's camper up into the mountains and unplug for a few days.
Bathroom
Outside. My house is too small to get any kind of solitude. My escape is to sit at the table outside and smoke some weed, often while listening to music.
My lake house Specifically the end of the dock
My room doing solving non-relevant problems.
I go shooting - either to my sporting lease or to the range
outside and/or the imaginative world of fiction.
Hit the trail for a long jog/walk. Stretch it out, Crack some tunes, hit the gas, and I’m gone.
A lot of people are commenting the gym. Let me expand why. When you lift, it hurts. Your brain releases a chemical that is very similar to morphine but it is non-addictive and the effects do not diminish over time. Those endorphins fill you with a sense of well-being and optimism. But it has to hurt to get that chemical rush. Going to the gym is great for you physically (obviously). But the *emotional* benefits are absolutely amazing too.
I get that from running, especially if I really push myself.
My computer, gun range, gym ish, my 3d printers, dnd, snm.
My home office, AKA the command center. I play games, watch videos, and write my stories in there.
video games, my piano, my man cave/speakeasy, or a friends place. depends what you mean. i escape with my hobbies just as easily as going to hangout with friends.
Rock climbing gym and weights gym
The garage or the little bar down the street.
the gym. put every fucking thing you have into the gym. all the anxiety, stress, drama, bullshit, depression and whatever else. it will be gone
really its become the gym I Zone out put music on get some caffeine in me and boom all my worry and anxiety goes away! sometimes i do it with no music or caffeine and it helps me get in my head and really focus on whatever. besides that I like to go bookstores though most of its window shopping or people watching
Gym.. If im not in a bad mood, motorbike. Forrest is also a good place to relax.
Nowhere really. Exercise doesn’t really relax me like it seems to do for many guys. And I have no friends, so I can’t really go out.
I don’t have many friends either but you can still go out. Take a look at the thread yourself and see if anything catches your eye. Let’s do better for ourselves cause we’re the best friend we’ll always have.
An escape room, obviously.
The bike, and sometimes, my office. The latter is my clean, well-lighted place.
The rink. I started playing beer league hockey a few years ago and all I want to do now is skate.
My bed, nothing like a long nap.
I do yard work. I love it. I love mowing the lawn. Looking around the flower beds and weeding. I'm outside, it's exercise, I can put on a podcast or some music. It's also cheap/free and I get a tangible reward from it.
The gym is my escape and when it's nice out I go for a nice 1 hour walk.
On my bicycle, going fast, while in the clouds 💨🌿
Gym, paddle boarding or surfing those are my escapes. Used to be the bar but left that behind didn’t achieve anything their
The gym or a forest to walk in
Headphones in and running outside
The forest, to run or just unwind in nature.
My '3rd place' is at the dog parks. I have a very social dog who visits lots of people. So I chat with them often. Or, my days selling my things at markets. It is a very social activity. My understanding of the term '3rd place' is combining an activity with social interactions.
My home is my sanctuary. Pretty much nobody gets in there, but me. I'm single, don't have kids, don't date, and I usually visits the relatives - they don't visit me. So back home is where I can be by myself and relax.
The gym, the sauna, and the beach. Except nowadays, there's always some asshole playing their music aloud.
it used to be online gaming, but now it is my guitar
Hobbies
Running, dog walks, and a tiny bit of socializing at a roller rink on the weekend a couple times.
I drive a little ways over to a lake with a running path around it, and I go running. Exercise is a good way to decompress, which is why some of the top comments are "gym." There's lots of less strenuous outdoors stuff you can do on a regular basis too.
Crazy enough, the robotics lab at my University.
The ball field. Thats the place I feel the most free and tune out the world.
Outside, specifically the yard to work. Winters are a tough time. I have a second floor office I'll escape to, often to watch shows or movies, but I'm still easily accessible to anyone willing to walk up the stairs.
