10 Mental Health Games & Activities to Reduce Workplace Stress

Let's face it: workplace stress is the uninvited guest that never leaves. As someone who's juggled deadlines, zoom fatigue, and the chaos of never-ending meetings, I've learned that mental health games and activities aren't just buzzwords—they're lifelines. We all hit that wall sometimes: productivity dips, patience frays, and even our fourth cup of coffee can't help.

Here's the deal: games (quick, structured, playful) and activities (ongoing, habit-forming) are two sides of the same stress-busting coin.

Over the years, I've discovered quirky, creative ways to ditch burnout, boost focus, and even bond with my team—whether in the office or scattered across time zones. Games are your 5-minute espresso shot of calm—like "Mood Meteorology," where my team turns grumpy Mondays into laughable weather reports.

A silly 10-minute game of "Emoji Charades" with my team taught me that laughter isn't just fun, it's a potent stress reliever. Mental health games and activities offer a way to find joy and connection amidst the chaos, providing both instant relief and building resilience for the long haul.

Who's this for?

• HRs designing wellness programs that people actually enjoy.

• Employees craving ways to unwind without scrolling mindlessly on TikTok/reels.

• Remote/hybrid teams missing that "watercooler magic."

In this blog, I've split the best mental health games and activities into two sections.

Ready to ditch the stress and reclaim your workday? Let's roll.

What Are The Benefits Of Play In Therapy Or Dealing With Mental Health Issues?

If you look back on your childhood, you'll see that games were an integral part of it. Humans have been known to use play to learn, and people have connected even from the first eras. However, with time, the benefits of playing usually diminish once we reach adulthood. (Maybe not for everyone, but with work pressure and stress most of us tend to forget about the art of playing.)

But if you look at modern therapy and mental health practices, games play a big role in it. It is used to help with symptoms in treatments, such as therapy that focuses on overcoming trauma.

• It strengthens the bond between therapist and patient,

• It helps overcome barriers in group and one-on-one sessions,

• It lets people practice what they've learned in therapy.

Types of therapy and mental health practices that use games and play -

• Therapy (CBT) groups.

• Psychoeducational groups.

• Support groups, and skills development groups.

10 Best Mental Health Games and Activities

Let's get real; our collective goal is to make employees feel comfortable and improve mental health in the workplace. Thus, we can use fun wellness games and activities to overcome the stigma and promote mental health awareness.

In our quest to discover how employers can reduce stress in the workplace, let's explore 10 of my favorite and most effective mental health activities.

First, Let's Discover 5 of My All-Time Favorite Mental Health Games.

1. Mood Forecast (Solo/Teams)

What it is:

• Turn feelings into weather forecasts!

How to play:

• Grab sticky notes or a wellness app that has an inbuilt mood meter.

• Write your current mood as a weather report ("Partly cloudy with a chance of deadlines").

• Share with your team. Ask your colleagues what their mood forecast looks like.
  Why it works:

• It's playful but honest. When I admitted I felt like a "hurricane in a teacup," my coworker sent me a GIF of a dancing storm cloud. Instant connection!

• Remote-friendly? Absolutely.

2. The 5-Minute Doodle Relay (Teams/group)

What it is:

• Collaborative drawing madness.

How to play:

• Start a digital whiteboard (Miro or Google Jam board).

• Set a theme (favorite anime or fictional character on vacation).

• Each person adds one element (a hat, a surfboard) in 60 seconds.

Why it works:

• We all know how art can be therapeutic. Imagine a canvas with collective doodles on it. Laughter + creativity = stress melting away. The absurd artwork becomes a team inside joke. More importantly, it is inclusive, as even remote employees can participate in it.

3. Silent Disco Brainstorm (Teams/ groups)

What it is:

• Think Shark Tank meets silent disco. You brainstorm ideas whilst listening to music individually and in a group.

How to play:

• Everyone puts on headphones (any music they like, preferably white noise).

• Brainstorm ideas for a project—in total silence.

• Share your wildest ideas first. Then, take in opinions and learn more about what your colleagues think or how much you guys have in common.

Why it works:

• Silence removes pressure. Plugging into music of your choice or mostly white noise helps to get rid of distractions, making it easier to focus. It also helps to clear brain fog and become more productive.

4. Commonality Bingo (Office Edition)

What it is:

• It's like an everyday bingo card but more work appropriate. Instead of random topics on each card, we have work-related common cards. It's a great way to start a conversation among the team.

How to play

• Create bingo cards with work-specific traits (e.g., "Has worked remotely from a coffee shop," "Speaks more than one language," "Loves spreadsheets").

• Employees mingle (virtually or in person) to find matches.

• Offer a small prize (e.g., a coffee gift card) for the first "Bingo!"

Why it works:

• Encourages cross-team interaction and highlights shared experiences.

5. Two Truths and a Work Lie

What it is:

• I think we all have played the spin-the-bottle or truth-or-dare game at every party or gathering since it's a great icebreaker. But since it is an office edition, we cannot get too personal. Instead of a dare, this is a guessing game about two truths and a lie.

How it works:

• Each employee shares two true work-related facts (e.g., "I once fixed a coffee machine with duct tape") and one believable lie.

