Are you sick and tired of thinking about that one person or thing? It seems like no matter what you do or see, this one thing keeps repeating in your mind. It’s like it’s running laps all day long in your mind. If that’s a problem, there’s a couple of things you could do to get your mind off of it. From distractions to truly letting go, here are 10 ways on how to stop thinking about something or someone so you can get on with your day.
1. Get busy.
The first thing you need to do to stop thinking about something or someone is to get busy. Before all other tips, make sure you check this one-off. Idle hands are the devil’s playthings, and an idle mind will be filled with things you’d rather forget about. Fill your schedule up and make plans in advance. This doesn’t mean you have to work 60 hours a week or be out of your house 24/7; it simply means you have a ton of things to do, both fun and professional. Add some physical activities to your routine as well; this will make sure you are tired and ready for bed at an early hour, avoiding laying down and having your mind wander late at night.
2. Set a new goal.
Setting SMART goals is a great way to change your focus to a new task. This goal must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. This means your goal can’t just be to “run faster”. It should be something more specific like, “Run a mile in under 8 minutes after 2 months of training.” This specific goal can then be broken down into smaller steps, allowing you to work towards it in a measurable way every day.
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3. Make plans with friends, both old and new.
If we have something running laps through our minds all day, it may be safe to say that one thing or person has become the center of our attention. This sometimes makes us lose focus on the surrounding people and events. This includes spending less time and effort on our close friends. Use this time to reconnect with your old friends and make new ones. Take advantage of invites to social events and reach out to those you used to enjoy spending time with.
4. Focus on the facts and accept them.
When we have someone or something stuck in our head, we usually don’t think about one concrete fact. We use our imagination to a fault, creating fake scenarios in our minds or repeating negative old ones. Instead of doing this, focus on the facts of the topic in mind. What are the concrete, non-disputable facts around the situation? Once you have those clearly laid out, focus on accepting them. It is only after this acceptance that you can begin to move on.
5. Talk about the problem with your friend or family.
An animal in a cage can only spin around and around that cage. Open the door, and the animal disappears. Thoughts can often be similar, especially if they’re related to intense feelings of sadness or anger. Talk to someone you can trust, like your best friend, about that someone or something you can’t stop thinking about. Get out all of your feelings and use your friend’s support. Let those thoughts out and you’ll be one step closer to having them disappear.
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6. Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness is defined as, “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.” Anyone can practice mindfulness from their own home. Try breathing exercises, meditation, guided imagery, and other practices to achieve this mindset, creating more inner peace.
7. Write down the negative aspects of that thing/person and know that at the end you’ll be okay.
You may be thinking about a bad thing that happened to you or the end of an important relationship. To move on, it’s important to find the good within the bad. To find the good in your current situation, you’ll need to pinpoint the problems of the thing you’ve been thinking about. Focus on the things you will not miss about the situation, and know that you are stronger for it and will be okay.
8. Distract yourself.
A distraction is always a great way to get your mind off something or someone. If you have a few hours of free time, don’t waste it by just sitting down. This lets your mind wander. Instead, you can plan to watch a movie you’ve had your eyes on, do a creative project, or read. Any activity is better than no activity! Physical exercise helps a lot.
9. Listen to unrelated, fun music.
Music can put you in a sad mood just as fast as it can put you in a good one. Pump up the jams and play upbeat songs to lift your spirits. Think of throwbacks that bring up fun memories with friends and top-50 songs that you can’t help but bop your head to. Blast it in the car, on your headphones, or on the computer. Heck, you can even start dancing on your own and make it a one-person party!
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10. Make sure you’re problem-solving and not problem-focused.
If you try out a couple of the previous methods and it’s still difficult for you to change your thinking, make sure your thoughts are proactive and not destructive. Instead of focusing on the past, ask what you can do right now. What moves can you make? How can you affect change in the situation? This type of thinking will help you move forward effectively because you’re taking an active approach to change.
Conclusion:
Overall having something stuck in our mind sucks, because it hinders our ability to do other things. Hopefully, by going through a couple of these methods, you’ll get that thought out of your mind in no time. So there you have it 10 tips on how to stop thinking about something or someone.