Planning fun and achievement activities

Have you ever noticed how certain activities can lift your mood or ease anxiety? Whether it's taking a walk, chatting with a close friend, or engaging in a favourite hobby, these activities can have a positive impact on how you feel.

When you're feeling down or depressed, it can be easy to avoid the things that bring you joy and meaning. This can create a cycle where the absence of enjoyable activities leads to even more sadness.

To break this cycle, try incorporating activities that bring pleasure and a sense of achievement into your daily routine. Check out the list of suggested activities below for ideas, and use the activity planner in the Activity tab to schedule at least one enjoyable or fulfilling activity each day. Make it a priority, and see if it helps improve your mood.

Submitted by u1153206 on Tue, 05/14/2024 - 14:09 meta

Information

Activities List

Below is a range of activities that can bring fun and meaning to your life. Feel free to think of your own favourites!

1. Going to a quiz or trivia night	2. Spending time in nature
3. Watching the clouds drift by	4. Debating
5. Painting your nails	6. Going ice skating, roller skating/blading
7. Scheduling a day with nothing to do	8. Giving positive feedback about something (e.g. writing a letter or email about good service)
9. Feeding the birds	10. Spending an evening with good friends
11. Making jams or preserves	12. Going out to dinner
13. Buying gifts	14. Having a political discussion
15. Repairing things around the house	16. Washing your car
17. Watching TV, videos	18. Sending a loved one a card in the mail
19. Baking something to share with others (e.g. family, neighbours, friends, work colleagues)	20. Taking a sauna, spa or a steam bath
21. Having a video call with someone who lives far away	22. Organising your wardrobe
23. Playing musical instruments	24. Going to the ballet or opera
25. Lighting scented candles, oils or incense	26. Spending time alone
27. Exercising	28. Putting up a framed picture or artwork
29. Flirting	30. Entertaining
31. Riding a motorbike	32. Wine tasting
33. Going to the planetarium or observatory	34. Birdwatching
35. Doing something spontaneously	36. Going on a picnic
37. Having a warm drink	38. Massaging hand cream into your hands
39. Fantasising about the future	40. Laughing
41. Flying a plane	42. Playing tennis or badminton
43. Jogging, walking	44. Going to home opens
45. Researching a topic of interest	46. Going to the beach
47. Redecorating	48. Volunteering for a cause you support
49. Smelling a flower	50. Opening the curtains and blinds to let light in
51. Going to the zoo or aquarium	52. Doing jigsaw puzzles

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Activity

Weekly Activity Schedule

Use the form below to 'create a new event' and plan your activities for the upcoming week. Aim to include at least one enjoyable activity and one activity that gives you a sense of achievement each day. Refer to the activity list in the information section for inspiration. Engaging in these activities can boost your mood and energy levels. Even if you don’t feel as much pleasure as you used to, keep going - even the smallest efforts over time can have a big impact.

Your activity will be saved below - you can check it off when you have completed it or print your activities out!

Test

53. Donating old clothes or items to charity	54. Lying in the sun
55. Learning a magic trick	56. Talking on the phone
57. Listening to a podcast or radio show	58. Walking around your city and noticing architecture of buildings
59. Doing arts and crafts	60. Going on a ghost tour
61. Sketching, painting	62. Mowing the lawn
63. Going horseback riding	64. Doing the dishes
65. Sitting outside and listening to birds sing	66. Going to a free public lecture
67. Travelling to national parks	68. Going to a fair or fete
69. Playing cards	70. Putting moisturising cream on your face / body
71. Volunteering at an animal shelter	72. Re-watching a favourite movie
73. Gardening	74. Going camping
75. Playing volleyball	76. Going bike riding
77. Entering a competition	78. Doing crossword puzzles
79. Patting or cuddling your pet	80. Cooking a special meal
81. Soaking in the bathtub	82. Having a treatment at a day spa (e.g. facial)
83. Putting extra effort into your appearance	84. Playing golf
85. Doing a favour for someone	86. Building a bird house or feeder
87. Clearing your email inbox	88. Planting a terrarium
89. Playing lawn games (e.g. bowls, croquet, bocce)	90. Going to a party
91. Getting out of debt/paying debts	92. Seeing and/or showing photos
93. Going on a city tour	94. Going to an agricultural show
95. Flipping through old photo albums	96. Upcycling or creatively reusing old items
97. Going sailing	98. Stretching muscles
99. Maintaining a musical instrument (e.g. restringing guitar)	100. Playing soccer
101. Buying clothes	102. Going to the botanic gardens
103. Going to a scenic spot and enjoying the view	104. Going to the speedway

