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