Stress Management Management Techniques 7 Fun Stress Relieving Activities By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD Twitter Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 12, 2020 Medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS Medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS on March 10, 2020 Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print There are many great stress relievers out there, but it's not always easy to stick with them. However, fun stress relievers do seem to be easier to practice on a regular basis—you look forward to them. So for those of us who like a little fun with our stress management, we've compiled a list of fun stress relievers, along with explanations of their other benefits as well. Enjoy! Stress Relieving Games Alistair Berg / Getty Images Playing games whether with a group of adults you enjoy, or with children can be a great form of stress relief. Games have a way of keeping us in the present moment, with a light-hearted focus, and laughter that comes easily. Try creating a game night with friends you enjoy and letting your inner child come out to play on a regular basis. If you are a parent, really enjoy your time with your children. Whatever you do throughout the day, it can become more fun with a playful attitude, and this can melt away stress. Board Games to Have Fun on Game Night Laughter A good laugh can be a great stress reliever: it releases endorphins and other healthy hormones, takes your mind off of stress, and can even provide a decent physical workout if you really get going. It also leaves you in a more positive frame of mind and can help you bond with whom you share a good laugh. Because laughter can be such a great stress reliever, it can be helpful to look for ways that you can incorporate more humor into your life. How Laughter Can Relieve Stress Gardening Planting a garden (or even tending to a houseplant) can be a great way to reconnect with nature, beautify your space, and enjoy other health benefits. Some of the key stress relief benefits of gardening include getting more sunlight, the chance to be creative, and increased physical activity. Drawing Rediscovering your artistic side with anything from doodling to serious sketching can be a good stress reliever for several reasons: it's a good distraction, it helps you express and process emotions, and it leaves you with something beautiful to enjoy when you're finished. Coloring is another artistic endeavor that has grown popular in recent years and that can have stress relieving benefits. Learn more about the stress relief benefits of drawing and how to incorporate it into your life. Music Music is a great stress reliever for many reasons, and it can also improve health to the point that it's being used in hospitals to promote good health! As a stress reliever, it provides distraction, inspiration, can speed you up or calm you down, and more. And you can use it during your commute while exercising, or at any time as you go about your daily activities. Learn more about the benefits of music, and find out how to incorporate it into your life to relieve stress. 7 Ways to Use Music for Stress Relief Sports Enjoying sports (anything from karate to mountain biking to tennis) can be a fun way to get exercise and relieve stress, providing endorphins, a social outlet, a way to release frustration, and more, and leave you healthier and happier in the end. Find ideas on what types of fitness stress relieving activities work best for you. Exercise Options for Stressed and Busy People Mini-Vacations Vacations are a wonderfully fun and sadly under-used stress relief resource. If you find yourself longing for a vacation but don't have the time or the funds to go on the trip you deserve, you can still treat yourself to a stress relieving mini vacation and get similar benefits without spending as much. If you are unable to truly get away, you can use imagery and visualization as a fun way to "be on vacation." Set aside some moments to visualize yourself in a beautiful location, such as relaxing on the beach or hiking through the mountains. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Struggling with stress? Our guide offers expert advice on how to better manage stress levels. Get it FREE when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Yim J. Therapeutic benefits of laughter in mental health: a theoretical review. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2016;239(3):243-9. doi:10.1620/tjem.239.243 Van den berg AE, Custers MH. Gardening promotes neuroendocrine and affective restoration from stress. J Health Psychol. 2011;16(1):3-11. doi:10.1177/1359105310365577 Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J. Reduction of cortisol levels and participants' responses following art making. Art Ther (Alex). 2016;33(2):74-80. doi:10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832 Speak to a Therapist for Stress Management Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.