We all have those moments (or days) when we get in our head too much. Our constant stream of thought is running the show. We get stuck in the past. We future trip. We overthink a decision to death. It can be agony and sometimes physically painful.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to get stuck in our heads; to let our thoughts completely consume us. But thoughts only stick around for as long as we allow them to.<\/p>\n
Instead, get out of your head and go out into the world. Replace ruminating thoughts with physical activities that will refocus your mind and help you feel better. When you need to get outta your noisy head and into a calm zone, here\u2019s what to do:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0Go for a nature walk.<\/strong>\u00a0Go for a walk and fade into the environment around you, and listen for sounds you\u2019d otherwise have missed. Watch a sunset from the most beautiful view in your city.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Do one thing every day to work towards a dream.\u00a0<\/strong>Everything starts with the first step. Identify your goal and the changes needed, and take that first leap. You\u2019ll soon be on your way to achieving your dreams, rather than just thinking about them<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Forgive<\/strong>. Forgiving another person (or yourself) can help you to move on from the past and release yourself from negative emotions and thoughts.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0Go to a cafe<\/b>\u00a0and people watch<\/b>\u00a0while sipping on a caramel latte.\u00a0<\/b>Grab a nice book with you.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0Spend the morning at a bookstore;<\/b>\u00a0venturing through worlds within the many books.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0Call a friend you haven\u2019t talked to in a while<\/b>. And yes, call. Don\u2019t text.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0Notice the hobbies you enjoy so much that you lose a sense of time.\u00a0<\/strong>Do these more often!<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0Make the decision to let go of toxic relationships and nourish positive connections.<\/strong>\u00a0Nourishing positive relationships will enrich your life, filling your mind with more positive thoughts and memories.<\/p>\n 9.\u00a0Let go of regrets.<\/strong>\u00a0You could write a letter to yourself or make a list and then burn or throw it into a stream as a ritual of letting the regrets go.<\/p>\n 10.\u00a0Get your hands dirty planting some flowers or herbs.<\/b><\/p>\n 11.\u00a0Bake some cookies and deliver them to your neighbors.\u00a0<\/b>Strike up a conversation even.<\/p>\n 12.\u00a0Find like-minded and positive people.<\/strong>\u00a0When you spend time with those kind of people, you spend more of your time in the moment instead of over-thinking or analyzing yourself.<\/p>\n 13.\u00a0Go for a stroll through your neighborhood<\/b>. Discover hidden gems you never knew existed.<\/p>\n 14.\u00a0Watch a funny film<\/strong>. It is a great way to escape reality!<\/p>\n 15.\u00a0Volunteer your skills<\/b>. Teach others your expertise.<\/p>\n 16.\u00a0Go for a hike and breathe some fresh air<\/b>.<\/p>\n 17.\u00a0Read Inspirational Stories<\/strong>. Reading about people and events that inspire you can help put your thoughts into a different context.<\/p>\n 18.\u00a0Take a yoga class<\/b>. Get to know the teacher and the person next to you in class.<\/p>\n 19.\u00a0Walk through a park and take photos of little things you find beautiful.<\/b><\/p>\n 20.\u00a0Make plans with that person you really like hanging out with, but never see.<\/b><\/p>\n 21.\u00a0Declutter your physical possessions.\u00a0<\/strong>A calming environment free from clutter can help you get into a more relaxed state of mind.<\/p>\n 22.\u00a0Color a picture<\/b>. Just like you did when you were a kid.<\/p>\n 23.\u00a0Go outside and walk barefoot on the grass.<\/b><\/p>\n 24.\u00a0Go for a swim<\/b>. In the ocean. In the pool. Wherever you can.<\/p>\n 25.\u00a0Take a warm shower and enjoy the feeling of the water rolling down your skin.\u00a0<\/b>Baths can help you relax by forcing you to take a step back from the bustle of the day, and they can be a great way to let your worries fall away as they fade into the heat of the water.<\/p>\n 26.\u00a0Stop People-Pleasing and Approval-Seeking Behaviors.\u00a0<\/strong>People who please others or seek their approval ultimately feel trapped, as though you are living their lives for others.<\/p>\n 27.\u00a0Dance.<\/strong>\u00a0Dance in the rain<\/b>. Literally. Move your body and let go of what you think you look like! This is guaranteed to alter your mood and free your mind.<\/p>\n 28.\u00a0Visit a local museum<\/b>. Let your eyes experience something new.<\/p>\n 29.\u00a0Lay on the ground and watch the clouds float by.<\/b><\/p>\n 30.\u00a0Sit outside at night and look at the moon.<\/b>\u00a0Contemplate how we fit into this vast.<\/p>\n 31.\u00a0Practice self-love.<\/strong>\u00a0Honor yourself and your choices and let go of self criticism.<\/p>\n 32.\u00a0Spend time alone.