Let’s be honest. Running a support group is not an easy task when you have no creative ideas to run that. Sometimes it feels like people show up, listen, and leave without any activity or participation.
It is because we don’t give them opportunities to do something fun or any interactive activity to match their personality and taste.
If you choose some good activities like team building activities, a scavenger hunt, or even trivia and tell them to act, but not forcefully but naturally, ask them what they like to do in their spare time, if they have friends, etc. This little act will bring energy, rapport, and excitement into your group.
I have 10 magical strategies to follow. Following them can transform your group space into a place where members actively participate, support each other, and even enjoy! Let’s dig in! 🚀
People love sharing their own experiences and wisdom. Use this universal concept and let them do just that! Instead of always inviting the employees and forcing them to be part of team meetings, just tell them to contribute their best advice or experiences for personal growth.
Lisa, a member of an anxiety support group, shared how she uses a “5-4-3-2-1” grounding exercise to manage panic attacks. Other members tried it and found it incredibly helpful!
Bonus: Turn this into a fun leaderboard where members who share valuable tips get “Wisdom Points” or digital badges!
People love a little friendly challenge—especially when there’s a fun reward at the end!
✅ Pick a simple challenge each week, like:
✅ Members share updates in the group using paper journals or quick feedback forms. ✅ Award a fun digital badge (made in Canva) to those who complete the challenge—it can be part of your group’s gamification strategy!
A mental health group did a “7-Day Affirmation Challenge” where each member wrote one positive thing about themselves every morning using paper or a digital journaling software.
By the end, one participant said, “I never realized how hard I was on myself until this challenge. I actually feel more confident now!”
Sometimes, we need guidance from a professional, whether it’s a therapist, nutritionist, or mindset coach.
"Ask the Expert" Days is an interactive event where your support group brings in a professional to answer questions. He provides guidance and offers help on specific topics. Instead of just discussing things among yourselves, you get to learn from someone with expertise in a particular field.
Pick a Topic – Identify what your group members would benefit from most. Examples:
👉🏾 Find an Expert – This could be a local professional, an online guest speaker, or even a trusted group leader with knowledge in the area.
👉🏾 Host a Live Q&A – Allow members to submit questions in advance or ask them in real-time. It can be done via Zoom, a Facebook Live session, or an in-person meetup.
👉🏾 Make it Interactive – Encourage discussions, have the expert share real-life examples, or even do a mini workshop.
Let’s say your group supports people dealing with stress and burnout. Now you invite a stress-management coach to share practical ways to avoid burnout, build resilience, and create better work-life balance.
💬 A member asks: "How can I set boundaries with my boss without feeling guilty?"
🎙️ The expert responds with: “Start by using ‘I’ statements—like ‘I need to log off by 6 PM to maintain work-life balance’—instead of apologizing or over-explaining. Boundaries are self-care, not selfishness!”
✅ Professional guidance without the cost of therapy sessions ✅ Real-time advice on specific challenges members face ✅ Brings fresh insights and makes the group feel dynamic through shared information
This idea keeps support groups engaging, informative, and full of real value! Let me know if you'd like to tweak the explanation further.
Sometimes, self-care feels overwhelming—where do you start? Creating a shared self-care “treasure chest” (physical or digital) makes it easier for group members to find and access helpful tools when they need them.
Think of it as a library or resource hub where your group members can collect, share, and use self-care materials. It can be physical (a real box or folder) or digital (a shared Google Drive, Pinterest board, or WhatsApp thread), organized with helpful data for easy access.
✅ Step 1: Decide on a Format
✅ Step 2: Add Resources to Get Started Fill it with helpful, uplifting, and practical materials, such as: ✔️ Calming music playlists (Spotify, YouTube links) ✔️ Guided meditations or breathing exercises ✔️ Printable self-care checklists (e.g., "10-Minute Stress Relief Activities") ✔️ Journaling prompts for self-reflection ✔️ Book recommendations on mental health & healing ✔️ Soothing affirmations members can pick up when they need encouragement. Use simple technology to organize and label each item clearly.
✅ Step 3: Make It Interactive
✅ Step 4: Use It in Your Meetings
A group for people dealing with burnout created a self-care binder where each member added their go-to stress-relief techniques. One member shared,
"Having a place to turn to for quick self-care ideas helped me feel less lost on tough days."
People love discovering things about themselves! Whether it’s a personality quiz, a poll, or a fun survey, these activities spark curiosity, keep conversations flowing, and make learning about mental wellness engaging.
Think about it—how many times have you taken a Buzzfeed quiz just for fun? 😆 Now imagine using that same energy to help your group members understand themselves better.
✅ Step 1: Pick a Fun Quiz Topic Choose a topic that’s both insightful and fun. Here are a few ideas: 📌 “What’s Your Self-Care Personality?”
📌 “How Do You Handle Stress?”
