Navigating a caregiving journey? Ask AARP, our AI-powered assistant, can help you find answers, resources, and guidance.

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 ↓

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.

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

A woman sitting by a window with a coffee mug in her hand and looking outside at trees

Staying Sharp

Quiz: Test Your Stress Smarts

See how much you know about how to keep your mind and body calm

A man and woman sitting on a bench together with a hillside behind them

Staying Sharp

Quick, Expert Tips to Help Stop Stress

7 Staying Sharp activities for making simple changes to shrink your stress

MEMBERS ONLY

a woman with her dog

Healthy Living

Need Stress Relief? Read This List

Tips and stories to ease anxiety and bring a smile

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

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 close-up view of a stack of rocks

Staying Sharp

How to Find Your Calm and Destress Your Life

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

Healthy Habits

3D illustration of double bed with pillows floating on clouds in mid-air against blue background

Healthy Living

Smart Guide to Sleep

58 tips to get the slumber you need.

MEMBERS ONLY

woman with healthy foods

Healthy Living

10 Foods To Help Relieve Stress

Try these to help calm you and improve your mood

A woman standing on the beach and looking out at the ocean

Staying Sharp

7 Days of Stress Reduction

Activities to help calm your mind and body

MEMBERS ONLY

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

An illustration of a woman with her hands on her head with puzzle pieces coming out of it

Staying Sharp

Quiz: What to Know About Anxiety and Brain Health

Test your knowledge about anxiety

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

A woman with her eyes closed and fingers on her forehead

Brain Health

Could Tapping For Anxiety Help Ease Your Stress?

Reduce stress 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