Workplace stress is inevitable, but how your team responds to it makes all the difference. Resilience is that skill which helps teams bounce back, instead of burn out.
A resilient team is adaptable, confident, and ready to tackle whatever comes their way. Today we’re looking at activities to help your teams develop resilience, so they can take on challenges like a duck takes to water.
What makes resilience-building activities so useful?
No doubt about it, work throws curveballs at all of us. Tight deadlines, last-minute changes, and the occasional inbox avalanche. The key to riding out these storms is through resilience. It’s what helps teams stay cool under pressure and tackle challenges without hitting the eject button.
Resilience isn’t something you have to be born with; it’s a skill that can be built, like a mental muscle. The best way to strengthen it? Fun, practical activities that make resilience second nature.
So let’s look at some of the best ways to help your team toughen up, instead of just toughing it out.
14 of the best resilience-building activities
Here are 15 of the best activities to build your teams into masters of resilience:
1. “Failure-reflection” exercise
Nobody actually likes messing up, but it’s important to remember that failure really can be a golden opportunity for growth. The key to learning from mistakes is how you frame them. Instead of seeing failures as the end of the road, reframe them as a quick pit-stop on a long-distance journey.
Here’s how to set up:
- Write down a past failure (big or small, no worries).
- List three things it taught you.
- Rewrite it as a success: “I bombed that presentation” becomes “I learned how to handle tough questions.”
Reframing failure turns mistakes into productive lessons so that it can be seen as a stepping stone and not a pitfall. The result is a much more resilient squad!
2. A simulation of “crisis-mode”
We all know that when things go wrong, it’s easy for panic-mode to set in. You freeze up, or rush and make knee-jerk reactions. A resilient team can handle situations at stressful times, so why not run a simulation? You’ll be helping your teams practice staying level-headed under pressure.
How to set up:
- Choose a work-related “crisis” scenario (e.g., a client pulls out, a deadline is moved up, a major tech failure).
- Give teams a short time limit to strategize their response.
- Encourage discussion: What worked? What didn’t? What did they learn?
This simulation is a solid way to build relationships within the team! Together as one, they practice how to bounce back from a setback.
3. The “control what you can” challenge
How many of us get stressed over things we can’t change? Resilient people know how to focus on what is within their control, and let go of what isn’t. It’s such a simple premise, but it’s a common problem which hinders mental well-being for many people.
Here’s how to set up
- Give each person a sticky note (or virtual equivalent).
- Ask them to write down a current work challenge.
- Next, have them divide it into two columns: “Things I can control” vs. “Things I can’t.”
- Discuss: What small actions can they take to improve the situation?
With this exercise, you’re helping them shift focus from frustration to action. They’ll become much more skilled in managing their time and their tasks.
4. A bouncing-back brainstorm
Resilient team members know how to bounce back stronger than ever when something goes astray. To develop this skill, they might need to shift their mindset. With a brainstorming activity, you can help them see setbacks in a new light, with a list of go-to solutions for common problems.
To set up:
- Split your large team into two groups
- Give them a fun (or absurd) “setback” scenario, like “the office coffee machine has shut down - chaos ensues” or “your team is hosting an event in 24 hours - what’s the plan?"
- Set a timer, and have them brainstorm creative solutions
- Share the two lists with each team
A fun, low-stakes approach helps reinforce problem-solving skills in the face of uncertainty. Let it storm!
5. The “resilience journal” routine
Building resilience takes practice, and a daily journaling habit helps reinforce the mindset needed. A resilience journal encourages reflection, self-awareness, and a proactive approach to workplace challenges that come their way.
To set this up:
- Provide team members with a notebook or set up a shared digital space
- At the end of each workday, encourage them to jot down:
- What was a challenge I faced today?
- How did I respond to it?
- What will I do differently next time?
The more they reflect and log their challenges, the easier it becomes to approach future challenges with confidence.
6. Resilience detox
Recently we’ve been teaching our teams that a lot of the time, procrastination is not laziness, but a stress response. We wonder how much of this stress stems from information overload… Try out a digital detox for a few hours, or the whole day, if the office can handle it.
Here’s how you do it:
- Make sure the day’s workload can handle a “no notifications” work block. This is an hour of uninterrupted, focused work.
- Set up a “phone-free” break area with books and calming music where they can step away from screens.
- End with a discussion: How did it feel? Was it harder or easier than expected?
You might not get everyone on board, but that’s fine, just encourage reflecting on time to detox away from screen-glow.
7. A “future self” visualization
A resilient person is about to see the big picture and understands what it takes to grow. A future-self visualization exercise can help shift focus from short-term setbacks to long-term growth.
To set up:
- Ask each person to picture themselves five years from now. Where are they? What challenges have they overcome?
- Have them write a letter from their “future self” offering advice, reassurance, or insights on handling setbacks.
- Encourage sharing (if comfortable) to highlight each different perspective
By zooming out, they can see obstacles as temporary, and resilience as a skill that grows over time. Plus, letters from your future-self are fun!