105. Snuggling up with a soft blanket	106. Listening to an audiobook
107. Going to see live stand-up comedy	108. Writing down a list of things you are grateful for
109. Maintaining an aquarium	110. Playing Frisbee
111. Teaching a special skill to someone else (e.g. knitting, woodworking, painting, language)	112. Playing chess (with a friend or at a local club)
113. Going to a games arcade	114. Jumping on a trampoline
115. Sending a text message to a friend	116. Going fishing
117. Doodling	118. Putting a vase of fresh flowers in your house
119. Participating in a protest you support	120. Going to a movie
121. Surfing, bodyboarding or stand up paddle boarding	122. Baking home-made bread
123. Walking barefoot on soft grass	124. Watching a movie marathon
125. Skipping/jumping rope	126. Being physically intimate with someone you want to be close to
127. Going to karaoke	128. Wearing an outfit that makes you feel good
129. Cooking some meals to freeze for later	130. Hobbies (stamp collecting, model building, etc.)
131. Talking to an older relative and asking them questions about their life	132. Looking at pictures of beautiful scenery
133. Having family get-togethers	134. Listening to music
135. Learning a new language	136. Taking a free online class
137. Working	138. Washing your hair
139. Singing around the house	140. Going swimming
141. De-cluttering	142. Going rock climbing
143. Whittling	144. Going on a ride at a theme park or fair
145. Arranging flowers	146. Going to the gym
147. Working on your car or bicycle	148. Juggling or learning to juggle
149. Contacting an old school friend	150. Calligraphy
151. Sleeping	152. Driving
153. Going crabbing	154. Playing with your pets
155. Abseiling	156. Going kayaking, canoeing or white-water rafting

157. Listening to the radio	158. Doing Sudoku
159. Planting vegetables or flowers	160. Walks on the riverfront/foreshore
161. Shooting pool or playing billiards	162. Getting an indoor plant
163. Surfing the internet	164. Doing embroidery, cross stitching
165. Browsing a hardware store	166. Donating blood
167. Buying books	168. Meditating
169. Training your pet to do a new trick	170. Planning a day’s activities
171. Waking up early, and getting ready at a leisurely pace	172. Going to a Bingo night
173. Playing ping pong / table tennis	174. Buying an ice-cream from an ice-cream truck
175. Going on a hot air balloon ride	176. Sightseeing
177. Organising your work space	178. Dangling your feet off a jetty
179. Writing (e.g. poems, articles, blog, books)	180. Dancing in the dark
181. Listening to classical music	182. Photography
183. Watching funny videos on YouTube	184. Doing something religious or spiritual (e.g. going to church, praying)
185. Seeing a movie at the drive-in or outdoor cinema	186. Making your bed with fresh sheets
187. Lifting weights	188. Early morning coffee and newspaper
189. Planning a themed party (e.g. costume, murder mystery)	190. Wearing comfortable clothes
191. Shining your shoes	192. Acting
193. Meeting new people	194. Doing 5 minutes of calm deep breathing
195. Buying new stationary	196. Turning off electronic devices for an hour (e.g. computer, phone, TV)
197. Buying music (MP3s, CDs, records)	198. Relaxing
199. Going to a footy game (or rugby, soccer, basketball, etc.)	200. Going skiing
201. Doing woodworking	202. Planning a nice surprise for someone else
203. Playing video games	204. Holding a garage sale
205. Saying “I love you”	206. Making a playlist of upbeat songs
207. Colouring in	208. Playing laser tag or paintball

