20 Ways to Distract & Destress

Serial Stress Killer

‘Disrupt those annoying little voices in your head and prevent them from taking over your life’

In this episode of The Serial Stress Killer Chris explains and discussed 20 easy top tips to tackle those annoying negative voices in your head. The longer you let the voices in your head fester, the more stressed you’re going to put yourself under.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Recognise when you’re over thinking about the same thing over and over again and use pattern interrupt to stop this by having a convocation with yourself.
• Ask yourself whether stressing about this thing is beneficial, what is it you’re thinking about this for and what is the value of stressing about this.
• Play some music. This could be listening or physically playing. This can help because it’s hard to stress about things when you’re concentrating on something else.
• Watch some TV or go to the cinema to take your mind off of things for a while. Binge watch and immerse yourself in watching something you enjoy. This could be a box set or film, whatever you enjoy the most.
• Go to a gym class of your choice. This could be high intensity or Yoga. It’s difficult to think about things that may have happened in the past when someone’s telling you to do something physical now.
• Read a book, much like watching TV will take your mind away from these thoughts. This could be more effective if you read out loud, whatever suits you the best.
• Call somebody to talk to either to express yourself and get something off of your chest or to ask what’s happening in their life. This can make someone else feel good as well as helping yourself feel better.
• Start writing, this can be in any form. Poems, journal or creative. This can be a great way to get thoughts out of your head.
• Create some art regardless of your skill level. Again, the form is up to your own preference.
• Memorise something that you like such as a poem, song or piece of music.
• Dancing is a great way to decrease stress, you could combine this with listening to music and kill 2 birds with 1 stone! This could be in a class or just on your own, either works just as well.
• Solve a problem or puzzle. This could be a small life problem or leisure problem such as a crossword. Solving a life problem can be more positive and pro active however ensure it’s not something that you’re stressing about.
• Go for a drive can be really cathartic. Concentrating on the road can help drive your mind away from whatever it is stressing you.
• Cook something. If you’re really annoyed, then you could focus on spending a few hours on making a really nice meal. This could be just for yourself or made into a social occasion.
• Cuddle someone or something.
• Play a video game. This can be a really great way to take your mind away from things.
• Cleaning the house may or may not be the most exciting thing to do but you’ll end up with a sparkling house.
• Watch some comedy, live or on a device because laughter is the best medicine. It can make you feel like a different person.

BEST MOMENTS

“When you’re stressed and experiencing anxiety, your defences are weakened.”

“You can easily fall into all or nothing thinking.”

“Your body doesn’t know the difference between a real stressful experience and a made up one.”

‘Exercise can help by releasing those feel-good hormones.’

“It can be really therapeutic to go through a creative process.”

“Those annoying negative voices in your head are what’s going to drive your stress.”

“Don’t be a victim, be a boss.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://rebrand.ly/sskplaylist01

Serial Stress Killer Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.

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