30 Must-Try Stress Relief Activities To Relax & Destress Quickly

Here are some helpful activities to identify what is causing you stress, and find quick relief to relax and get things done!

By Amanda Hamilton
30 Must-Try Stress Relief Activities To Relax & Destress Quickly

Negative Effects of Stress

Not taking care of your mental health is just as harmful to your overall well being as smoking, eating nothing but fast food every day, and skipping sleep. Not finding helpful activities to help deal with your stress can result in heart disease, high blood pressure, weight gain, balding, and acne. It has also been linked to depression and anxiety. 

Being "stressed" does not seem like such a big deal when you are younger, but as you grow up, being able to manage stress becomes critical for functioning in everyday life. If you do not know how to relax and destress, you will struggle in almost every aspect of your life.

Determine What is Stressing You Out

We have all been there. You go through the day; you are angry at nothing. You change quickly from happy to hate the color of the sun, but you have no idea why. You know it is not linked to hormones, you got plenty of sleep, you have had your coffee for the day, then it hits you. You might be stressed about something and not even realize it. A lot of times in our exceptionally overly busy lives we lose track of what is even causing the problem.

So the only thing to do is stepping back, and think about your day. What do you have to do? Is there something that is jumping out at you that you DREAD doing?

Once you figure out what has you stressed it makes it much easier to find a way to simplify the whole ordeal, you might even just make that thing fun!

Address the Stress

If you Google for fun, stress relief activities, you get very generic one size fits all results. But you aren't going to address in every situation the same way.
 
The most common responses are getting organized, meditate/yoga, find a fun hobby, drink herbal tea, or exercise.... those are all excellent techniques, but they won't apply to all situations.
 
We decided to break down 30 stress relief activities by which stressor they are best applied to so you can address your stress quickly, easily and sometimes even in fun ways!

Relationship Stress

1-Date Night Jar

It is very easy to get caught up in the things that we "have" to do in a relationship. Sometimes it is necessary to take a well-deserved step back and take some time away from all of the external factors in our lives and have some fun with the one we love.
 
There are lots of ways to this, but the easiest is to write out several activities that you and your significant other like to do on pieces of paper and put them in a jar.
 
Then once a week, once a month, or just whenever you realize that a majority of your conversations have revolved around coordinating dinner and making sure the puppy made it to doggie daycare on time you can pull out the jar and go with whatever you get! 

2-Take Time for Yourself

Yes, opposite of what we just said.
 

It is important not to lose site of who you are as a person. If you have been spending a lot of time with your significant other, it is important to take time to come back around to your hobbies and activities you enjoy that may not involve your loved one.
 
Absence does make the heart grow fonder after all.

3-Talk It Out

If your relationship stress is ultimately linked to a specific issue that has come up before, talk about it. Be careful to avoid accusations, and absolute or "YOU" statements. Instead of saying " You are always on your phone!


What are you doing!" try, "I feel that the phone is more important than me, and it makes me think my time is not of value, and therefore I am not wanted."

4-Do the Deed

Dopamine is the greatest stress relief out there, what is the easiest most natural way to introduce dopamine into your body?

The horizontal tango.

This method can be applied to a lot of situations but is critical to point out that getting jiggy with it isn't the resolution to the ISSUE causing the stress, it just helps get rid of the stress long enough to focus on the cause of the problem with a clear head and focus.

DISCLAIMER: This method if for adults only. Going ten toes down before you are "ready" just adds to stress in the long-term.

Relief for Stress Related to Money

5-Set a Budget

This is fairly easy and falls under the "get organized" category. List out all of your recurring monthly bills, and your income. If you are stressed about not having enough money you can either cut your spending on non-essentials or supplement your income.


This can be difficult for most adults and college students, as your time is already pretty much used up.

6-Find a Relaxing, Money Making Hobby

If you haven't tried it, knitting is incredibly relaxing. Painting is also always a way to not only decompress but also express what is bugging you! If you are not artistically inclined, and you have a tablet or computer, you could use any number of software programs to break into graphic design!

Websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiver are all great sources for finding simple jobs to make a quick buck! When all else fails, you can always browse the Craigslist Gigs Section too!

