- Jennifer Klesman, LCSW
Tips on How to Get Out of Your Head When You Can’t Get Out of the House
When we are isolated, or around only a limited number of people, it is easy to get caught up in our own thoughts and spiral into negative thinking patterns.
Going for a walk and getting outside is healthy for us and can really help us reset provided it doesn’t make you more anxious. However, sometimes it’s too late in the evening or the weather prevents us from going on a walk or a run around the neighborhood. So what are we left with that is not movement to get us out of our heads?
Below is a list of healthy distracting activities to get you out of your head specifically when you’re stuck inside. Some are even able to be combined with the others to multitask:
Call a friend or family member
Change your environment; even if it is only a room
Journal about your feelings and thoughts
Wrap yourself in a warm towel or blanket
Practice mindfulness (use Headspace or Calm app)
Find a work out video or some exercises you can do without equipment
Write a letter to someone you can’t talk to
Start a puzzle
Write a short story based on your favorite lyric from a song
Read a book for fun
Start an audiobook
Clean a room
Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while
Research and practice grounding techniques
Play a video game or a game on your phone
Turn on some music
Turn on a podcast
Watch short videos or a TV show
Write a list of thing to complete (like the list above) before you will give negative thoughts space to consume your attention