What are some things I should do to get my mind off of something?

Maybe take a trip to a museum with some friends.
Visit a park and have a relaxing lunch.
Do some writing or painting.
Spend all day baking cupcakes and muffins.
Do some gardening outside.
There’s lots of things you can do, but those are just a few.

Write it down. Put your problems on paper so you can put them away and come back to them when you are ready to take them on.

After you’ve got them out of you then do something physical or artistic depending on your preference.

I usually try Aromatherapy messages to relax my body and my mind. Buy some essential oil and message oil(lavender and chamomile would be the best for relaxing),take warm afternoon bath with 2–3 drop of essential oil,drink more water,burn that aromatherapy incense,and finally message all around your body(you can put slow classical music if you like,and you can also hire someone if you want). Well,I did that all by myself when I feel so depressed and down. But that rarely happen in my life as I occasionally practice yoga and vegetarism lifestyle.

In the past when I have been overwhelmed with my own problems, and I had trouble shutting off my brain, I would redirect it with studies of the JFK assassination. It is completely absorbing, and you can get lost in it. You will find you forget your own problems, and you can shut down and sleep.

@RedPowerLady i agree! there’s been lots of research on the power of journaling. i’ll just add a little bit about why it works…you’re moving your problems from deep in the emotional parts of your brain out to the more cognitive parts. this helps in 2 ways: 1) it makes those problems less emotion-laden and 2) it helps you get them to a place in your mind where you can deal with them more logically.

how exactly should you do it? doesn’t really matter the medium, hand-written or typed. doesn’t matter if you save what you write, keep it a day or two and them throw it out/delete it. prolly best to do when it’s especially bugging you, so you can get it all outside of yourself and hopefully find some relief. and try to do it for maybe 10 minutes a day for as long as you need. also maybe pair it with trying to elicit a relaxation response, and you’ve got a recipe for success! best of luck :)

This sounds odd, but it worked for me:
1.) Go outside.
2.) Scoop up a handful of soil.
3.) Look into the soil, & tell it what’s bothering you. Try to be as specific as you can.
4.) Toss the soil over your shoulder, walk away, & don’t look back.

Everything begins with dust, & so it shall end. Bury your problems with the Earth, & something beautiful & new will sprout from it.

Clean out a closet and get rid of stuff you don’t need by taking it to the Goodwill.

Or, organize photos into albums.

oh yes, that’s another important part: after you’ve spilled your guts into a journal, do something else to take your mind off it. that can include the relaxation response breathing exercises i said above, or any of the ideas that have been suggested here too.

hit the gym! I’ts the best way to focus on something else, and put out all your frustrations. You focus only on you. And all that energy you spend thinking about other problems will melt away here. Its like therapy for me really. Just focus on finishing a workout, weights, or a run. You will feel better because you worked out, and you escaped from whatever else was going on.

Take off your shoe. Either one—doesn’t matter which.

Pick up a large brick, cinderblock or stone.

Drop it on your foot.

Repeat as necessary.

Camping and other outdoor activities, that’s what they’re there for—to remind you what’s real.

@CyanoticWasp ouch

Work out til you’re exhausted.
@CyanoticWasp Yankee stoicism?

@anartist no, not at all. But it will definitely clear your mind of extraneous worries.

Sing
Sing a song
Make it simple
To last the whole night long…

Just get busy with some sort of project, or read a good book.

Go too the most insane rollercoasters park you can find and have a field day :)

Eat some ice cream

There is nothing like giving your full, undivided attention to someone else (and their problems) to take your mind off your own.

@msbauer great info!

@Jeruba this is the truest, healthiest solution imaginable.
However if something is REALLY bothering you, it will come right back to the surface the moment you are not actively engaged in helping another. Or in some other compelling activity, like fluthering.

@anartist Not necessarily, it is possible to see the solution to your issues in the suffering of others.

@YARNLADY not mine

@anartist A closed mind will guarantee negative results – on open mind will seek solutions

Yoga and exercise it releases endorphins in the brain and even though your problems will still be there you will be more relaxed and calm. also lifting weights will help you get out some aggression maybe some kick boxing or something! also try to have a me day, just put all your worries aside and do what you want all day for one day it will help you realize there is light on the side:)