7-Make the Most of Your Income

Adults everywhere will tell you how hard it is to stretch your money. Doing simple things like bringing your lunch instead of buying out every day, buying items in bulk, and eliminate unnecessary purchases.

8-Quickly Sell Your Junk in Local Facebook Groups

There are a million ways to sell your stuff online these days. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Etsy, the list goes on.
 
Cluttered spaces have been scientifically proven to cause stress, so on top of helping relieve anxiety around money, just the act of getting rid of your jeans from freshman year or your ex's clothes he has not asked for after six months; will help relieve stress too!

School Work

9-Set a Schedule for Relief from Stress Caused by Chaos

Scheduling your day and sticking to it can help eliminate stress by limiting the "chaos factor" in your daily life.
 

You do not need to schedule your life down to the minute, but by setting aside time for things like studying, or chatting with a friend each week, you can make sure you are allowing yourself time to relax.
 
Getting used to scheduling things like studying or working on one project at a time, and setting time for your self will help you avoid freaking out when you realize you have a paper due at eight am, or a doctors appointment you have not requested time off from work.

10-Make A List

Sometimes the best way to quickly organize your various tasks and activities is just to list it out. Find a system to keep the list in the notes on your phone, or download an app that lets you access the menu on various devices or stick to good ole' paper and pen.
 
Bullet Journaling is an excellent option for college students to help manage course schedules and deadlines, social events and wellness goals.

11-Take a Break from Stressful Activities

Ask any former college student; sometimes it is just as productive to take a break as it is to power through that stack of notecards. During your break take time to do some basic yoga poses.
 
If you have been staring at that computer screen for a long, it is important to stretch at least every hour or so to prevent any long-term issues.

12-Visualize Your Goal for Instant Stress Relief

Does writing papers, flipping through notecards and working with MyMathLab you completely stressed? Think about why you have to do them.
 
If you are a Pre-Med Student, visualize yourself using the information you are learning to save someone's life while their family looks on. The stress will turn from having you angry and irritated from motivated and ready to take on the world!

Work Stress Relief

13-Start Your Morning Off The Right Way

Many adults find themselves stressed about work throughout the day. Whether their daily activities are focused on independent or group work, every job has its challenges.
 
Finding a good morning routine can help prevent you from arriving to work already stressed! Try leaving a few minutes earlier for work to avoid traffic, or eating a good breakfast each day. Or starting each day by reading a chapter of the new book, or a 5-minute workout routine. 

14-Find A Motivational Quote to Live By

When a specific activity suddenly has you going from fuming to angry at work, taking a deep breath and say to yourself "Breath in. Breath Out. Move On."  Some other commonly used mantras are "I deserve to live with peace." and "Life is too short to be angry."
 
Anything to help keep those stress levels low - and keeping yourself centered.

15-Micro-Meditation Session

To compliment your mantra, use the "Sweet 16" Breath. Breathe in for four seconds then out for four seconds, expanding your belly. Focus on how your body feels with each breath in and out,  instead of what has you angry or stressed. Do this for a total of four inhale/exhale cycles.

16- Be an Adult: Ditch Coffee, Switch to Herbal Tea

Coffee contains a wonderful substance called caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant, if you are already mildly stressed, adding coffee to the mix is just going to make things worse.
 
But ask any college student or human, there is nothing to replace that moment when the first sip of warm coffee touches your soul. Herbal Tea not only has just enough caffeine to nip those cravings! Lavender or Mint Tea are both known to have relaxing properties, while also giving you the warm and fussy feeling that you miss with coffee.

Activities to Reduce Stress Related to Health Issues

17-Excersize

Whether you decide to work out by yourself or in groups, exercise will not only improve your health but will also release endorphins, which reduce stress!
 
Consult with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

18-Eat Healthy

This is a challenge for college students and most adults. There is so much conflicting information about what is "healthy" these days. Talk to a doctor or a nutritionist to determine which plan is best for you.
 
Do not take the bulk of your health advice from Pinterest, and avoid fad feasts, and crash diets.

