Exercise helps me with stress. It changes your brain chemistry. I turn to Ashtanga yoga when I feel the need to relax. I love it but it's not right for everybody. It's taught to you a little bit at a time according to your body type and your strength. That keeps things challenging.
You are welcome to your intellectual pastimes and books and art and newspapers welcome too to your bars and your whisky that only makes me ill. Here am I in the forest quite content.