Ask HN: What do you do to relax?

I read and swim (or get some exercise in general).

run (although this amps you up, not winds you down) play guitar (this could go either way)

Exercise, cook, read (I read a lot), play Halo Reach, sex, meditate, spend time with friends, and read on-line material (what used to be called "surfing the web").

Read.

Do it right though. Sit down in a comfortable chair. Turn off your computer so you're not constantly getting up and checking your email. Maybe turn on some music. Allocate a sufficient block of time, so you can become truly engrossed in your book.

Good fiction has a way of taking your mind elsewhere that no other medium can match. It's the most satisfying and fulfilling way to relax that I know of.

edit: minor grammar correction

The most satisfying way I've found to relax and wind down is doing something completely unrelated to work that involves focus, and even better, a practiced skill. Watching a movie or reading a book can mostly take my mind off work, but it feels much better to do something where you can get in the zone. For me this is skateboarding, rock climbing, racquetball, or cooking. I imagine playing a musical instrument falls into this category as well.