📌 “What’s Your Emotional Superpower?”
✅ Step 2: Use Free Online Tools You don’t need to be a tech genius to create a quiz! Use free platforms like: 🎯 Google Forms – Super easy to set up and share. 🎯 Typeform – Makes quizzes feel interactive. 🎯 Instagram Stories Polls – Quick & engaging for instant responses.
✅ Step 3: Keep Results Anonymous but Share Insights
A self-improvement group did a “How Do You Motivate Yourself?” quiz.
Members discovered they had different styles—some needed accountability partners, while others thrived with visual goal tracking!
Afterward, they formed motivation buddy pairs to support each other!
People want to be seen, heard, and valued. Celebrating members boosts confidence, builds trust, and keeps everyone engaged. When someone shares their success, it inspires others to take action too!
Think of this like an “inspirational feature”—a moment to recognize the hard work, growth, and achievements of group members, no matter how big or small.
✅ Step 1: Invite Members to Share Their Wins Encourage members to celebrate themselves in ways that feel comfortable. It could be: 🎉 A personal success story – Overcoming anxiety, setting boundaries, or sticking to a self-care routine. 🎨 Creative contributions – Art, poetry, journal reflections, or even a song. 📚 Book or podcast recommendations – “This book helped me manage stress better!”
✅ Step 2: Feature Their Stories in a Fun Way You can share their story through:
📌 Instagram carousels or stories – A simple way to highlight members. 📌 Blog posts or newsletters – A deeper dive into their journey. 📌 Live sessions or Q&A – Let them talk about their experiences with the group in an interactive format that supports understanding.
Tip: Ask members if they’d like to remain anonymous or use a fun nickname to keep things light and safe, while respecting their consent.
A mental wellness group highlighted Maria’s “10-Minute Journaling Habit” in a spotlight post.
She shared her struggles and how journaling transformed her stress levels. Other members got inspired to start their own!
We all love motivational quotes, but how often do we actually apply them to our lives? 🤔
Instead of just reading a quote and moving on, why not use it as a conversation starter or an action step? By reflecting on and acting upon meaningful quotes, your group can turn words into real-life change.
✅ Post a thought-provoking quote and pair it with a small, doable task:
In a productivity support group, a quote by James Clear—“Every action is a vote for the person you want to become”—led members to list one small habit they wanted to build. One member started a 5-minute meditation routine that stuck!
Let’s be real—healing isn’t always serious business. Sometimes, the best way to cope is to laugh about the things that stress us out! 🤣
Memes are the easiest way to lighten the mood while making serious topics relatable. They are easy to share and instantly lift the mood. They create a sense of community by reminding everyone: “You’re not alone in this.”
Imagine starting every week with a burst of laughter instead of dread. That’s what Meme Mondays can do for your support group!
✅ Step 1: Pick a Theme for the Week Keep things fresh by choosing a weekly meme theme. Some ideas:
🎭 Anxiety & Overthinking: “Me at 3 AM: Overanalyzing every decision I’ve ever made.” 😂 Self-Care Struggles: “Took a deep breath today. That’s my self-care.” ⏳ Procrastination Woes: “I’ll do it… later. Narrator: They did not do it later.”
✅ Step 2: Let Members Share & React Encourage members to post their favorite memes in a WhatsApp group, Discord server, Facebook group, or Instagram Stories. Using the internet makes sharing fast and fun.
💬 Ask fun questions like: “Who relates to this too much?” or “Drop your best GIF response!”
✅ Step 3: Make It More Than Just Funny Memes aren’t just jokes—they can spark real feedback and conversations about emotions, mental health, and daily behavior struggles.
🧐 Example: A meme about social anxiety could lead to a discussion on fun ways to step out of your comfort zone.
Sometimes, people don’t know what to ask until they have a safe, anonymous space to do so.
✅ Create a virtual “Knowledge Jar” where members drop anonymous questions or topics they’d love to discuss. ✅ Each week, pick one at random and let the group dive in!
In a self-growth group, a Knowledge Jar question was:
“How do you stop feeling guilty for saying no?”
The discussion helped members share their struggles and strategies—one person even set their first boundary that week!
Music and books bring people together while sparking deep emotional connections through shared ideas and collaboration.
✅ Create a group-curated playlist based on a theme:
✅ Start a virtual book club—choose short, impactful reads (e.g., The Power of Habit or Atomic Habits) and keep it online for easy participation from your virtual team.
Support groups get successful results when they’re interactive, fun, and truly engaging. You don’t need big changes—just small, creative tweaks to bring members together and encourage teamwork. By getting these creative tasks, you’re not just helping others engage; you’re also creating an atmosphere where people grow, heal, and connect through shared ideas. So, keep experimenting, stay creative, and watch your group come to life!
If you are in a life-threatening situation - DO NOT use this platform.
Use these resources to get immediate help.
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