2 Ways to Stop an Unhealthy Cycle of Mental Distraction

1. Practice self-control

Frequently engaging in mental masturbation can skew your self-awareness and can cause you to neglect important decision-making cues such as practicing patience, fact-checking your compulsive thoughts, and playing devil’s advocate.

To regain self-control, try to get into the habit of recording your ideas in your journal. Detail all of your thoughts as they cross your mind. Then, come back to it later on with a fresh set of eyes to determine whether your ideas are feasible and/or worth pursuing.

Another exercise that can help you separate worthwhile ideas from distractions is to engage in "would" and "should" thinking. One study published in the Journal of Research in Personality found that individuals who showed greater alignment between what they wanted to do versus what they thought they "should" do were more successful in pursuing their goals.

2. Set realistic goals

Instead of ideating in your mind, sit down and calmly jot down all of the reasons why you want to pursue this idea/goal, how it will add value to your life, and what purpose it will serve. Then create a SMART goal that lines up with your answers. A SMART goal is one that is:

• Specific.
• Measurable.
• Attainable.
• Relevant.
• Time-bound.

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

Reflection:

Do you get frequently distracted? How do you cope?

#Distraction #Coping #MentalHealth

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