When your mind is consumed with all kinds of thoughts, it can be hard to get your mind off it. However, the most common coping mechanism when dealing with difficult thoughts is to use distractions to your advantage.
We tend to have thousands of thoughts every day and not all of those thoughts are something we can control.
Your mind is a very powerful tool and not all of your thoughts are valid, which is why it’s important to filter those thoughts. In this article, we’ll be talking about 9 ways on how to get your mind off something.
9 Ways To Get Your Mind Off Something
1. Find distractions
This is the primary step is getting your mind off something. If anything, this is one of the most helpful strategies when dealing with your thoughts.
However, while distractions are helpful, there are also known distractions that are toxic and unhealthy, which you should avoid at all costs. Some of these toxic distractions are alcohol and the use of substances.
Instead, you should go for healthy distractions that will benefit your mind and help you think more clearly like exercise, meditation, or yoga.
Distractions are only dangerous to helping you overcome your thoughts when it does more harm than good. Always choose distractions that aren’t self-destructive, but benefit you in some way.
2. Write down your thoughts
Journaling is always an effective method when you find that your thoughts are overwhelming you. Writing down your thoughts on paper can help you differentiate which thoughts are real and which aren’t.
Whether you realize it or not, your negative thoughts come from a place of fear and insecurities.
Writing down all your thoughts on paper can help you differentiate your valid thoughts so you can deal with them better. When you realize that your mind is feeding you with lies, it’s easier to disregard your negative thoughts for what they are.
This is also more effective rather than just typing down your thoughts on your phone as it feels more real when you write everything down in an actual journal.
3. Vent to someone you trust
When you feel like your thoughts are too much to handle, venting to someone you trust is the best way to deal with what you’re thinking.
If you’ve tried to overcome it and nothing’s working, the burden off your mind and chest might get lighter when you vent your thoughts to someone you trust. It should be someone who won’t use your thoughts against you and someone who gives you the reassurance you need.
When your mind is lying to you, someone needs to be frank enough to tell you what the reality of your thoughts is and this should be someone who really knows you. It feels more manageable when you vent to someone you trust as your thoughts take less of a hold on you.
4. Have a change of environment
When everything feels overwhelming, your thoughts can be more difficult to deal with when you’re stuck in the same environment such as your home.
It’s a good distraction to go out and take a walk, even for just a few minutes. This helps you get out of your own head and have a change of environment.
You could also opt to ask your friends for coffee or anywhere you want to go, as long as you don’t stay isolated in the same place where you’re dealing with your thoughts. Most often than not, being around other people helps.
5. Make yourself laugh
Oftentimes, our thoughts can be so intense that all you really need is a good laugh to get over your negative thoughts.
When you laugh or smile, your body feels good, which also makes your mind feel good in return. There are several ways to make yourself laugh, whether it’s through a good sitcom or doing something silly.
Everyone’s humor is different but as long as you find something that makes you laugh, you’re good to go.
6. Let go of toxic habits and people
Your environment plays a significant role in the way your thoughts form so if you tend to have negative thoughts, this may have something to do with a negative lifestyle or relationship in your life.
If you want to avoid overthinking or leaning towards a negative thought pattern, it’s best to let go of these negative habits or people if you find they’re triggering your way of thinking.
If you’re someone that feels like they need to have control in every aspect of their life such as knowing the answer to every question or knowing what the future holds, it can cause you to overthink certain things.
When you let go of the need to control everything in your life, you’ll feel more calmness in your thoughts as a result.
8. Express your thoughts through art
Art exists as a way to release everything we feel. Even if you’re not good at something artistic, as long as you’re able to express yourself, whether it’s through words, music, or even photography, you should go do it.
Express yourself creatively until you feel the burden on your thoughts gets lighter. Sometimes, the best art is made through something personal, which is exactly the case for your negative thoughts.
9. Don’t dwell on it
No matter how you choose to deal with your thoughts, never dwell on them as that’s the first mistake you can do. Dwelling on your thoughts will encourage more overthinking on your end, which is the opposite of what you want in dealing with your thoughts.
Do everything you can to avoid dwelling on your negative thoughts further.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article was able to shed insight into everything you needed to know on how to get your mind off something.
It’s not easy as it takes mental strength to do, but when you get through your difficult thought, you’re going to feel much stronger. We can never control our thoughts, but we do have a say in what we choose to do with them.
