7 Fun Stress Relieving Activities

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.