• The team must guess the lie.

Why it works:

• It is a light-hearted, low-pressure way to spark conversation and uncover fun workplace quirks. More importantly, it is remote-friendly.

5 Best Mental Health Activities For Building Habits That Stick.

1. CBT Skill Swap

What it is:

• It is like any other therapeutic board game that uses prompts or activities that help employees talk about feelings. It is often used in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT). These games are easy to follow and less scary than regular talk therapy.

How it works:

• Use simple CBT-inspired prompts in a team workshop:

• What's one unhelpful thought you've had this week? Let's reframe it together.

• Share a tiny win that boosted your mood.

Why it works:

• Normalizes mental health discussions and teaches practical coping strategies.

2. Meeting Mindfulness Minutes

What it is:

• It is a simple mindfulness exercise that involves breathing in and out while listening to a guided session right before attending a meeting or any important task at work.

How it works:

• Start meetings with a 2-minute guided breathing exercise (apps like Vantage Fit or Headspace offer short sessions).

• You can encourage your employees to slowly practice inhaling and exhaling exercises for 2-3 minutes.

Why it works:

• It reduces meeting anxiety and improves focus. Practicing mindfulness exercises like breathing or meditation before attending a meeting helps ease and relax you and reduce stress.

Check out this blog: Mindfulness at Work: 10 Tips to Help You Focus and De-stress

3. The Trust Check-In (Workplace-safe version of Trust Fall)

What it is:

• Everyone has heard or seen people playing the trust fall game, where one-person free falls onto the other without looking with the trust that he/she will hold her.

• It is a great activity to build trust and fun among each other. However, since it is work, we can change it into a more verbal game instead of asking people to jump.

How it works:

• Divide the team into pairs.

• In each pair, one person shares a work-related challenge ("I'm overwhelmed by Project X").

• The other one in the pair will respond with support ("How can I help?").

• Rotate roles for more fun and better interaction.

Why it works:

• It builds psychological safety without physical risk. It is also a great team-building activity that helps build trust and reliability among team members.

4. The Compliment Chain (HR-Led)

What it is:

• It is a viral-style recognition game where employees pass compliments forward like a baton, creating a ripple effect of positivity across the team.

How it works:

• Start a dedicated Teams channel or use employee recognition platforms like Vantage Circle (e.g., #kudos, #best team) where employees give shoutouts—but each compliment must tag a colleague to "play it forward."

• It can be as simple as a "Shoutout to Priya for her killer presentation! Over to you, @Alex—who deserves recognition?"

Why it works:

• It creates a ripple effect of positivity. When we are recognized and appreciated for our efforts, we feel seen and more valuable.

5. Micro-Journaling (Solo)

What it is:

• It is like a personal time activity where you can think of your life and big moments. Make it a one-sentence journal after meetings. Try to keep track of your feelings and what went right or wrong after a meeting or any important work call.

• Make it a habit like journaling but keep it short so that you don't lose count. Unlike daunting diary sessions, micro-journaling sticks because it's no pressure. Even a single sentence counts!

How it works:

• Keep a tiny notebook (or app).

• Post-meeting, write: "I felt __ because __." My hack: I use emojis only on Fridays. Write this in the same format.

Why it works:

• When you dump your stress onto paper (or a notes app), it barely takes 30 seconds, but it stops rumination in its tracks.

• Example: "9 AM meeting left me frazzled. I need to breathe before replying to that email." Also, it helps you spot patterns in your mood or triggers, making you more emotionally aware.

Summing It Up

Stress isn't a badge of honor—it's a sign to pivot. Whether you're HR crafting wellness programs or an employee drowning in emails, these games and activities are your toolkit. Try one today. And if you're ever doubting, remember: Even a 5-minute doodle session can turn a "Ugh, Monday" into "Let's do this.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Are Some Video Games For Mental Health?

Some popular video games for mental health are Zen Koi (relaxing) and Headspace (meditation minigames).

2. How Can Managers Support Employees' Mental Health?

If an employee is feeling upset, take a moment to chat with them and let them know you're here to help. Reassure them that everything will go at a pace that feels right for them. If you're in a meeting, feel free to ask if they'd like someone else to join for support. Check out our blog: 12 Ways You Can Support Your Team's Mental Health as a Manager.

3. Mental Health Awareness Month Activities?

Mental Health Awareness Month (May) is the perfect time to prioritize well-being at work! You can try Stress-Less Workshop, Gratitude Walls, and Wellness Challenges. For more ideas, check out our blog: 10 Means to Raise Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace.

4. How Do We Know What Games Employees Will Love?

Send a quick, anonymous survey with options like "Would you prefer trivia games or creative activities? You can even use polls in team meetings or Slack channels. For ready-to-use survey templates, explore our blog: How To Plan An Employee Wellness Survey & 15 Vital Questions.

5. Fun Mental Wellness Activities?

Try "Desk Yoga" or "Lunchtime Art Breaks."

6. Difference Between Games & Activities?

Games: Structured, time-bound, often competitive (e.g., puzzles). Activities: Ongoing, practice-based (e.g., journaling).

7. How Often Should Employees Participate?

Quick games: Daily/Weekly. Activities: 2-3x/week for lasting benefits.