No doubt about it, workplace stress tests us all. We’ve all been there.

But do we really understand the depth of the problem? In the United Kingdom, a 2024 Burnout Report showed that 9 out of 10 respondents experienced “high or extreme stress” in the past year (pg. 8).

This stress in the workplace is damaging businesses and employee productivity, but just as importantly, it is hurting people’s personal lives, too.

We’ve got the best activities set up to help your teams reduce their stress levels at work. We’ve got everything from welfare support to karaoke sessions.

So let’s relax and get into this together.

How does stress impact the workplace?

Workplace stress is defined as the feeling staff have when they feel overwhelmed at work. They might feel discomfort at the amount of demands and responsibilities they have, or work pressures don’t match up to their knowledge and abilities. This hurts their ability to cope.

You might not immediately recognize when a staff member is stressed, as they can often bottle it up or hide it. However, new statistics show that workplace stress levels are rising, with 6 in 10 workers across the globe experiencing increased work stress in 2024.

Additionally, 53% of employees have struggled with poor mental health whilst at their current job, with stress being the leading contributor to this mental health crisis.

For a manager who truly cares for employee well-being, these statistics are terrifying.

The good news is that you can change this! Today’s activities are designed to relieve stress and promote well-being among your teams.

25 of the best activities and techniques for stress

Here’s our list of 25 stress killers. Try as many out as you can:

Activities focused on mental health

Mental health has become a topic of critical importance for HR and managers in recent years. Activities focused on promoting better mental health work fantastically for staff struggling with stress. The best ones are:

1. Establish a welfare officer

One of the biggest stressors employees feel is that they are suffering stress alone. They often feel like they have nobody to talk to, and if they do talk to someone in the office, they sometimes worry that negative news might spread about their situation.

At times like this, a dedicated welfare officer is the perfect go-to. If you designate a special person who is confidential and non-judgmental, your teams will feel so much more confident expressing the things that are worrying them. A dedicated welfare officer on-site is a powerful start to healing workplace stress.

2. Mental health days

A mental health day is exactly what it sounds like, a day dedicated to letting staff relax, recharge, and prioritize mental health. Some people wonder if this relaxation time should just be at the weekend when employees are off work. The truth is very different, and people experience all sorts of pressures outside of work that can massively impact their work performance.

You could set this up as a paid day off or as an in-office wellness program dedicated to everyone’s mental well-being. Just as a heads up, World Mental Health Day is officially celebrated by lots of countries on October 10th, so you could aim for that date. Here’s to the mental health of your teams!

3. External therapy and counseling 

So perhaps you don’t have the right resources to offer everything staff need when they’re stressed. In this case, it could be extremely valuable to reach out to external therapy and counseling for your teams. It doesn’t have to be a last resort for someone who is too stressed out to work. Sometimes just speaking to someone about small things that stress you is great. Staff can unload, even if they feel only 5% stressed.

So remember, you might not have every resource needed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help your teams out when they’re going through hard times. Use supportive charities and organizations around you to help out.

4. Work-life balance initiatives

When deadlines approach, it is natural for everyone to feel a little more stressed than usual. The problem, however, is when staff are stressed over very long durations, as this stress usually bleeds into their personal and home lives.

Have you recently taken a deep dive into the work-life initiatives at your workplace? A good work-life initiative or program helps support staff who are going through difficulties. Boundary setting and workload sharing are just 2 simple activities that stressed-out staff are really thankful for. Try them out in your workplace, and keep everyone well-balanced.

5. Remote and hybrid possibilities

Remote work is on the rise, and for those people working remotely, their productivity and happiness are also soaring! In 2023, 13% of employees work from home, while 28% work in a hybrid model. Future trends estimate that 32.6 million workers will be remote by 2025. Remote workers are reporting feeling much happier and more productive, with a stronger work-life balance.

Remote work means no commute time, so more time can be spent with family. It’s no wonder productivity in remote workers is sky-high. You really should consider optimizing remote and hybrid work to help mitigate workplace stresses. It could work wonders for your teams!

6. Animal therapy

This one’s a little outside the box compared to the other activities on our list, but have you considered using animals as a therapeutic stress reliever in the office? A few companies operate animal therapy services that your staff can visit, or possibly even arrange in the office.

88% of pet owners believe their animals help reduce stress, so if you have the chance, couldn’t a day spent with a fluffy companion help reduce stress for your teams? We think this idea will really take off in the future of corporate well-being activities. Just remember, if you do it in the office, there might be a bit of a mess left behind!

Activities focused on physical health

So on top of the earlier activities we mentioned for mental health, there is no denying the benefits of getting physically fitter too. Employees who get physically fit report fewer illnesses, and have a greater sense of enjoyment in their work.