<\/strong>\u00a0Get used to your own company and enjoy just \u201cbeing\u201d without the need for constant company, entertainment, or being busy for its own sake.<\/p>\n 33.\u00a0Daydream.<\/strong>\u00a0Allow yourself time to daydream regularly. This is so good for the soul!<\/p>\n 34.\u00a0Become less attached<\/strong>. There\u2019s nothing wrong with enjoying things in life, but when you become attached, you rely on something external to make you happy, which traps the mind.<\/p>\n 35.\u00a0Practice gratitude.<\/strong>\u00a0Being grateful allows you to live in the present and see the blessings in front of you right now. Keeping a gratitude journal helps pull us away from the stress of the day. It also forces us to appreciate life as it comes and find the good in every day.<\/p>\n 36.\u00a0Meditate<\/strong>. Meditation has been used for thousands of years to clear and free the mind. It can simply be sitting comfortably, allowing thoughts to enter your mind and pass through without engaging in them. Doing this for as little as ten minutes can be enough to free your mind from persistent or annoying thoughts.<\/p>\n 37.\u00a0Exercise<\/strong>. Exercising focuses the body on its physical requirements and takes your attention off your mind. Exercise also releases endorphins and lowers cortisol, often bringing about a more positive and happier mood.<\/p>\n 38.\u00a0Let go of the past<\/strong>. Letting go of the past allows you to focus on the here and now, and also helps you choose more empowering thoughts.<\/p>\n 39.\u00a0Be mindful<\/strong>. Being mindful is the practice of focusing the mind on everyday actions that you might normally do on autopilot. By practicing mindfulness, the mind concentrates on the task at hand rather than thoughts and feelings you might prefer not to have.<\/p>\n 40.\u00a0Do nothing\u2026On Purpose.<\/strong>\u00a0Recently, another rapid and pleasurable way to release unpleasant thoughts and feelings about disturbing people or life challenges in minutes is by doing nothing. All you need to do is sit comfortably, close your eyes and watch your thoughts and feelings go by for a few minutes. Don\u2019t try to quiet the thoughts; instead, just watch them flow along in your mind, as if you were a passenger on a bus or train watching the scenes go by outside the window.<\/p>\n 41.\u00a0Breathe<\/strong>. Take a long breath through your nose and breathe it out through your mouth. This can help to calm you and remind you that your thoughts are a small part of the infinitely vast world around you.<\/p>\n 42.\u00a0Leave your phone on silent all day.<\/strong>\u00a0You can also turn off your phone\u2019s notifications, as these can be distracting and pull you away from the present moment. Your messages will still be waiting for you there later when you\u2019re ready to go through them.<\/p>\n 43.\u00a0Eat slowly.<\/strong>\u00a0Focusing on the texture and the taste of what you eat can help remind you that while all feelings are temporary, it\u2019s important to truly experience the moments as they come, rather than letting them pass you by.<\/p>\n 44.\u00a0Listen to instrumental music.<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s proven to boost your ability to focus, which can raise your quality of mind and help you relax when your thoughts won\u2019t stop coming.<\/p>\n 45.\u00a0Do a word puzzle.<\/strong>\u00a0Crosswords can help your mind be creative and can boost your intelligence, as well as the overall clarity of your thoughts. They can also provide a break from your daily routines, all while being fun to complete.<\/p>\n 46. Do the dishes.<\/strong>\u00a0Doing the dishes can be a great way to take a break from life, and also be productive while you\u2019re at it. Cleaning dishes can help you feel great, and it pulls you away from your current thoughts, which in turn, can give your mind permission to relax and recharge from the stress of the day.<\/p>\n 47.\u00a0Pet a dog or cat.<\/strong>\u00a0Feel the fur beneath your hands and the softness of their skin. Petting an animal can help release our tensions and connect us to the moment, and can pull us away from our thoughts.<\/p>\n 48.\u00a0Smile.<\/strong>\u00a0Smiling helps focus our attention outward to the people around us, and by reconnecting with this gratitude for others, we can connect more deeply to the present moment and remind ourselves to simply\u00a0be<\/em>.<\/p>\n 49.\u00a0Drink tea.<\/strong>\u00a0Tea can help calm your nerves and slow down your thoughts and connect you more to the present moment.<\/p>\n 50.\u00a0Create a mindfulness mantra.<\/strong>\u00a0As Eckhart Tolle says, \u201cRealize deeply that the present moment is all you have.\u201d Every morning we must remind myself that our new life starts today, which helps us step into the now and connect more deeply with the present moment and separate ourselves from the worries of our minds.<\/p>\n \n Bibliographical References:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. 3 Stress-Busting Tips to Free Your Mind<\/a><\/p>\n 2. 5 Steps To Free Your Mind Of Toxic Emotions<\/a><\/p>\n 3. 31 Ways to Free Your Mind Immediately<\/a><\/p>\n 4. 21 Easy Ways to Create a Calm Mind (Without Meditating)<\/a><\/p>\n