search instagram twitter facebook pinterest chevron-right chevron-left email menu cross
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to menu-404 navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Let's Eat Cake

Let's Eat Cake is the lifestyle site for Millennial women. We’re your source for lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, beauty, jokes, puns, food news, coffee trends, and baking recipes.

  • Starbucks
  • Drink Recipes
  • Holidays
  • Nail Ideas
  • Weddings
  • Recipes
  • Jokes + Puns
  • About Us
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Terms
© 2025 Let's Eat Cake
  • Starbucks
  • Drink Recipes
  • Nail Ideas
  • Holidays
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St Patrick’s Day
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    • Holiday Recipes
  • Weddings
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast + Brunch Recipes
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Desserts
    • Snacks
    • TikTok Recipes
  • Jokes + Puns
Home » Lifestyle

21 Active Self Care Ideas for When Meditating Won’t Cut It

By Rebecca Swanner | January 12, 2023 | Updated on January 16, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links that we collect a share of sales from. Click here for more details.
52 shares
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman bowling
Active Self Care Ideas

This week, I’ve been feeling more than a bit overwhelmed by work stress and have been in need of some active self care. Because, as much as I love running Let’s Eat Cake, it can be stressful from time to time.

Especially when my ADHD also decides this is a good time to go wild and I go full hey did you see that movie with the balloons and should I repaint my kitchen or just get a motorcycle?

And, when it comes to self-care or decompressing techniques, the Internet mostly provides low energy ideas. Getting out into nature, journaling, meditating. Taking a long bath with a glass of wine and a book if you aren’t the type to topple all of that into the tub. They’re all great tips for stress relief.

But they don’t really work for me.

Physically Active Self Care Ideas

Maybe it’s because I’m an earth sign with a fire rising sun and moon (it’s not). Or maybe it’s because when my insides feel like they are buzzing and I want to leap out of my skin, doing yoga, or taking a nap is not going to solve this problem. In fact, it usually makes the problem worse.

What does work are active things that get my blood pumping, coursing through my body like it’s on a speed wash cycle. So, if you’re the type that could use some ideas on how to de-stress that aren’t “go meditate,” here’s some that I’ve compiled.

If you’ve got more, by all means, throw ’em in the comment section. And if you have the winning lotto numbers for next week, that’d be cool, too!

 

20 Physically Active Self Care Ideas

1. Have S-e-x.

Even better? Make it primal. The kind that annoys the neighbors, and leaves you and your partner hot, sweaty, and totally spent. Flying solo these days? Grab a toy or your own digits and get busy.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - Couple in Bedroom

 

2. Go Bowling

Physically throw something. Not the dishes (more on that on a moment), but a heavy ball down a lane. At pins. Repeat.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman bowling

 

3. Go to a Rage Room

I’m on the fence about these as they seem pretty wasteful, but if you really need to get that energy moving out of your body, in the poignant words of Fred Durst, “break stuff.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm5m897tIJ_/

 

4. Howl at the Moon

Literally. Ideally in the woods. Or in your car. Or, at least somewhere someone isn’t going to call the authorities.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - wolves howling at the moon

 

5. Bounce on a Trampoline

Exercise meets play. Not only will your calves get a workout, you’ll also burn off some of that intense energy. In a pinch, a bounce house could also work. Move it, kids.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - friends on trampoline

 

6. Go Running

Sprints are probably going to be a bit more effective here than running long distance. Unless you can run long distances at sprint speed. Hey, Usain Bolt. Nice to see you.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman running

 

7. Play Skee Ball

Like bowling, but with smaller balls. And sometimes tickets. And prizes. Now you’re not only getting out your stress, you’re getting rewarded in giant stuffed animals for getting out your stress. Win-win. Except for the panda that now lives in the back of your closet.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - skee-ball

 

8. Go to the Driving Range

Playing golf doesn’t have quite the oomph you might need. Hitting one ball after another after another, however, might release some of your tension.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman at driving range

 

9. Play Tennis or Pickleball

Run around on a court and thwack balls to the other side of the net. Sure, squash also works. You went to where, Harvard?
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman playing tennis

 

10. Watch Sports

I should be specific: not golf. Unless you’re the type to yell at the screen while watching golf, which is a whole other problem entirely. Think, football, basketball, or my personal favorite, hockey.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - friends watching sports

 

11. Dance

My best friend likes to do the chicken dance when she’s stressed. I encourage you to try it. Or, put on a rock, pop, punk, or EDM playlist and dance around your house. Or at a club. But not in the street, no matter what Van Halen says.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman dancing

 

12. Jump in Puddles

Same idea as the trampoline, but with water. And no sneaking into your neighbor’s yard.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman jumping in puddle

 

13. Prancercise

The more you get into it, the better. Shoulder pads not included.

