This post delves into 31 relaxing activities for adults. The curated list of activities is designed to help you effortlessly shake off stress and access a deep state of total relaxation.
Itâs no secret that in todayâs world, most of us struggle with feeling stressed out. Between the demands of work, personal responsibilities, and the constant pings of computers and phones, itâs easy to feel overwhelmed. What we do have control over, is how we manage our stress on a day-to-day basis.Â
We often associate the word relaxation with being lazy or not productive. However, relaxation, done, right has the power to transform our well-being. Itâs the gateway to achieving a sense of inner peace. Engaging in activities that calm us down and allow for rejuvenation are imperative keeping stress at bay.
This post is all about 31 different activities that have been specially curated to leave you feeling a deep sense of relaxation and peacefulness.
Contents
- Understanding Stress and Its Effects
- How to Manage Stress
- The Benefits of Stress Relief
- 31 Relaxing Activities for Adults
- Final Thoughts
Understanding Stress and Its Effects
To manage stress, we must first understand it a bit better. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress is a state of worry and mental tension caused by difficult situations. Itâs a natural response that prompts us to address threats in our daily lives.Â
Most people think that stress only exists in the mind, but the truth is that it also affects our physical selves. It can cause all kinds of symptoms from headaches to muscle tension and fatigue. Living with stress in the long term can even lead to things like heart disease, strokes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Learning to manage stress is vital to both your physical and mental health. A few minutes a day of mindful relaxation can go a long way in helping to keep stress at bay.
How to Manage Stress
The first step in learning to manage stress is to start noticing it. Itâs crucial to build awareness of your stress state and the triggers that bring it one. In doing so, you can empower yourself to address these challenges with targeted relaxation strategies.
As youâre going about your everyday life start to ask yourself, âHow am I feeling?â and give yourself a stress score on a scale of one to five. At first, thatâs all you need to do, just learn to notice and take note.
Once youâve established that habit, you can start trying out different relaxing activities. Thatâs where this list comes in. Test things out and see if they work for you. Weâre all different and thereâs no one size fits all solution.
The Benefits of Stress Relief
Once youâve mastered your relaxation routine, youâll be surprised how much it affects your overall well-being. There are tons of proven benefits to living a lower-stress life such as:
- Better sleep
- Better mood
- More productive
- Better relationships
31 Relaxing Activities for Adults
This list of relaxing activities for adults is a curation of 31 ideas to help you access a deep state of inner peace and relaxation in your everyday life. Everyone is different so test out one relaxing activity at a time to see what works best for you. So hereâs the list of relaxing activities for adults:
Mindfulness Activities
Of all the stress relief activities, mindfulness practices have gotten the most attention in recent years. Things like breathing exercises and meditation can have a profound impact on the brain, releasing it from a constant state of threat. The trick to all of these activities is to focus on being in the present moment to promote a sense of relaxation and mental clarity. Spending time cultivating a mindfulness practice has all kinds of health benefits from mental to physical.
1. Deep breathing exercises
Mindful breathing plays a huge role in emotional and physiological health and it can be a powerful tool to help our bodies switch from a state of stress into a state of relaxation. Breathwork is simple and easy to learn and can yield profound results. Start by taking some deep breaths and just notice how you feel. Does your heart rate feel lower? Or maybe your head feels more clear?
This light-up owl aids you in performing breathwork by changing colors to indicate when to inhale, hold, and exhale making it easy and fun to incorporate this breathing technique into your nighttime routine. It also acts as a nightlight and noise machine with 7 different soundscapes.
RELATED POST: 7 Breathing Exercises to Unlock Calm in 5 Minutes or Less
2. Guided meditation
Mindfulness meditation seems to have become a bit of a cure-all in the last couple of years. There are so many forms of meditation, but in essence, itâs the practice of focusing the mind and eliminating external distractions. If youâre new to meditation, we recommend trying out a guided meditation or a body scan meditation. There are tons of free apps and videos on YouTube if you want to give it a try. It’s great for cognitive function, managing everyday stress, and even helps with sleep problems.
3. Journaling
Writing down your thoughts and feelings provides a profound emotional release. Sometimes we donât even realize what weâve been holding onto and just getting it on the page has quite a stress-relieving effect. This calming activity works by helping you notice and process the stressors in your life and gain perspective which can lead to feelings of balance and calm. It’s the perfect way to spend quality time getting to know your inner world a bit better.
If you’re looking for a new journal, we absolutely love this one. It’s super cute and the spiral design makes it easy to write on both sides of the paper no matter where you are.
