When I'm stressed out I play with my dogs, or play with my son. It's hard to let life get to you when you're faced with the sort of primal joy those creatures have going on. You say: "I'm stressed about the bills." Dog says: "Yaay! Tether toy! Wanna pull pull pull on the tether toy! Play with me!"

Or, to go with the spawn example, you say: "I'm angry about that thing Mike said at the office." And your little child says: "Hoooray! Daddy's on the carpet! Play bear, daddy! You're the bear, and I'm going to jump on you! Yeeeee!"

Those are my two major stress-reducers. A nice cup of tea or coffee never hurt anybody, as well.

Oh, and I forgot one -- reading. Pick up a good book with a page-turning plot, and all of your troubles fade into the background. An hour with a good novel and I've shed all my cares.

Hope something in this thread is useful to ya.