Resilience building activities to improve your wellbeing

Resilience building activities to help support your wellbeing and deal with stress and anxiety

When we are faced with challenges and changes in life, resilience helps us to deal with and manage those changes. It also helps us adapt in times of adversity to manage sources of stress and possible trauma. without experiencing a significant impact on our wellbeing.

On this page you will find a reflective activity about wellbeing and resilience as well as links to other guidance which can help build resilience and support your wellbeing

Understanding resilience and wellbeing

Resilience

'Resilience' means different things to different people. We think of resilience as your ability to cope with challenge and crisis and keep going. People sometimes call it the ability to ‘bounce back’ after adversity. Latest research shows that resilience is more than just a personal skill though, it’s an interaction between you and your environment.

Broadly speaking resilience requires four key things:

  • the ability to adapt to change

  • meaningful connections who support you

  • resources you can use to support yourself

  • a healthy routine and sense of stability

Do you think this covers everything? How else would you define resilience?

Wellbeing

'Wellbeing' can also mean many things, but to us it means feeling comfortable, healthy and happy. Wellbeing and resilience are connected. We can’t be resilient without thinking about our wellbeing, and our wellbeing can be supported if we build up our resilience.


Activity

Watch the video below of young people during the pandemic talking about their definition of resilience and how they managed their wellbeing through trying times.

  • how do they understand resilience?

  • what helped them?

  • what are your top three takeaway thoughts after watching this video?

What does wellbeing mean to you?

Reflect on your own understanding of the term wellbeing – what does it mean to you? Wellbeing is often:

  • emotional – how you feel

  • physical – your body and health

  • mental – your mind and thoughts


Activity

Self-reflection is important for learning and developing ourselves. Take a minute to reflect on your understanding of ‘wellbeing’ and what you already know about your own wellbeing.

  • what things impact your wellbeing in positive and negative ways?

  • what do you find challenging?

  • what helps you feel happy, comfortable, and healthy?

Write them down to help you collect your thoughts.

Building skills and knowledge for the future

Now you know what you already know, what do you want to learn more or develop? What parts of wellbeing and resilience are you still uncertain about?

Take a moment to write down the skills and knowledge you’d like to develop and consider the ways you can go about this.

Building your resilience skills to support wellbeing

The resources and activities in these pages are designed to help you build your understanding and skills in simple, bitesize chunks. Explore the pages below to begin your resilience building journey, or view all wellbeing activities and resources. 

Front cover of the British red cross self-kindness toolkit

You can find further ideas to help with feeling anxious with our Wellbeing Pack. It's filled with activities to help you manage stress, cope with change and skills to build your resilience.

Order printed copies or download the pack to read online.