209. Joining a community choir	210. Doing a nagging task (e.g. making a phone call, scheduling an appointment, replying to an email)
211. Taking a ferry ride	212. Shaping a bonsai plant
213. Watching planes take off/land at the airport	214. Planning your career
215. Reading non-fiction	216. Writing a song or composing music
217. Taking your dog to the park	218. Borrowing books from the library
219. Having a barbecue	220. Sewing
221. Dancing	222. Having lunch with a friend
223. Talking to or introducing yourself to your neighbours	224. Holding hands
225. Having an indoor picnic	226. Reading classic literature
227. Going on a date	228. Taking children places
229. Going whale watching	230. Putting on perfume or cologne
231. Digging your toes in the sand	232. Hitting golf balls at a driving range
233. Reading magazines or newspapers	234. Calling a friend
235. Sending a handwritten letter	236. Going snorkelling
237. Going hiking, bush walking	238. Reading fiction
239. Pampering yourself at home (e.g. putting on a face mask)	240. Watching children play
241. Going to a community or school play	242. Making jewellery
243. Reading poetry	244. Going to the hills
245. Getting/giving a massage	246. Shooting hoops at the local basketball courts
247. Flying kites	248. Savouring a piece of fresh fruit
249. Playing hockey	250. Eating outside during your lunch break
251. Floating on a pool lounge	252. Making a pot of tea
253. Using special items (e.g. fine china, silver cutlery, jewellery, clothes, souvenir mugs)	254. Doing a DIY project (e.g. making homemade soap, making a mosaic)
255. Taking care of your plants	256. Telling a joke
257. Going to a public place and people watching	258. Discussing books
259. Going window shopping	260. Watching boxing, wrestling

261. Giving someone a genuine compliment	262. Practising yoga, Pilates
263. Walking around the block	264. Shaving
265. Genuinely listening to others	266. Participating in a clean-up (e.g. picking up litter at the beach or park)
267. Eating fish and chips at the beach	268. Rearranging the furniture in your house/room
269. Doing water aerobics	270. Blowing bubbles
271. Buying new furniture	272. Going to a free art exhibition
273. Making a ‘To-Do’ list of tasks	274. Travelling abroad, interstate or within the state
275. Having quiet evenings	276. Geocaching
277. Singing in the shower	278. Browsing at a second hand book shop
279. Test driving an expensive car	280. Refurbishing furniture
281. Exchanging emails, chatting on the internet	282. Knitting/crocheting/quilting
283. Napping in a hammock	284. Skipping stones on the water
285. Doing ballet, jazz/tap dancing	286. Archery
287. Going on a Segway tour	288. Visiting a grandparent
289. Making a gift for someone	290. Having discussions with friends
291. Trying a new recipe	292. Playing cricket
293. Signing up for a fun run	294. Scrapbooking
295. Accepting an invitation	296. Cooking an international cuisine
297. Solving riddles	298. Scuba diving
299. Watching home videos	300. Building a sand castle
301. Planning a holiday	302. Sitting at the beach or river and watching the movement of the water
303. Watching fireworks	304. Making home-made pizza
305. Cheering for a sports team	306. Origami
307. Doing something nostalgic (e.g. eating a childhood treat, listening to music from a certain time in my life)	308. Joining a club (e.g. film, book, sewing, etc.)
309. Lighting candles	310. Going bowling
311. Going to museums, art galleries	312. Reading comics

313. Having coffee at a cafe	314. Trying new hairstyles
315. Taking a road trip	316. Watching a fireplace or campfire
317. Whistling	318. Playing darts
319. Going to a flea market	320. Working from home
321. Buying a meal from a food truck or hawkers market and eating outdoors	322. Operating a remote control car / plane
323. Playing board games (e.g. Scrabble, Monopoly)	324. Savouring a piece of chocolate
325. Hunting for a bargain at an op shop, garage sale or auction	326. Buying, selling stocks and shares
327. Going to plays and concerts	328. Buying fresh food at the market
329. Beachcombing	330. Dining out at a restaurant or café
331. Harvesting home grown produce	332. Exploring with a metal detector
333. Giving someone a hug	334. Taking a holiday
335. Going to the hairdresser or barber	336. Swimming with dolphins
337. Picking flowers	338. Sandboarding
339. Going to the beauty salon	340. Buying yourself something nice
341. Playing squash	342. Watching a sunset or sunrise
343. Star gazing	344. Watching a funny TV show or movie
345. Making pottery, or taking a pottery class	346. Playing mini golf
347. Recycling old items	348. Going to a water park
349. Practising karate, judo	350. Boxing a punching bag
351. Cleaning	352. Driving a Go Kart
353. Daydreaming	354. Learning about your family tree
355. Picking berries at a farm	356. Watching kids play sport
357. Setting up a budget	358. Writing a positive comment on a website/blog
359. Getting a manicure or pedicure	360. Collecting things (coins, shells, etc.)
361. Eating something nourishing (e.g. chicken soup)	362. Babysitting for someone
363. Taking a class (e.g. cooking, improvisation, acting, art)	364. Combing or brushing your hair
365. Writing diary/journal entries	Others: