Invite your friends to join AARP. Earn money when they do. Sign Up

Content starts here

Own Your Energy. Reset Stress. Protect Your Brain

Managing stress is one of the six pillars of brain health. Check out these tips, quizzes and activities to help you find your calm.

Scroll down for more content ↓

Illustration of man lying outside in grass

Healthy Living

Manage Stress: 25 Tips for People 50-Plus

From scheduling stress and serenity to eating away the inflammation, here are ways to cope

MEMBERS ONLY

woman at her laptop holding her head in stress

Staying Sharp

7 Simple, Calming Stress Busters to Try Today

Ease tension and anxiety — and help support your brain health — with these science-backed tips

A woman sitting in a lotus pose on a yoga mat and the text "6 Pillars of Brain Health Manage Stress" behind her

Staying Sharp

Video: 6 Pillars of Brain Health - Manage Stress

Chronic stress can harm memory, mood and cognition

View Video

An older woman smiling thoughtfully while looking at framed artwork in a gallery.

Healthy Living

5 Simple Daily Habits to Relieve Stress Fast

Try these simple daily habits to reduce anxiety and boost well-being

An illustration of a creative mind brain concept

AARP Brain Health Resource Center

Find explainers on dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, head injuries and mental-health topics. Learn about healthy habits that support memory and mental skills.

Learn, take action, build healthy habits

Benefits Recommended For You

Quick Stress Relief

Manage Stress

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Stress?

Test your knowledge of habits that can help keep your mind and body calm

Manage Stress

Quick Tips to Stop Stress

7 Staying Sharp activities for making simple changes that can shrink your stress

Health

Need Stress Relief? Read This List

Tips and stories to ease anxiety and bring a smile

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a person's silhouette showing the vagus nerve branching from the brain down through the torso

Members Edition

Could Stimulating One Nerve Help?

The vagus nerve plays a key role in how the body functions.

MEMBERS ONLY

Stress and Health

stressed man at desk looking at computer

Conditions and Treatments

4 Symptoms of Stress You Should Never Ignore

Focusing on mental health shows the role pressure plays in stress

Conditions and Treatments

How to Lower Stress, Cortisol Levels After 50

Lowering the stress hormone can protect your body and brain

a collage showing stressful situations

Healthy Living

10 Ways Stress Can Affect Your Body

From jaw clenching to brain fog, chronic stress can keep the body on high alert and make recovery harder.

Healthy Habits

rocks stacked

Staying Sharp

Learn and practice ways to manage stress and deal with life’s setbacks

MEMBERS ONLY

woman with healthy foods

Healthy Living

10 Foods To Help Relieve Stress

Try these to help calm you and improve your mood

Manage Stress

7 Days of Stress Reduction

7 Staying Sharp activities to help calm your mind and body

Life Stressors

a red hand holds a stress ball of dollar bills

Money

Practical Steps to Lower Financial Stress and Ease Worry

Rising costs are fueling anxiety for many older adults

A helping hand reaches out to an anxious caregiver

Family Caregiving

Caregivers: Managing Worry and Anxiety

Strategies to observe and stop harmful behavior in its tracks

Members Edition

Quiz Yourself to Improve Relationship Stress

Read our article on this important subject, then test your knowledge

MEMBERS ONLY

Manage Anxiety

Manage Stress

Quiz: What to Know About Anxiety and Brain Health

Test your knowledge about anxiety and how to treat it

An illustration of a man standing in front of a huge ocean tidal wave

Brain Health

Ease Anxiety with These 5 In-the-Moment Steps

These in-the-moment strategies can help

Brain Health

Should You Try Tapping for Anxiety?

This technique aims to lower distress by mixing touch with focused thought

Sign Up For the Your Health Newsletter

More Resources

Staying Sharp is an online program from AARP offering brain health content

woman lunging by the couch

30-Day Couch-to-Fit Challenge

One month to boost energy, strength and balance

A pink brain palette

Cognitive Assessment

Science-based cognitive tests to measure performance

women doing yoga

Stress Management in Older Adults

AARP research takes a closer look at how stress shows up in daily life

Play, Learn & Earn

Miscellaneous online games and puzzles from AARP Games

AARP Games

Illustration of an open envelope with a newsletter sticking out, a folded newspaper and glasses

AARP Newsletters

AARP Staying Sharp^®

AARP Rewards