8. Mindfulness: pause, process, proceed
When stress hits us, it’s easy to react by going into autopilot and just hoping for the best. Mindfulness exercises can help break that cycle by training your brain to pause, process, and then proceed with clarity.
Set up:
- Find some mindfulness exercises that help teams respond to stressful situations, like breathing exercises
- Have them ask themselves: “What am I feeling? What’s actually happening? What’s the best next step?”
- Get them to work on responses that suit their long-term goals, not reactions in the heat-of-the-moment
Mindfulness gets behind the idea of a healthy work-life balance. Help them mindfully take their time and practice more patience, less panic.
9. A set of adaptability games
Resilience is built on the foundations of adaptability – the ability to pivot, rethink, and roll with the punches.. However, change isn’t always a fun thing to go through. Use team-building games that train them to embrace uncertainty in a low-stakes, engaging way.
Some games to try:
- Reverse brainstorming: Instead of solving a problem, ask teams to make it worse. Then, flip those ideas into solutions.
- Improv storytelling: Each person adds a sentence to a spontaneous group story, testing their ability to adapt in real-time.
- Rules switch-up: Midway through a simple task (like assembling a puzzle or playing a game), introduce a rule change and watch how teams adjust.
Help them navigate real-world curveballs without hitting the panic button.
10. Managing through movement breaks
Too often, we think resilience is a skill that only belongs in the mind. In truth, your body plays a role too. Stress and tension build up throughout the workday, and without an outlet, they can leave teams feeling drained. The solution is to get moving!\
- Set a reminder for a 5-minute movement break every few hours.
- Try quick stretches, desk yoga, or a brisk office lap.
- Introduce a “walk and talk” meeting (because problem-solving feels easier when you’re not glued to your chair).
Encouraging simple physical activities really can create a more positive workplace culture. Keep energy levels high and stress levels low.
11. Morning wins huddle-up
Mornings usually set the tone for the whole day. Every so often, use huddles as early as you can to kick the day off right. Huddle-ups give teams a chance to start the day on a positive note, building confidence and resilience before diving into tasks.
To set up:
- Gather the team (in person or virtually) for a 5-minute huddle, bright and early.
- Each person shares one small win from the day before (big or small, they all count!)
- End with a quick team affirmation or motivation boost.
It’s a simple habit, but a powerful one. Recognizing small wins builds momentum, and momentum builds resilience. Plus, it’s a great excuse to actually look forward to mornings!
12. Mindset reset Mondays
Leading on from Monday’s bad reputation, instead of dreading the start of the week, why not flip the script with a mindset reset? This quick team exercise helps shake off weekend sluggishness and start the week on the right note:
How to set up:
- Begin Monday with a team check-in: What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this week?
- Try to give them a fresh perspective: If last week was tough, what’s one lesson to take forward?
- Wrap up with a motivational quote, a joke, or even a fun challenge to set a positive tone.
Setting up a reflective activity for Monday mornings creates a workplace culture that prioritizes wellbeing. Try resetting on the next one!
13. A “comfort zone” challenge
Ever wondered how many of life’s challenges can be overcome if people were more comfortable stepping outside of their comfort zone? We do. Nobody builds resilience by playing it too safe. A “comfort zone” challenge can encourage your teams to meet new challenges head-on!
Here’s how to set up:
- Have each team member choose one small challenge that pushes them slightly beyond their usual routine (e.g., presenting in a meeting, reaching out to a new colleague, tackling a tough task first).
- Give them a day or a week to complete their challenge, with a workplace incentive for doing so.
- At the end, discuss: What felt uncomfortable? What did they learn? Would they do it again?
Sure, stepping outside the comfort zone can feel awkward at first, but it’s also where real resilience starts to grow.
14. An ultimate resilience playlist
This last one is a fun way to connect, but also, don’t underestimate the power of music as a motivator! A resilience playlist can become a go-to for when motivation dips, deadlines loom, or teams just need a mid-week pick-me-up.
Fill it with anthemic bangers, comeback classics, and “you got this” tunes. Open a Spotify jam-session and let each person add their motivational song. Eye of the Tiger, Titanium or any guilty-pleasure tunes, let the music do the morale-boosting. Play it in the office, share it with the team, and let resilience be the rhythm of the day!
Take resilience training to the next level with a team retreat!
True resilience isn’t built in a day, and sometimes, the best way to strengthen it is by stepping away from daily routines. A change of scenery is the perfect way to help teams reset, recharge, and develop the skills to tackle new challenges.
At Surf Office, we specialize in seamless, stress-free offsites so you can focus on developing top-tier trainers while we handle the logistics.
Here’s what we offer:
- Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
- Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
- Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
- Restaurant reservations? That's on us! ✅
- Expert retreat planning assistance? Of course, we have this covered! ✅
- Onsite support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅
Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.
Set the tone for resilience-building with us! Spaces fill up fast, so get in touch with us today!