 

14. Go to an Amusement Park

This idea is a bit more expensive, but if you live near Six Flags, Cedar Point, Disney, Busch Gardens, or Universal Studios, book a day and go ride the rides. If you hate riding roller coasters, go on the kiddie rides. Sure, they’ll all make you want to throw up, but are you still stressed? Probably not.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - women on rollePhysically Active Self Care Ideas - women on rollercoasterr coaster

 

15. Take Photos

Getting out and about and taking photos is less active that most other things on this list, but exploring somewhere new and activating your creative mind can help get you out of your head.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman with camera

 

16. Play Catch or Fetch

Throw around a ball with your dog or someone else’s dog or your friend. Or someone else’s friend. Or your kid. Or, no, probably just your kid.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - dog staring at ball

 

17. Try Axe Throwing

Unless you are really really klutzy. Then, just watch Thoren Bradley do wonders with his axe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thoren “Thor” Bradley (@bradley.thor)

 

18. Play a Sport or Take a Fitness Class

Again… not golf. Basketball, fencing, boxing, roller skating, soccer, kickball, dodgeball, or any other active sport can take the edge off. At worst, maybe there are beers after.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman boxing

 

19. Try the Circus Arts

Fire dancing, aerial arts, and trapeze are all movement-based, physical activities that require a fair amount of energy and focus. At worst, you’ll learn a neat party trick. Sorry, a new neat party trick.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - acrobatic woman on aerial hoop

 

20. Go to a Range

Whether you’re launching arrows at hay or aiming for clay pigeons, both archery and shooting ranges can help you release a little of that overflowing energy.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman aiming bow

 

21. Remodel.

Your landlord won’t approve of this one, but if you own your own home and a wall needs to go… physically knocking it down (while wearing the right safety equipment) can be cathartic.
Physically Active Self Care Ideas - woman knocking down wall with sledgehammer

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Rebecca Swanner
Rebecca Swanner
Founder + Editor-in-Chief at Let's Eat Cake
Pleased to meet you. I'm the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Let's Eat Cake: The world's first smart, funny lifestyle site for women.

I've written or worked for a wide range of lifestyle sites and magazines, including Billboard, Nylon, Parade, Men's Journal, Us Weekly, Stuff, Blender, Beachbody, Alternative Press, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and more. See more on my LinkedIn.

On the baking side of things, I've run my own baking company and competed on Cupcake Wars, so hit me up with your baking questions! I respond fastest on Instagram where you can find me @letseatcakeblog

Want to know more? Here's my full bio.
Rebecca Swanner
Latest posts by Rebecca Swanner (see all)
  • Glamorous Wedding Dresses for a Wedding So Fancy the Paparazzi Might Show Up - October 23, 2024
  • There’s a S’mores Frappuccino Copycat on Dunkin’s Summer Menu - June 5, 2024
  • Starbucks Introduces Two Hot Honey Drinks To Their Menu - March 26, 2024
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon and other sites that we collect a share of sales from.
52 shares

Read This Next

10 More Women Who Would Make a Great Bond, Jane Bond

10 More Women Who Would Make a Great Bond, Jane Bond

18 Wellness Gifts Everyone Could Use This Year

18 Wellness Gifts Everyone Could Use This Year

13 Goth Bath Bombs Perfect For Your Inner Witch

13 Goth Bath Bombs Perfect For Your Inner Witch

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Primary Sidebar

Trending Now

Footer

  • About Us
  • Press
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Contact
  • News
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • Subscribe
© 2016–2025 Let's Eat Cake
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
52 shares
52 shares