Here are our best ones to try:

7. Group workout

So to start with, you could organize a straight-forward workout for your groups. If your office has the space and resources for it, you could consider doing it on-site. However, better results are more likely if you privately hire professional equipment in a gym or sports center, perhaps even a class P.T.

We understand workforces are made up of diverse groups, of different ages, abilities, and physical capabilities, so you’ve got to make a class suited for everyone. Who knows what the results will be? If you never try, you’ll never find out!

8. Simple stretching

In the same spirit as a group workout, but much easier to prepare is a simple stretching session or class. This activity aims to help staff get more flexible and nimble because, as it’s probable they spend a whole lot of time at work sitting down. This seated position is not great for the body’s joints, in the long run.

You can try to lead a stretching session, like Bupa’s 10 morning stretch activities, or you might want to bring in an expert. There’s a lot of value in loosening up your limbs, and it might be the ticket to help your staff release stress and tension.

9. Dance class

This one might be loved by your staff as a great stress reliever (and there might be other staff who HATE dancing!). Whether your staff are good dancers or not, promoting a bit of well-being through dance can be a great way for employees to have fun and get fit while doing it.

You could consider doing it in-office, but you might find that the everyday work setting feels a little too strange for your staff to suddenly start busting-a-move. Also, they probably want to change their clothes. If so, doing it in a dance studio or sports area could work perfectly. Try this one out to see who can use rhythm to release stress!

10. Martial arts class

Another activity focused on the physical side of things could be a martial arts class. Many people might first hear “martial arts” and think it’s all about fighting and showing off. That’s just not true, beginner’s classes in martial arts are a fantastic way to clear the head.

Karate and Jiu-Jitsu are popular for beginners, and if anyone’s feeling more adventurous, try out Muay Thai, the martial art of Thailand. There’s no dispute that martial arts truly are a way to relieve stress, as everyone gets to workout and punch padded bags (hopefully with no pictures of people on them!).

11. Yoga and guided meditation

Here’s one that shouldn’t be underestimated. Yoga and meditation have thousands of years in their history and have brought peace to people in fascinating ways. A day or an afternoon dedicated to yoga or meditation is a wonderful chance for staff to unwind.

You might want to run the class yourself, but are you able to do the Taraksvasana yoga pose? No, neither can we. It’s probably better to bring in a teacher or guide to get your staff into a state of stress-free bliss as they stretch. The euphoric after-effect can last for days or weeks, transferring right into their work performance. Try it out!

12. Gardening

For millions of people in the world, gardening is one of the most effective ways they de-stress. People do it at home and find it to be an incredible way to feel connected to nature. Why not try bringing that spirit into the workplace?

Okay, you might not have a 10-acre garden at the back of the building, but you could take them to a gardening class or even to an allotment to help local gardeners. It’s not demanding labor, it’s therapy, and it’s a great way to help staff destress after a workday.

13. Foosball

Here’s a super simple way to bring some physical exercise and mental well-being into the office. Just simply bring in a foosball table. You’re showing your staff you care about finding ways to help them wind down, and you’re even introducing a healthy spirit of competition.

Use your communal areas or canteen and set up a full-size foosball table, then sit back and watch as curiosity sets in. Maybe some of your staff used to be champions “back in the day” (of course, we believe them!), and you might even discover they really are champions!

14. Ping pong tables

Similar to foosball, a ping-pong (or table tennis) set is a great way to reduce stress in the office. It’s so easy to pick up and play, all you need to do is set it up. Again, use a communal area (not near computers) and let your teams unwind.

Put it somewhere near a whiteboard to keep score of who exactly is the office champion. Small healthy sports competitions are a fantastic way to help out stressed people. What’s there to think about? Try it out!

15. Swimming session

Swimming is one of the best ways in the world to exercise every muscle in the body. A day out in the local sports center could involve a group swimming session that’s perfect for relieving stress. Think about it, what is there to worry about as you float on your back?

Swimming has an amazing history of providing people with recreation, socialization and stress relief. It's so easy to organize. Try out group swimming for your teams. It’s a must!

16. Nature excursion

Our final activity that involves some physical exertion is a nature excursion. This one depends on where your office is based, so you’ll need to do a bit of searching, but nature is the perfect remedy for a stressed mind. 

Bear in mind the importance of health and safety for the excursion. Tailor the trip so that it pleases everyone (you can’t take them to the top of Kilimanjaro in one afternoon.) Promote nature-based well-being and help staff to reduce burnout and destress on a fun day out.

Activities focused on the office

So we’ve laid out activities to promote stress relief through physical and mental wellness. Our final section is aimed at simple activities you can use in the office that everyone can get involved in. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.

