List of 121 Coping Skills

I’ve had a lot of problems with stress, depression, and body dysphoria. Coping skills have helped me a lot through the years, so I would like to share a long list of coping skills with you. Some I have used, some I haven’t I will mark the ones I have used before with an asterisk ‘*’. 

1. Write*
2. Draw*
3. Read*
4. Paint*
5. Doodle on yourself*
6. Put on fake tattoos
7. Take a walk*
8. Mindfulness meditation*
9. Make lists*
10. Talk to someone*
11. Make a craft
12. Write down what you’re feeling*
13. Be assertive
14. Set boundaries
15. Watch something funny*
16. Post on the internet*
17. Answer other people’s posts*
18. Listen to music*
19. Play an instrument*
20. Sing*
21. Punch a pillow or punching bag
22. Scream into a pillow*
23. Just go outside and scream
24. Just cry it out*
25. Take a nap if you’re tired*
26. Clean around the house*
27. Sew or knit something
28. Play with one of your pets*
29. Hug a stuffed animal
30. Go shop or shop online*
31. Do your makeup or paint your nails
32. Take a hot bath or shower*
33. Use aromatherapy
34. Dance
35. Go outside and look at the clouds/stars*
36. Go for a drive
37. Stretch or do yoga*
38. Plan an event
39. Plant a flower
40. Get a massage*
41. Put on some scented lotion
42. Put band aids or draw where you want to self harm*
43. Play a video game*
44. Play with children’s toys
45. Clean your room*
46. Organize things*
47. Do a puzzle
48. Look online for your dream home/car*
49. Rearrange your furniture
50. Try to learn a new language*
51. Write a letter to someone
52. Do a random act of kindness*
53. Pick up litter
54. Start a collection
55. Make a to do list*
56. Make a list of things you want to accomplish in the future*
57. Take a break or vacation*
58. Look up inspirational quotes*
59. Write down your strengths
60. Discover a new band/artist*
61. Play a sport
62. Eat something healthy*
63. Make time for yourself
64. Spend time with family/friends*
65. Color in a coloring book
66. Look up new words and use them
67. Ride your bike*
68. Go somewhere new
69. Visit a museum
70. Go to a library
71. Make something out of clay
72. Watch a documentary*
73. Watch your favorite show*
74. Hug someone*
75. Smile at people*
76. Laugh*
77. Learn a poem/play/song*
78. Window shop
79. Alphabetize your books/CDs/movies
80. Look up weird facts
81. Search for ridiculous things on the internet*
82. Look up recipes and make a meal*
83. Exercise*
84. Take an online class*
85. Send an email
86. Go out into nature and admire
87. Do deep breathing*
88. Drink some tea*
89. Play a board game/cards
90. Learn a magic trick
91. Go to the park
92. Ask for support*
93. Hyperfocus on something*
94. Think of everyone who loves/cares about you*
95. Squeeze a stress ball*
96. Read comics
97. Go people watching
98. Go bird watching
99. Volunteer
100. Contact a hotline/therapist*
101. Wash dishes
102. Eat something sweet (in moderation)*
103. Jump on a trampoline
104. Smell flowers
105. Smell perfume
106. Catch yourself if you’re over thinking*
107. Go for a swim
108. Pick flowers
109. Mow the lawn*
110. Make pottery
111. Watch a painting show
112. Watch ASMR videos*
113. Look up beautiful/inspiring pictures*
114. Listen to someone else laugh*
115. Pet animals*
116. Declutter*
117. Do a crossword
118. Do a word search
119. Enter a drawing/contest*
120. Make jewelry
121. Try a new food*

Different coping skills won’t work for everyone, but hopefully you’ll find something that is useful for you!

Help Resources

If you are feeling or experiencing:

• Suicidal Thoughts
• Self-harm
• Depression
• Stress/Anxiety
• Grief
• Eating Disorders
• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Isolation/Loneliness
• Relationship Issues
• Bullying

Please call: 1-800-273-8255

or

Text “CONNECT” to 741-741

or

Visit: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/