Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

How can I stop thinking and shut my brain off?

159 Answers
Last Updated: 10/04/2019 at 4:46am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jessica McDaniel, LPC, LCPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

I have been practicing cognitive behavioral psychotherapy since 2007 with a diverse group of adult clients with various diagnoses, all races, and socioeconomic classes.

Top Rated Answers
joyfulWriting79
November 21st, 2015 1:31pm
Seek professional help through your doctor our a licensed counselor to determine your symptoms and treatment.
Anonymous
November 22nd, 2015 7:56am
I am sorry, I am not sure exactly what it is in particular you are wanting an answer for. Can you please clarify by elaborating what you mean by "shut off my brain?"
bouncyBlueberry78
November 22nd, 2015 10:49pm
The art of stop thinking and shutting your brain off is called meditation. To do meditation there are countless teachers, mentors, and books. What i think its the easier way to do it is simply focus on your breathing. Every time you start thinking, and you will, don't beat yourself up and just put your focus again on your breathing. At first its going to be for seconds and as you improve the time between thoughts will grow.
Anonymous
November 23rd, 2015 6:42pm
You can focus on your breathing, listen to music (not sad music but encouraging music) my favorite to listen to is The Script. Another thing you could do is a workout or work on school/homework.
retrouvailles
November 26th, 2015 3:20am
I don't think it is entirely possible to shut your brain off completely, but I do think that we can get really close. To get my mind off things, I usually try to cuddle up in blankets and watch some of my favorite shows. This helps me not think for a while and simply enjoy what is going on. I also try to practice meditation before I go to sleep so I can have a peaceful rest. This helps shut my brain off for the night. I think that by trying to calm your mind down in healthy ways, where you are being kind to yourself will work really effectively.
launariel
November 26th, 2015 8:25pm
You can't stop thinking and brain won't shut off. You can think better things by imagine better things and thinking you are strong.
Gisellelovesyouall
November 26th, 2015 9:37pm
The best way to it is to distract yourself and do things that calm you or make you happy, like listening to music or watching a movie
gracefulSunshine62
November 27th, 2015 5:53am
Drowning out your thoughts with music, tv, and work are all ways to minimize your thinking and can help when you are dealing with overwhelming emotions. As long term strategies however these are not effective for dealing with hard emotions which things like journaling or talking to someone are better for.
positive123
November 28th, 2015 3:29am
listen to music
sianylou
November 28th, 2015 12:10pm
The thing is, everyone wishes to shut their brain off at some point but for me when I feel like this I try and use my distraction techniques, like colouring, listening to music, singing it out, dance/exercise, watching my favourite TV show, yes it's hard to manage our thoughts but we can distract ourselves the best we can
radjessjc
November 29th, 2015 5:09am
listening to music always helps me . i listen to a lot of rock music , in which i can relate to the song lyrics . mostly nirvana , bring me the horizon , sleeping with surens , etc etc .
creativeBeauty27
November 29th, 2015 6:49pm
Yoga helps a lot. Try to breath deeply. Light reading as helped me a lot too. Something kinda mindless, easy read. Working out just to take your mind off things
Anonymous
November 29th, 2015 9:03pm
You can't stop thinking in fact they say your brain shuts down when your sleeping but 8n actual reality the brain is still working to keep you breathing what I suggest is a alternative is too simply distract yourself
earthwalker3
December 2nd, 2015 2:31pm
You can't shut your brain off but you can slow down your thoughts. It'll be helpful to research mindfulness or even try out our mindfulness mood boosts exercises! When we relax and focus on our breathing, soon our brains do the same.
Anonymous
December 3rd, 2015 6:07am
Meditation works really well for me!! I have an app called Calm on my phone and it's the most amazing thing in the world
magicallyMist84
December 4th, 2015 5:05am
Focus on your breathing and count up to ten and then back down again. This will keep your mind focused on one thing.
stxriesofliving
December 5th, 2015 9:01am
I can stop thinking and shut my brain off by looking for distraction such as listening to my favorite music, watching a tvshow or movie, reading a book etc.
Anonymous
December 5th, 2015 11:34am
I find that the best way to do this is to engage in an activity that needs your focus. Something like puzzles and online games that need you attention as well.
ashtonlucker
December 6th, 2015 9:05pm
Do something that makes you happy or talk to something that always makes you feel better when you're down. Or do both. It's up to you. Just try your best to be happy.
Anonymous
December 11th, 2015 11:00pm
Write it down or say it out loud - I am a consultant by trade and I spend my days sending countless emails and sitting on multiple conference calls. Seemed like every night when the lights went off and the sounds stopped my brain when in to overdrive. So much information rattling around up there, what happened today, what the agenda is for tomorrow, the follow ups next week, everything in my life all at once spinning around like a merry go round. To stop the cycle I simply started writing things down, I kept a pad next to my bed with a pen and wrote everything down that was on my mind. Once I said it out loud and had it jotted down the though went away because I knew I had a reminder ready for me in the morning. This has now evolved to keeping pads in the car and even post it notes in coats just to able to quickly take a note rather than dwelling on it.
ClareBlissfulSoul22
December 12th, 2015 7:53pm
We are thinking beings, However there are some great tools for quieting the mind. Have you tried meditation? There are many forms of meditation experiment and see which ones work best for you. Mindfulness is also great and you can experience it anytime. I recently started doing some lovely zen adult colouring books, they are great for getting lost in the lovely patterns and wonderful colours and then the relaxing motion of colouring in. When I colour it is like my thoughts float away. I also get this same feeling when I do a dance class. I would say experiment and see what fun things can give you that feeling.
Anonymous
December 13th, 2015 12:10am
Meditation and sleep are two great ways to quiet your mind. During sleep, your mind is able to process lots of things it was overloaded with throughout the day. If your noisy mind isn't allowing you to sleep, try meditating for a little while before bed.
Anonymous
December 16th, 2015 12:26am
To stop thinking and shut your brain off, you can practice mediation, distract yourself by being with other people and doing new hobbies or things you like.
CallmePat
December 16th, 2015 3:15am
Read a book, in print so as to avoid the backlight keeping you awake. Preferably somethings dry and boring, takes my mind off everything and makes me tired faster than any drug.
Linksfaerie08
December 16th, 2015 5:10pm
Rather shutting my brain off, I like to distract myself by engaging in activities I enjoy. I sing, to express emotion, or I'll draw or play video games.
clh2os
December 17th, 2015 6:51am
Discover a hobby. Often repetition can help--coloring, doodling, exercising. Find your escape. Also, find someone who you can vent to. We tend to ruminate on events we haven't truly come to terms with. Get out there--share it--then you can free your mind from it
KevinBradley
December 17th, 2015 7:00am
I Think yo should do some Warm Up Exercise, Yoga, or some sort of meditation before going to bed, it clears your mind, and calms and relaxes your body before going to bed, which helps you sleep better.
CarefreeKitty
December 17th, 2015 3:28pm
Meditation and exercise can help you to distract you and make you feel more at peace. Sometimes what can also help is if you write everything down, and I mean every little thought that's going on in your brain.This can, at least, organise your thoughts so your brain isn't rushing.
Anonymous
December 17th, 2015 6:38pm
When you find the answer let me know! Seriously the only thing that works for me is sleep, meditation, and going out. And then when I wake up or come home my brain "turns on" again.
peachicus
December 20th, 2015 2:15am
Distract yourself by doing something you enjoy, reading, music, TV, gaming or talking with friends all these things act as great ways to turn our brains of and just enjoy the moment.