RELATED POST: What Are Morning Pages? The Life-Changing Journaling Habit Explained
4. Gratitude practice
Focusing on gratitude shifts your focus towards positivity and away from negativity. When incorporated into your daily routine, it fosters a sense of abundance and contentment which can help us to let go of things that are stressing us out. The easiest way to practice gratitude is to set a time for one to five minutes and just write a stream-of-consciousness list of things youâre grateful for until the timer is up. It’s one of the best ways to access positive emotions in a short period of time.
5. Positive affirmations
Similar to practicing gratitude, speaking our positive affirmations encourages us to think about the positive rather than the negative. Itâs proven that even speaking something out loud, whether we believe it or not, starts to shift our mindset.
These Positive Affirmation Cards as a great tool for incorporating this simple practice into your day-to-day life. Each of the cards has one powerful affirmation on the front and one to three thought-provoking questions on the back. You can choose one card a day to give yourself a daily boost of positivity.
RELATED POST: 37 Morning Affirmations for Positive Thinking [+ PDF Download]
6. Read inspiring quotes
Inspirational quotes have the power to help you find words that resonate, uplift, and remind you of the incredible potential within you. Quotes have the remarkable ability to encapsulate profound thoughts and emotions in just a couple of words. They resonate with our inner wisdom which can alleviate stress and promote a sense of inner calm.
RELATED POST: The 83 Best Inspirational Movie Quotes To Lift Your Spirits
7. Make a vision board
When weâre younger and still in school there are plenty of opportunities to make mood and vision boards but as we get older, we lose sight of these powerful practices. Grab a couple of magazines, a pair of scissors, and a board and get collaging. Just a small dose of inspiration can have a profoundly soothing effect.
RELATED POST: Vision Board Ideas: How to Make A Vision Board to Actually Manifest Your Dreams In 2025
Creative Activities
When you think of relaxing activities for adults, creative projects may not be the first to come to mind. However, expressing yourself through these kinds of projects provides a therapeutic outlet for stress. Plus, theyâre a great way to build new hobbies and find new passions. If youâre not sure where to start, Pinterest has tons of inspo for beginning projects.
8. Adult coloring books
Coloring books arenât just for kids. Adult coloring books are filled with fantastic pictures giving you the space to express yourself through colors and designs. Coloring requires complete focus which diverts your mind from stressors. You can even get into a bit of a meditative state.
Thereâs a reason why most kids love to color! Itâs incredibly soothing to engage in the simple mind-body connection thatâs needed to color in different shapes and objects. This adult coloring book is filled with a stunning collection of relaxing and easy-to-color patterns from beautiful flowers and floral patterns to fun geometric shapes.
9. Try knitting
Knitting is famous for being one of the most relaxing activities of all. The rhythmic, repetitive motion has a calming effect on the nervous system. If you donât know how to knit, there are lots of simple beginner patterns available as well as knit-along YouTube videos. Plus, if you make this your new hobby youâll have all your Christmas gifts covered.
10. Crafting & DIY
Engaging in creative projects that require us to learn new skills provides us with a sense of accomplishment and confidence. Plus, it serves as a welcome distraction from stressors, creating a relaxing space for you to return to and tap into an inner sense of calm.
11. Cooking
Many people say that cooking is their form of meditation. And it’s true, cooking can be an extremely therapeutic experience from chopping to sauteing. The cooking process involves all of your senses which pulls you into the present moment. It is also one of the best relaxing activities for couples.
RELATED POST: 11 Insanely Delicious Healthy Soup Recipes You Need To Try
12. Baking
If youâre not much of a chef, perhaps you fancy yourself a baker. Similar to cooking, baking promotes relaxation by pulling you into the present moment by immersing all of your senses. A baking night in is an incredible idea for relaxing activities for adults.
Physical Activities
You probably already know that an idle body can lead to a busy mind. Moving your body can be a great way to release physical tension and endorphins which promote relaxation. When it comes to mindful movement for stress relief, keep it gentle with activities like long walks, yoga, and stretching.
13. Do some gentle yoga
Yoga consists of a series of poses and breathing exercises practiced in repetition to clear the mind and prepare the body for deep rest. The combination of active practice and passive relaxation is a great way to melt away stress.
Set up a sacred space for your practice with a custom blend of essential oils in a diffuser. Combine two ancient practices, yoga and aromatherapy into a powerful concoction for relaxation.