19-Get 8 Hours of Sleep

Also a challenge for college students and most adults. When you are not getting on the recommended amount of sleep for your age, it wears on your body. And if you are stressing your body you are going to stress your mind as well! The best news is, all of the recommended activities here will help you complete this activity!

Put your devices away 1 hour before bed, and avoid napping and caffeine after 3 pm. If you are having difficulty falling asleep, don't focus on the number of hours you will be left getting, get up and read a book. Wash the dishes you had left for the morning or do some light stretching and try again. Sleeping should not be stressful, so just set the 8-hour mark as a goal!

20-Write a Worry Script For Stressful Activities

What are you most stressed/worried about?

Set aside 15-30 minutes and focus on what has you stressed. Now take some time and write about it. Your writing should include a sensation from each of your five senses. This method is frequently used to treat actual anxiety, and in that treatment, it is recommended to repeat writing until the concern is gone.

21-Treat Your Condition

This may be obvious, but the best method of relieving stress caused medical problems - correct the problem!

Specific Event or Project

22-Start A Journal

Planning a wedding have you stressed? Finals? Big Project at work? Shell out $3 and get a small notebook and make a journal. When you find yourself hyperfocused on the event or deadline, map out what you need to do. Use it to track your goals. Doodle about the event. Keep contacts listed, whatever.
 
The best stress relief is sometimes just getting things OUT of your head.

23-Set Goal Posts

For long-term goals that you won't be able to eliminate the stress quickly, set what are called "Goal Posts" or mini-goals all leading up to the completion of one major goal.
 
This will make the overall larger goal seem much more accessible to accomplish and prevent you from feeling as if you are spinning your wheels.

24-Make The Prep Fun

This is specifically for stress caused by labor-intensive projects. Need to stuff 250 invitations? Or do you have six-weeks worth of vocab on flash cards? Throw a party!
 
Stressful activities are always more leisurely in groups!

25-Delegate Tasks for Group Activities

As any college student or professional hate most projects that have to be completed in groups. Most last for several weeks, so save on stress upfront and delegate tasks out of the project at the beginning. Check in each week to ensure everyone is pulling their weight!

Can't Quite Figure Out What the Problem Is

26-Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is about being at the right moment and helps you become more in tune with what is going on with you - both physically and mentally. It also focuses on acceptance. Stress is caused by the things we either can't control, or judge ourselves for and cannot fix either way.

27-Regular Meditation

Whether you decide to meditate alone, use a guided tape, or meditate in groups, you will immediately feel a reduction in stress. You merely need to find a more comfortable position, most beginner students of meditation practices will choose to lie flat on their backs, and focus on breathing for about 30 minutes.
 
By focusing on something as essential as breathing, you effectively clear your mind!

28-Avoid Angry People

College students and young adults will be familiar with the phrase "cutting someone off" with the use of memes. But avoiding negative people will do wonders for your stress level.
 
This is easier said than done if the person is a family member. You do not have to cut them out completely, but just set the standard that you will not tolerate specific negative comments about yourself or others.

29-Progressive Muscle Relaxation

This is a little different than just plan meditation. Where meditations goal is to focus on nothing, Progressive muscle relaxation you are supposed to focus only on how you feel.

First, you need a quiet area to get comfortable. It is recommended to practice when you are fully awake and the most stressed so that you do not fall asleep. Make sure you remove your shoes and wear comfy clothes.

Apply tension to a specific muscle group, inhale and squeeze as hard as you can. ONLY squeeze the muscles you are focused on and count to five. Then exhale and relax those muscles. Focus on the difference between the two sensations. 

This does not necessarily deal with the stressor, but if your body is relaxed it will be much easier to relax mentally.

30-Overcome Perfectionism

This one may not be quick, or easy but it definitely will provide the greatest relief. Many schools offer groups to help students who have historically been straight A students deal with not always getting that 100 perfect score.
 
College is meant to be challenging! A=Perfection! The phrase "You are only human" did not become popular for no reason!

Conclusion

Stress is a normal fact of life - good and bad stress.

No matter what stress you have in your life, do your best to find an outlet and left that stress go, or in the end, it will consume you and can create lifelong effects.

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