100 Ways to Reduce Stress

Between school, work, friends, family, and other commitments, stress can build quickly and stay long. Change up your routine and try one of these 100 ways to reduce stress.

1. Set priorities in your life
2. Visualize yourself winning
3. Stop saying negative things to yourself
4. Smile
5. Tickle a baby
6. Practice an awesome smile
7. Take a bubble bath
8. Be prepared for rain
9. Walk in the rain
10. Unclutter your life
11. You don’t have to know all the answers
12. Write a letter to a friend
13. Watch a new movie
14. Find a new series on Netflix
15. Ask for help
16. Freely praise other people
17. Use your time wisely
18. Wash your bedding
19. Get a haircut
20. Break large tasks into smaller portions
21. Buy yourself flowers
22. Sleep in
23. Feed the birds
24. Take a long hot shower
25. Get up 15 minutes earlier
26. Go to a sporting event and cheer
27. Say “no” more often
28. Put a new air freshener in your car
29. Clean your room
30. Become a better listener
31. Practice slower breathing
32. Try new things
33. Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better today
34. Doodle
35. Click unsubscribe on some of your emails
36. Go on a picnic
37. Quit trying to fix other people
38. Pet a dog or cat
39. Cook a nice meal for yourself
40. Take a nap
41. Memorize a new joke
42. Have goals for yourself
43. Say hello to strangers
44. Work at being cheerful and optimistic
45. Do everything in moderation
46. Recognize the importance of unconditional love
47. Look at problems at challenges
48. Get to work early
49. Stretch your limits a little each day
50. Dance
51. Put safety first
52. Read a poem
53. Don’t rely on memory – write it down
54. Hug your friends
55. Have someone you can always vent to
56. Be responsible for your own feelings
57. Always make copies of important papers
58. Be aware of the decisions you make
59. Take a different route to work
60. Learn to meet your own needs
61. Set appointments ahead of time
62. Look at challenges differently
63. Remember that stress is an attitude
64. Maintain your weight
65. Keep a journal
66. Teach a kid to fly a kite
67. Ask for advice if you don’t like your job
68. Learn the words to a new song
69. Look up at the stars
70. Believe in yourself
71. Make a paper airplane
72. Read a story in bed
73. Take time to smell the flowers
74. Repair anything that doesn’t work properly
75. Talk less and listen more
76. Always have a plan B
77. Leave work early
78. Avoid too tight fitting clothes
79. Look for a silver lining
80. Anticipate your needs
81. Avoid negative people
82. Get enough sleep
83. Know your limitations and let others know them, too
84. Listen to some good music
85. Schedule play time into every day
86. Have a support network of people, places and things
87. Find support from others
88. Stop a bad habit
89. Exercise every day
90. Strive for excellent instead of perfection
91. Simplify meal times
92. Do it today
93. Avoid relying on medication, if possible
94. Plant a tree
95. Prepare for morning the night before
96. Practice grace under pressure
97. Stand up and stretch
98. Say something nice to someone
99. Stop procrastinating
100. Remember you always have options

• college
• family
• friends
• habits
• life
• mental health
• movies
• recovery
• relaxation
• stress