18 Positive Distractions For Everyday Life
Take this one however you like, whether it's been a hard day for you or anything else. I am going to list 18 positive distractions to do rather than putting yourself in harmful situations. When I say harmful situations these can range from person to person, and only you know what isn't right for yourself.
It's difficult to break a habit and pull away from it but when that habit is taking a toll on your life negatively, it's time to take control back on your life and start treating yourself with kindness and love.
Step by step, we can all learn to look after ourselves, even when it takes all of our energy to do so.
1. Make a cup of tea, or squash.
2. Sit outside, EVEN if it's a bit chilly. Get your warmest clothes on, blankets, the lot and sit outside. Vitamin D has numerous benefits for us (my sister has been telling me this for the past few weeks and I've finally taken her advice and have noticed the difference). It's not going to solve your problems, but it'll help you right now. Try it.
3. Listen to a happy / upbeat playlist. I feel like this is really difficult to do, because happy music is the last thing you wanna do when you feel crap, but it's a distraction and most definitely a positive one. Try to avoid music that's gonna make you feel worse than you do right now.
4. Tidy up a space, even if it's one shelf of a bookcase. Tidying up a space can be used as a distraction but also a form of clearing all the junk and negative things in our minds.
5. Read a book. Again, I'd avoid the sad ones!! Even if it's a book, you've read before, pick it up again and have a flick through at least.
6. Go for a walk, 10 minutes around the block or an hour in around your favourite spot. Whatever you feel able to do and want to do, do it.
7. Sit down and breathe for a few minutes. Notice the breath going in and out and allow any tension to be released. Breathe in for 3, and out for 4.
8. Bake. Even if you can't bake. Just bake. I decorated my already broken cupcakes with out of date sugar icing. But it's okay, it worked as a distraction!
9. Watch your favourite film or tv show snuggled up on a sofa with some blankets (and a cup of tea).
10. Call a friend or family member.
11. Write it out to get it out. You can always throw the piece of paper away afterwards. The words don't even have to make sense or form sentences, just write whatever appears.
12. Unplug from social media or technology for an hour. ONLY if this is going to make you feel better. Don't do this if it's going to make you feel isolated from everyone else.
13. Light some candles or incense and put some little lights on to make the space around you nice and cosy.
14. Listen to your body. If you need a nap, take a nap.
15. Cloudgaze. This is actually a thing which I think is a simple but amazing idea. Take yourself outside and peer up to the sky. Watch the clouds move slowly and watch the different shapes they form. Use your imagination to make the shapes in to real things.
16. Stretch. Or yoga. I'm rubbish at both but I like to do a bit of yoga when I need to calm myself. The sole focus is to distract yourself, not become a yoga master. Find the humour in funny situations rather than beating yourself up.
17. Cook your favourite meal, it doesn't matter what time it is, just cook it.
18. Play a game on your phone or computer, especially if you feel restless.
Take care of your mind, body and soul.
These aren't the only positive distractions available of course, add in whatever makes you happy and takes your mind off something or helps you relieve tension/stress.
The main thing is to take care of ourselves, it means to know how far to push yourself, and take each day as it comes. Baby steps.
Like I mentioned on point number 8, even if you're not particularly good at something, just do it anyway. If you mess up, have a giggle about it. None of us are here to be perfect.
Ciao for now x