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Do you often find yourself stuck in your own thoughts, worrying about the past or the future? Do you feel like you are missing out on the joy of life because you are too busy thinking? If so, you are not alone. Many people struggle with overthinking and anxiety, which can affect their well-being, mental health, and happiness. But there is a way out. You can learn to get out of your head and live in the present moment.
In this blog post, I will share with you 7 simple ways to do that. These proven methods have helped many people overcome their overthinking and enjoy life more. By applying these ways, you will be able to stop worrying and start living.
Let’s get started!
Read also: 11 Undervalued Strengths You Should Be Proud Of
1. Meditate and Practice Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness are powerful tools to help you get out of your head and live in the present.
Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention on a single object, such as your breath, a mantra, or a sound, and letting go of distracting thoughts or emotions. Mindfulness is a state of awareness of your present experience without judgment or attachment.
Both meditation and mindfulness can help you calm your mind, reduce stress, and increase your happiness. They can also help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and learn to accept them without reacting.
Instead of losing yourself to your thoughts, you will now find it easier to bring your mind back to the task at hand. This will speed up most of the tasks you have to do and, in turn, give you more time to do the things you truly enjoy.
2. Excercise or Move Your Body
Moving your body and exercising can help you get out of your head and feel more alive and energized. When you exercise, you release endorphins, which are natural chemicals that make you feel good and reduce stress.
You also improve your blood circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to your brain and muscles. It will distract you from your worries and negative thoughts as you focus on your physical sensations and movements instead.
You can also use exercise as an opportunity to practice mindfulness by paying attention to your breath, your heartbeat, and your surroundings. Focusing on your senses and the input they generate will distract you from the noise in your mind until it quiets down.
Another upside of this technique is, of course, that it keeps you healthy and fit.
3. Breathe deeply and focus on your sensations
Breathing deeply and focusing on sensations is another technique that can help you get out of your own mind and calm your nervous system.
When you breathe deeply, you activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation and recovery. You also lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, which are associated with stress and anxiety.
When you focus on sensations, you bring your attention to the present moment and away from your thoughts and worries. By breathing deeply and focusing on sensations regularly, you can reduce stress, increase awareness, and improve your health.
The great benefit of this technique is that you can use it whenever and wherever you are without any preparation.
4. Work through your thoughts by journaling
Journaling is the practice of writing down your thoughts and feelings on a regular basis.
Journaling can help you:
- Clarify your thoughts and feelings – Sometimes, you might feel confused or overwhelmed by what is going on in your mind. Writing down your thoughts can help you sort them out and make sense of them.
- Express yourself freely – Sometimes, you might feel like you can’t share your thoughts or feelings with anyone else or that they might judge or misunderstand you. Writing down your thoughts can help you release them and feel lighter.
- Gain new perspectives – When you feel stuck or trapped in your own head and unable to see things from different angles, writing down your thoughts can help you gain new insights and perspectives on your situation.
- Solve problems and set goals – Sometimes, you might feel like you don’t know what to do or how to move forward in your life. Writing down your thoughts can help you identify your problems and find solutions.
Journaling is a powerful tool to help you get out of your own head and work through your thoughts in a positive way. It works as a brain dump. Once you’ve written down everything on your mind, your brain will more readily let these thoughts go.
Try it out and see what benefits it brings to your life.
Read also: 9 Fun Ideas To Start Journaling Daily | How To Start Journaling
5. Do something creative or fun
Doing something creative or fun can get you out of your own head by engaging your imagination, senses, and emotions.
When you do something creative or fun, you shift your attention and mood. It can help you distract yourself from your worries and negative thoughts and focus on something more enjoyable and rewarding.
Just think of a time when you were so engrossed in a video game, movie, or fanfiction that you barely noticed other people talking to you.
Furthermore, creativity and fun can help you express yourself and your personality in unique and authentic ways. You can also learn from others and get inspired by their ideas or feedback.
Some examples of creative or fun activities that you can do to get out of your own head are:
- Drawing, painting, sculpting, or crafting
- Writing, journaling, blogging, or storytelling
- Singing, playing an instrument, composing, or listening to music
- Dancing, acting, performing, or watching a show
- Cooking, baking, gardening, or decorating
- Playing games, puzzles, trivia, or cards
- Reading, watching movies or TV shows, or browsing the internet
- Traveling, exploring new places or cultures
- Volunteering for a cause that you care about
Doing one of these activities can also help you discover new talents and passions that you might not have known before.
Try to do something creative or fun every day and see how it makes you feel.
6. Connect with others and share your feelings
Connecting with others and sharing your feelings can get you out of your own head by satisfying your need for social support, belonging, and validation.
When you connect with others and share your feelings, you reduce your loneliness and isolation. Loneliness and isolation can make you more prone to rumination, which is the tendency to dwell on negative thoughts and emotions.
However, be careful! Some people try to avoid their thoughts by always being with others. But this is not a good solution. We have to face our thoughts sooner or later. Ignoring them will not work forever.
Connecting with others will also help you gain new perspectives and insights. Sometimes, you might feel stuck or trapped in your head and unable to see things clearly or objectively. By sharing your thoughts and feelings, you can gain feedback, advice, or guidance from others with more experience or knowledge than you.
Lastly, it will help you to release your emotions and heal. Sometimes, you might feel like you must bottle up your feelings or hide them from others for fear of being judged or rejected. By connecting with others, you can experience catharsis, the process of releasing strong or repressed emotions.
So, make sure to socialize and share your feelings regularly and see how it makes you feel.
7. Seek professional help if needed
Seeking professional help can help you get out of your own head by providing you with expert and objective guidance, support, and treatment. When you seek professional help, you:
- Acknowledge your problem and take action.
- Learn new skills and strategies.
- Receive personalized and evidence-based treatment.
Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you need it. After all, if you do badly in school, you might hire a tutor; if you want to lose weight, you might hire a nutritionist and personal trainer. Getting help for challenges with your mind is no different than that.
Lastly, you don’t have to wait until you are in crisis to seek professional help. It can also be a preventive measure. After all, addressing your issues before they get worse is better.
To sum up, being present and mindful is a challenge but also a rewarding experience. It can improve your well-being, your mental health, and your happiness.
These 7 simple ways are some of the best ones that have helped many people. I invite you to experiment with them and find what suits you. Remember, you are not alone in this journey.
Many people struggle with overthinking and anxiety; you are not flawed for these issues. The key is to recognize them and take steps to overcome them.
So, don’t hesitate any longer. Pick one of these ways and start practicing it today. You will be surprised at how much better you will feel when you stop worrying and start living.
Thank you for reading, and until next time, Felicity Seeker!
