Try New Activities
Take a Short Break
Look to replace gambling with a variety of activities that you enjoy. Challenge yourself (or grab your family or a friend) and check out these helpful ideas for shorter breaks of 30 minutes or less.
Pick your favorite idea or the easiest to start with – the most important thing is that you start! Feel free to add your own ideas to the list to personalize your challenge using the templates below, or create your own check list that includes bucket list items or your own favorite activities.
Ways to Take a Short Break (30 minutes or less)
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Stretching Simple stretches done standing or from a sitting position can improve your flexibility while reducing your risk of injury. Stretching feels good as it warms up our muscles and can relieve tension in our bodies.
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Yoga Yoga creates similar benefits to stretching, but with the addition of enhancing balance, focus and vitality! Yoga increases mental well-being.
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Drawing, sketching, doodling or coloring Do you love to doodle, draw or color? These activities can reduce stress while improving creativity and memory function. Keep a notepad and pencil or a coloring book nearby so you can get creative often.
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Crafting Turn your mind and hands to a work of beauty and get creative.
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Take a drive PEI is full of “hidden gems”. Take in the sights, sounds, smells (or flavors) of your adventure – while you multitask as a driver your brain is growing and increasing its neuroplasticity.
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30-minute Digital detox Turn off all electronic devices. Take time to focus on the present moment – this can reduce stress, recharge your brain and increase your feelings of well-being.
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Read a book Access your favorite titles with a PEI Public Library card at 25 sites across the Island or download a title. Books provide free entertainment, exercise our brain, and inspire us.
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Write a poem Do you like to write and be creative? Why not create a poem? You pick the topic and have fun with it. You may just be a poet, who didn’t know it!
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Journaling Write your way to better health. If you are looking to better your well-being, reduce fatigue, and improve mood and memory – writing is beneficial. A simple “to do” list is a great start.
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Set goals Why not take 15 minutes to set a goal? Using a SMART goal helps you achieve it. Here's a SMART GOAL SETTING TEMPLATE for you to use.
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Listen to a guided meditation or nature sounds These sounds help you focus on the present, increasing self-awareness and decreasing negative emotions.
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Take a breather! Take a short rest (rest your eyes too) – sit or lie in a comfortable position, pay attention to taking deep breaths and practice relaxing.
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Sit in nature and notice the sounds Find somewhere outside to sit comfortably. Nature and nature sounds act as a natural distraction away from day-to-day anxiety and worries.
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Take a 15-minute “coffee break” Take time each day to destress and relax. It is a bonus if you are taking a break in a communal area as it can provide opportunities to meet new people!
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Chat with a friend Friends increase our sense of belonging and purpose. Being with friends enriches our lives and improves our health. Be sure to laugh together!
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Pay it forward Receiving kindness with the intent to pass it on to another is the essence of “paying it forward”. It has benefits for both the giver and receiver.
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Small act of kindness Get creative! A simple act of kindness gives you the power to have a positive impact on someone else’s day. Kindness makes the world a happier place.
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Finding shapes in the clouds Looking at clouds is a calming activity that connects you with the natural world and helps you connect to your inner child.
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Take a short walk This is a good daily activity that increases energy levels while helping to keep you physically fit!
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Meditation Meditation can reduce your stress and anxiety. Let all experiences pass without judgement. Meditation can help you feel deeply relaxed and rested.
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Find your breath (5-5-5 technique) Inhale for 5, hold for 5, exhale for 5. Notice your lungs fill with fresh air. This calming tool helps clear your mind and reduce stress.
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Write and send a note, card or letter The benefits are two-fold for the sender and receiver – it can reduce isolation and loneliness as well as strengthen bonds.
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Light a candle Candles have calming properties – the flickering light can provide a tranquil ambiance and help to reduce anxiety.
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Play with a pet It can reduce blood pressure, stress, and loneliness. There is a reason dogs are known as “man’s best friend”.
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Whip up a snack Those extra nutrients give you a boost of energy that can help to improve mood and prevent blood sugar drops between meals.
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Listen to a podcast Podcasts are a great form of FREE entertainment that can help us to become better listeners. There are topics for all interests.
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Listen to music (and sing along) Reduce anxiety and pain while increasing mood, memory and promoting better sleep.
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Express gratitude Start a daily gratitude journal. This daily practice increases mindfulness, letting us focus on what we have, rather than what we don’t.
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Create a happy memory jar Record happy memories and place them in a jar. Remembering happy memories can help you to reframe your perspective.
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Watch something funny Laughter stimulates your oxygen intake and relieves stress. It helps us release endorphins. Laughter really is the best medicine!
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Try grounding/earthing Walking barefoot on the earth connects us with its natural electric charge, which can enhance sleep, reduce stress, and stabilize the physiology of our bodies.
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