Here are our best ones to try:

17. Icebreakers

Kicking things off is a good old-fashioned icebreaker session. You never 100% know who is dealing with stress inside and outside of work. A lot of the time, people don’t vocalize it, especially new starters.

Icebreaker games and activities are a simple and effective way to spark conversations and promote a healthy work culture. Use gamification to let staff unwind and forget about their deadlines for a little while. Icebreakers are quick to set up, and are definitely worth it!

18. Team lunches

This one might take a little more time to prepare, but a well-organized team lunch helps build up and strengthen company culture, for sure! A company trip to a local gourmet restaurant helps staff build bonds and enjoy some much-needed relaxation away from stress.

You could opt for bringing a chef into the workplace, or delivering a special lunch for everyone to enjoy. The way to a man’s (or woman’s) heart is often through their stomach, so organize a great team lunch to show your teams how much you care for them (you could even have a sneaky bite of their food when no-one is looking!).

19. Stress management workshop

Get right into the root causes of workplace stress with a workshop dedicated to it. A workshop organized by yourself or an external team of experts can be a fantastic tool for reducing stress among your teams. 

You might keep it simple and base it on recognizing and dealing with stress, whether inside or outside of work. You could make it more specific, like workplace conflict management and customer relations. You never really know exactly what is causing stress at work, unless you take a deep dive. A workshop is a great way to do this.

20. Employee recognition

Now this one is a bit more specific, but could it be true that stressed-out staff might feel better if they are recognized for their achievements? Maybe you already have many employee recognition programs at work, but when was the last time you made sure it was optimized?

Employee recognition is one of the most effective ways to make staff feel more valued at work. If feeling underappreciated is causing any stress, you’re helping to solve it when you publicly recognize their hard work and remind them how valuable they are. 

21. Brightening up workspaces

A more holistic approach to helping with stress relief at work can be done by thinking about the physical workspace. The sky really is the limit when it comes to changing the office environment. 

One of the best ways is by bringing in new and impressive plants and greenery into communal areas or even gifting out succulent plants to every desk. Rearranging working areas or installing better lighting can go a long way to helping staff feel more relaxed too. It really depends on your current set up, but make sure you’ve got your work arena decorated thoughtfully to promote stress reduction in your teams.

22. Quiet-time areas

When you think of your physical workspace, you might have dedicated offices, collaboration rooms, and shared eating areas. Have you got a dedicated quiet space where staff can go if they feel they just want silence for a while? It is actually a really effective technique that takes the chaos out of many fast-paced work environments.

Deck a silent area out with thoughtful reading material, from books on Plato to books on Pluto, and let the silence provide an oasis of tranquility to de-stress your teams. When a person is going through a stressful and chaotic time, silence really can be golden. 

23. Movie night

This one’s a little more playful, but it could be the perfect amount of fun and socialization your staff are looking for. A lot of the time, a stressed person is helped when they’re around friends they can bond with (bond, not like James Bond!).

A movie night is a unique chance to give your teams something out of the ordinary. It’s not too difficult to set up, with a projector and comfy seats. Let them choose films or documentaries that help them to wind down (David Attenborough works for us). Go the extra mile and order some comforting pizza in too, it’s worth it.

24. Decaf experiment

Here’s a thought. The majority of workers kickstart their day with a fresh “cup of joe”. Some people push to two or three. Coffee is the most common substance in the world that people use in the morning to feel energized.

But have you ever considered what decaffing would be like? Research even shows that coffee works by blocking a natural brain chemical that makes you feel sleepy. A lot of people don’t know this! A little experiment of trying decaf might start some changes in your teams that help reduce stress. If you don’t try, you don’t know!

25. Karaoke

Our final activity is good old KARAOKE! We’ve all done it before; set up a speaker and played a famous instrumental while we sang our hearts out. We don’t need to convince you of the fun and laughter karaoke can bring.

We also can’t guarantee it will remove stress. Karaoke is often best performed when it's really loud (we know from experience!). But the thing is, for those in your teams who find therapy in singing, you’re helping them unwind through music. Try it out! Earplugs not included…

Melt away workplace stress with a team-building retreat!

So you’ve got workplace stress on the mind? Do you want to know the most effective way to help staff unwind while improving productivity and strengthening team bonds?

We know the answer: a team-building retreat.

Here at Surf Office, organizing team retreats is what we do best. A twice-annual retreat for your teams provides an unforgettable and productive environment that helps stress melt away like a cube of sugar in a swimming pool.

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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 ✅

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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.

Workplace stress can arise when someone feels stuck in a routine. Shake this routine up with a work retreat that your teams will never forget. 

Let us sort out the tricky logistics for you. Spaces are very limited, so get in touch now!