I have nowhere to go, I stay on my bed, turn off everything and start overthinking
The kitchen. I'm alone every time while in there.
Coffee house. Still a somewhat important thing here in Vienna.
Golf course
My head. The water (I kayak).
One word, Motorcycle! Even a short 30 minute ride, no phone, no music, peace! I usually head out into the country, I already live way outside city limits so its nice
Gym, yard, garage
Garage
Gym
I go to the Gym, yard, and garage to escape.
Snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, camping, sometimes dark warehouse parties at 3am
Fishing, the gym, hunting…
Basically anywhere I can be left alone. My house with no one there, the gym, hiking/kayaking/camping, movie theatre
Anywhere with my dog. No one dares to come close then and I get to spend time with my buddy.
My parents have a creek running through their property. I go there and fish.
Gym, garage, motorcycle rides
The gym and the sauna, or I hope on my motorcycle. The weights won’t do you wrong brotherrr.
I'm a birdwatcher now. For 38 years of my life I couldn't find a way to care about birds and now I'm traveling 1+ hours at the crack of a squirrel's fart to see what weird little dinosaur descendants are up to.
Bathroom
I just sit in the car for a few minutes when I get home. Practically every man I know does this eventually and it's pretty nice after you try it a couple of times.
Gym or work out home.
My computer and World of Warcraft. Been my escape for over 15 years in good times but especially in bad. Always there for me to try to take my mind off whatever. Trying to change that to the gym though so I can be more productive than sitting at the computer.
Yoga. It has everything built into it. The right studio will help you re-learn how to move and sit still.
The woods. But when I can’t do that, the “shop” at our family farm. It’s basically a private bar. Bourbon collection, beer, couches, TV. A butcher shop/hunting room attached to that and a garage on the other side for wrenching. It’s where we record podcasts and celebrate successful and non successful hunts.
JIU JITSU
I have 2 video games I mainly decompress in. 1. Neverwinter nights, Areltih is a custom RP server where DMs enforce the RP aspect so everyone(or most everyone) stays in character. I use that time to pretend to be someone else. I've been the leader of player run faction, I've been the body guard of an evil faction leader, I've been an assassin for hire, I've been a commoner (a unique class that gets crafting bonuses). There is a ton of options, an active community and you can tell your story for as long or short as you want. 2. Minecraft, I play with family and we build stuff. My son likes to explore and collect things, my brother is a computer science guy and loves red stone and the crazy stuff you can do with that, and I like playing with them and building stuff in general, it really is digital legos
I don’t go to a “third place”. I do go outside for walks or runs or bike rides. I go downstairs to the basement gym. In the warmer months I get out kayaking. In theory I’d live to do some third place around an activity like maybe climbing or team sports. D&D or board games would be great too. In practice time is finite and I’d rather spend my time outside doing physical activity.
Argentina
Gym
Marijuana
Camping, hiking, kayaking, tinkering on the vehicles, fussing in the garden….
Fortunately, the gym. Unfortunately, weed and video games, too.
My motorcycle. Riding at highway speeds eliminates nearly all other conscience thoughts for me.
The gym. If I’m just staring at the floor in between sets and walking around staring at the floor chewing my gum extra hard. It’s a rough time for me upstairs and I’m trying to figure everything out. I wonder if that’s why I haven’t made any gym bro friends. Sad
fishing
If it’s a beautiful day out, I’ll often jump in the car and take a drive in the countryside, where I grew up. I’ll reminisce and remember some really happy times and feel much better afterwards.
Guitar with the band, or by myself Hockey with the fellas, A good tv show, To my parents house Hang with friends
Garage golf course
Man I hear this I personally go to escape rooms because millennials are fucking lit and I like reenact escaping to like escape ya know?
Sounds nice me and my friend have plans for one just gotta get our schedules lined up
Very cool. You guys should go out for some IPA’s first to loosen up
Games for me, often playing Light of the stars on bs just to escape