7 Simple Stress Busters to Try Today

Stress can do a number on your body and brain. In a​ ​study of more than 1.3 million people in Sweden ages 18 to 65, published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy in 2023, chronic stress was linked with a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. This is why managing stress is one of Staying Sharp’s six pillars of brain health.

The good news is that there’s no shortage of fun, easy and effective ways to reduce stress. Here are seven to try:

1. Find a green space. Spending time in nature relieves tension, improves mood and increases feelings of calm.
   
   
2. Watch a funny video. A good belly laugh can relax muscles, lowers blood pressure, reduces cortisol levels and releases natural painkillers. Even a few minutes of laughter is a terrific stress reliever.
   
   
3. Do some gentle yoga. In a randomized controlled trial with 160 adults ages 65 to 80 published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2022, those who took 80-minute Hatha yoga classes online twice a week for eight weeks had much less stress, anxiety and depression at the end of the trial compared with the control group. Their sleep quality also improved.
   
   
4. Tend to your garden. In its 2018 report “Brain Health and Mental Well-Being,” AARP's Global Council on Brain Health notes that gardening can help relieve stress and promote mental well-being. Gardening was also associated with a lower risk of self-reported cognitive decline, which can be a precursor of dementia, in a study published in Nutrition Journal in 2024 that reviewed data from 136,748 people age 45 and older.
   
   
5. Reach out and volunteer. People who engage in meaningful and purposeful activities — such as helping others — tend to have greater mental well-being and life satisfaction.
   
   
6. Pet your pet. Stroking a furry friend can reduce blood pressure and stress levels. In addition, people aged 65 and older who owned pets for more than five years scored higher on cognitive tests than non-pet owners in a study of 1,369 older adults published in the Journal of Aging and Health in 2022. No pets at home? Your local animal shelter may need volunteers.
   
   
7. Pull out the colored pencils. Adult coloring books are a trend for a reason: They're fun, they can ease anxiety and they don't require any artistic ability.