5 Simple Stress Management Activities

Posted On August 17, 2020December 16, 2021

Posted By Alex Perez - Mental Health Writer, B.A.

The way we manage stress directly influences how successful we can be. As we progress through our personal and professional lives, those who manage stress positively and productively avoid burnout, stay in healthy relationships, and continue to challenge themselves at work. Stress Management Activities play an important part in achieving these goals.

Stress Management Activities

Below are a few activities you can use to effectively manage stress:

Exercise

Keeping a regular exercise regime is a positive stress management activity. After a workout, your brain releases endorphins, a feel-good hormone. Exercise also increases your physical and emotional levels and f energy. Some who exercise find that the challenges in exercise and practicing mindfulness during a workout can take their mind off of stressors. Some even displace their stress into the level of energy they put into their workouts.

Creativity

Creative outlets are effective stress management activities. Art and writing outlets allow you to create a piece without any concern for certain rules or regulations. It can also be a place to express your feelings without talking or fearing judgement. Visual arts can also be a way to illustrate something you find difficult to express in words.

To-Do Lists and Time Management

stress management activities time management

The accumulated responsibilities of all the things we have to do can cause us to feel stressed out. By writing out a to-do list and checking them off as tasks are completed, you can feel a lot less overwhelmed and much more accomplished. At the end of the day, even if you didn’t complete your to-do list, every task you finished is a point of productivity.

Practice Gratitude

Studies have shown that people who practice gratitude report less stress and more life satisfaction. Being actively grateful can release dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters are related to positive emotions. Also, people who practice gratitude showed more activity in their prefrontal cortex which related to reasoning and planning.

You can actively be grateful through a few activities. One is writing gratitude letters. You may not choose to send the letters but you practice gratitude by writing people on all the ways you appreciate them in your life. Another gratitude practice are grateful journals where you list a few things you are grateful for every day. Each day, you find new things to be grateful for and write them down.

Mindfulness and Meditation

stress management activities mindfulness meditation

One way to reduce stress and anxiety is to practice mindfulness and meditation. Pick a quiet time of day, like in the morning, where you can have a few minutes alone. Close your eyes and clear your head. Focus on your breath and notice the way your body feels. Notice any points of tension and try to relax them. Notice the present moment, the sounds, the smells, the sensations. Try not to linger on any one thought for too long.

Research has shown that people who practice meditation are better at managing stress throughout the day.

Daily tasks, chores, and responsibilities may leave us feeling overwhelmed and heavy. But there are practical evidence-based activities we can integrate into our routine that manage stress and build our resilience.