14. Stretch it out
Stretching releases physical tension which is closely linked with mental tension, or stress. It also helps to increase blood flow and provide a sense of ease throughout the body. Just a five-minute stretching session can have a profound impact on how the body feels which can, in turn, help to relax the mind. It’s one of the easiest relaxation techniques to incorporate into your day. Feeling adventurous? Why not give tai chi a try?
RELATED POST: The 10 Best Somatic Exercises to Release Trauma
15. Dance like nobody’s watching
When was the last time you danced like nobody was watching? Dancing is a joyful, expressive activity that releases endorphins. These endorphins create a feeling of freedom and joy, both the opposite of the feelings stress brings up. Plus, it can be a really good time!
Nurture The Mind
It can be easy to develop thought patterns around the things that cause us stress and anxiety. However, engaging the mind in other activities that require us to be present, can help to change those set-in behaviors and allow us some much-needed reprieve from the voice within. Reading, listening to music, and doing puzzles stimulate mental well-being by providing a break from stressful thoughts.
16. Read a book
You know that feeling when youâre totally immersed in a good book and lose all sense of time? Thatâs exactly what it feels like to be in the present moment. Normally escapism is seen in a negative light but it can also be a powerful stress-relief technique if used correctly.
If youâre looking for your next novel, weâve got you covered. A Court of Thorns and Roses (called ACOTAR by fans) is a wonderful fantasy romance series that has developed a bit of a cult following. It has all the wonders and magical moments of fantasy with a couple of spicy romance scenes sprinkled in. It follows the life of a nineteen-year-old huntress who gets dragged into a treacherous magical land where she falls in love with her captor.
17. Listen to music
The power of music cannot be overstated. There is so much research into just how effective music is for a multitude of purposes from relaxation to focus and energy. It has the ability to change your emotional state and induce a state of calm no matter where you are or whatâs going on.
18. Complete a puzzle
As far as relaxing activities for adults go, puzzles are a great way to engage the brain in ways we donât normally do in our day-to-day lives. Plus the feeling you get when you finish one is a great way to stave off stress and anxiety. The repetitive motions can also be extremely relaxing for the mind.
Have you heard of magic puzzles? They are 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles but they hold a magical surprise when you finish. They are absolutely loved my puzzle enthusiasts and also make a great gift!
Pampering & Self-Care Activities
Thereâs a lot of hype around the idea of self-care but itâs for good reason. You cannot pour from an empty cup. In todayâs demanding world, we need to take care of ourselves and make sure that we give our mental and physical health the attention it deserves. Plus, you donât need to ask me to get a massage twice!
19. Take a bath
Is there a more stereotypical relaxation activity than taking a bath? Some people love baths, some people hate them but definitely donât force it. If you donât find them calming, look for another activity. But if you love to take baths, make them a part of your weekly routines and plan the relaxation time into your schedule.
Make your bath a little extra special and that much more relaxing with this Dr Tealâs Relax & Relief set. It includes Epsom salt soak, foaming bath soap, body oil, and lotion. Epsom salts are filled with magnesium which actually has a proven effect on relaxing the muscles and mind.
20. Take an âeverything showerâ
Have you heard of an everything shower? Itâs a shower where you do all the things: scrub, shave, wash, oil, hair mask, you name it. The purpose is to take care of yourself and your body and give yourself some much-needed TLC. Unlike an everyday shower, an everything shower should be treated as a full pampering experience with soft music, candles, and all those good things.
RELATED POST: The 9 Best Affordable Products You Need In Your Everything Shower Routine
21. Get a massage or do some self-massage
Thereâs nothing I find more relaxing than a nice deep-tissue massage. I almost always fall asleep and wake up feeling brand new. If you need a sign to book yourself a massage, here it is. And if you prefer to go the budget route, check out a YouTube video on self-massage. You can get many of the same benefits from the comfort of your own home.
Enjoy The Little Things
When youâre relaxing at home, it can be easy to get stuck in old routines and not be aware of your surroundings. Try to break the pattern by creating special little moments. Find joy and calm in the small, everyday moments, to foster a sense of gratitude and a feeling of inner peace. It’s one of the most sustainable ways to incorporate relaxing activities for adults into your daily life.
22. Enjoy a cup of tea
Take ten minutes to make yourself a cup of your favorite tea. Sit by the window, or at your favorite spot in your house, and savor the flavors and the quiet moment to yourself. Go screen-free and just spend the time experiencing the moment with all of your senses.
Want to try some new teas? This Premium Sampler box has a variety of teas harvested from Jeju Island. Osulloc makes some of Korea’s most popular teas and was been cultivating using the same practices since 1979.
