I third that. I found that the more I was simply talking to other people, and for me it could be online or otherwise, the more I felt connected to the characters I was writing for and things that were happening to them. In my case, that's as simple as going to church, logging onto a forum, like this one, where you're part of a conversation, or just spending an afternoon with a friend playing hours of Call of Duty 4 online or similair.
On a side note, for ideas, I found that when I'm reading an article in a magazine, say Reader's Digest for instance, I am shown an aspect of part of the universe I've already constructed that I hadn't thought of before. An example would be when I read an article on random crime and how to be prepared for them in your everyday life, I found that the fight scenes I tend to write for could gain a new dimension by having inexperienced fighters rely on regular everyday motions, drawn from their "muscle memory" (think of how you draw your seatbelt from behind your back and then realize that movement is perfect as an elbow strike).
Also, I roleplay in a forum online, and I found that roleplaying online is alot like writing your character's novel, except you exert control over a much smaller portion of the world. For me, it helps just to move away from the place I'm even just a little stressed about and have fun with a different character, no stress and no strings. For me, that roleplaying is in the same universe, so I only kind of take a break from writing in that way.
Finally, something I haven't tried yet but am eager to, you might try writing a separate scene in the universe and just having some fun with it. Whether you're making a joke at your hero's expense, or pointing out some small flaw in your writing that only you notice, as long as that's in writing, it might free up your thinking and allow you to see the scene you're writing with new eyes.
Oh, and on a last note, I think interacting on a forum is a fine way to destress and aid your writing. Why else would Jim himself spend so much time here?