What are coping skills and why they are essential
Coping is defined as the thoughts and behaviors mobilized to manage internal and external stressful situations. (1) Coping skills are essential tools at your disposal to help you cope with the stress of daily life.
Healthy coping skills are important to help you maintain a healthy outlook and reduce negative emotions when facing day-to-day challenges. You can read more about the importance of coping skills here.
For now, let’s take a look at 99 coping skills anyone can implement with little to no financial cost.
List of 99 coping skills
- Exercise
- Write in a journal
- Write poetry or a story
- Put on a fake tattoo
- Doodle something
- Be with other people
- Go out to see a movie
- Solve a puzzle
- Play a musical instrument/or learn how to
- Do your nails
- Sing
- Take a nap
- Take a shower
- Take a bubble bath
- Play with your pet
- Teach your pet a new trick
- Clean something
- Knit or crochet something
- Sew something/make alterations/upcycle some old clothes
- Upcycle old furniture
- Learn a new skill
- Learn a cool new card trick
- Read a good book
- Listen to good music
- Try some aromatherapy
- Meditate
- Do some yoga
- Do some stretching
- Go for a walk
- Watch a movie
- Try a new recipe
- Create a vision board
- Paint or draw
- Shoot hoops, kick a ball
- Do your make up
- Dance or learn how to
- Make hot chocolate, smoothie, or milkshake
- Make seething with clay, playdough, or modeling clay
- Go for a nice, long drive
- Complete something you’ve been putting off forever
- Take up a new hobby
- Do your hair
- Do food prep for the week
- Go outside for 15 min, enjoy the nature
- Make a list of blessings in your life
- Hang out with a friend
- Jump on a trampoline
- Play a game of hopscotch
- Contact a hotline/your therapist
- Talk to a family member
- Ride a bicycle
- Feed the ducks, birds squirrels
- Coloring book for adults
- Memorize a poem or a song you like, quote
- Get a massage
- Watch a tv show
- Declutter your wardrobe
- Color coordinate your wardrobe
- “Shop” online without buying anything
- Make a playlist of your favorite songs
- Plant some seeds
- Sort through/edit your pics
- Give yourself a facial
- Pamper yourself
- Play video/computer game
- Learn a card game
- Reach out to a friend
- Look up new words and use them
- Rearrange furniture/room
- Put a puzzle together
- Clean your house/closet
- Try a cartwheel/handstand (safely!)
- Learn a new language
- Make a list of goals
- Perform a random act of kindness
- Practice deep breathing
- Blow bubbles
- Make your bed
- Compliment someone
- Listen to a podcast
- Jump rope
- Play solitaire
- Watch comedy
- Try a new hairdo
- Decorate your mirror with positive affirmations
- Do some DIY and give them to your friends (cards, jewelry, keychains)
- Play hacky sack
- Slowly count to ten
- Hum/sing your favorite song
- Go for a relaxing drive
- Learn a new dance move
- Watch cute animal videos
- Do something for a friend or loved one
- Learn a new party trick
- Look/organize old photos
- Learn a new skill
- Work on/clean your car/bike
- Reorganize your space
- Volunteer
Download a free pdf list of coping skills to keep on hand
How do you know which coping skills is best for you, by using them. It’s that simple. Make a note of a few coping mechanisms you think will suit you and just give them a try.
With time you will know what works for what situation and will become better at implementing healthy coping strategies on a daily basis.
Reference:
- Folkman S, Moskowitz JT. Coping: pitfalls and promise. Annu Rev Psychol. 2004;55:745-74. [PubMed]