23. Listen to the birds chirping outside
We can often grow numb to the beauty that surrounds us, like the sounds of birds chirping out of your window. Whether youâre graced with birds, a trickling stream (or fountain), or the whispering of leaves, take a minute to appreciate the little things.
24. Appreciate the beauty out of your window
If you have the privilege, open the window and sit in a comfortable spot for a couple of me-time moments and just soak up the beauty just outside your window. We all have a different view from our houses but thereâs always something of beauty to admire.
Go Outdoors
Did you know that going outdoors is one of the most relaxing activities for adults? Harvard found that just 20 minutes of connecting with nature can help lower stress hormone levels. So next time you need to de-stress, find a nice place outdoors and spend some time enjoying everything it has to offer. Outdoor activities are easy to do, typically free, and a great stress reliever.
25. Go for a walk outdoors
Try making time for an evening stroll in your local park or natural area. Instead of listening to music or a podcast, just enjoy the nature that surrounds you. Stop to smell the flowers or crunch the dried leaves.
26. Do some gardening
If you have access to a garden, make full use of it. Gardening is a great way to spend some time outdoors connecting with nature. And if you donât have a garden, try looking for a neighborhood plot or take up indoor gardening.
27. Spend time with your pet (if you have one)
Give your pet some love with a hike, time at the dog park, or by just throwing a ball in the backyard. You may even appreciate the fresh air even more than they do. Plus, doing something together will make you feel more bonded which is also proven to reduce stress levels. It’s a wonderful way to treat yourself and your furry friends.
Decompress
Everyone is different when it comes to which activities to relieve stress work for them. Donât limit yourself to certain types of activities. Tons of different things can allow for decompression, rest, and a break from daily stressors. Sometimes all you need is a short power nap or to rewatch your favorite movie.
28. Take a nap or go to bed early
Letâs face it, sometimes all you need is a little bit of sleep. Sleep has a powerful effect on all kinds of mechanisms including stress. If weâre sleep-deprived, stress levels will increase as well. If youâre feeling tired, take a power nap or plan to go to bed early.Â
29. Clean or organize an area in your home
For some, cleaning is the best form of therapy. A cluttered space can leave our minds feeling cluttered too which can contribute to feelings of stress and overwhelm. Thereâs nothing quite like the high of a spring clean or closet clear-out, so use it strategically as part of your stress management plan.
30. Do an hour-long digital detox
It should come as no surprise that our devices cause a lot of micro-moments of stress. Learning to be aware of the effects of our devices is a super powerful tool when it comes to stress management. You can also do an hour-long digital detox and go screen-free.
31. Watch your favorite movie
Rewatching TV shows and movies we love has a very soothing effect. If youâre feeling stressed out, why not rewatch one of your favorite movies? It will be both comforting and distracting to take you out of the stress and transport you into another world.
FAQ
Relaxing activities like deep breathing exercises, listening to music, or doing a quick 5-minute meditation can help you feel dramatically more relaxed.
You can try incorporating micro-moments of relaxation to manage stress throughout your day. Ideas like stretching, enjoying a cup of tea, and taking a short nature break can all be great relaxation activities for adults.
If you find that you are able to better relax alone, it might be a sign that you’re an introvert. Try activities like reading, journaling, solo walks, and meditation. On the contrary, if you find socializing relaxing, give group yoga, cooking with friends, or social board games a try.
Yes! Building a good nighttime routine filled with relaxing activities like taking a warm bath, doing a guided meditation, and drinking herbal tea can improve sleep quality.
Final Thoughts
If you feel like your schedule is totally packed, you have more responsibilities than you have time, and stress feels like an inevitable part of everyday life, you are not alone!
Many adults feel overwhelmed by how busy life can get.
Although that may be unavoidable, incorporating relaxing activities into your day can reduce stress, improve mental health, and boost your mood.
We’re curious if plan to try any of these relaxing activities for adults. Let us know in the comments below!
Happy relaxing,
A small note to my readers â Over here at VLHhealth, we occasionally include affiliate links in our posts. This means that if you purchase using our links, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
This concludes our curated list of relaxing activities for adults to help you manage the stress in your life.Â
We hope you found these stress-relief activities helpful. Let us know in the comments below which ones you try!Â
You Might Also Like:
- 29 Self-Care Hobbies That Will Boost Your Happiness & Mental Health
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- 31 Healing Emotional Self-Care Practices Every Woman Should Know
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