What are some healthy distractions?

Here's a long list of some simple things you can do to “distract” yourself in a healthy way.
  • Watch inspiring movies, shows, or videos.
  • Meditate.
  • Exercise.
  • Walk-in nature.
  • Listen to podcasts.
  • Sing.
  • Laugh.
  • Play with children.


What are positive distractions?

Positive distraction is defined as, “an environmental feature that elicits positive feelings and holds attention without taxing or stressing the individual, thereby blocking worrisome thoughts” (Ulrich, 1991, p. 102). Positive distractions come in many forms, including visual images, music, animals, and digital media.

What are the best distractions?

Distraction was by far the most common response, so we broke those answers out here into these 18 ways to distract from anxiety:
  • Listen to soothing music.
  • Cuddle with pets.
  • Eat your favorite snack or have a cup of tea.
  • Take a long walk.
  • Exercise. “Exercise, exercise, exercise! ...
  • Do yoga.
  • Play some sports.
  • Read a book or magazine.


What are examples of distractions?

Distractions can be external (such as noise) or internal (such as fatigue, rumination, or stress). Distractions may be caused by a number of factors, including the loss of interest in the primary activity, inability to pay attention due to various reasons, or intensity of the distractor.

What are some distractions in life?

Distractions in Life: The Not-So-Obvious Edition
  • Waiting for a bright tomorrow. There's nothing wrong with thinking about the future. ...
  • Being a worrywart. ...
  • Reminiscing about the past. ...
  • Keeping up with the Joneses. ...
  • Making money as your life goal. ...
  • Focusing on the negative. ...
  • Comparing yourself with others. ...
  • Perfection.


A powerful antidote to distraction | Tania McMahon | TEDxQUT



What are the 4 types of distractions?

When discussing the four types of distractions, we are going to specifically look at visual distractions, manual distractions, auditory distractions, and cognitive distractions.

What are personal distractions?

The most common distractions associated with your smartphone are personal texts, phone calls, but also alerts and notifications you get from Social Media and other apps. Of course, you will also likely be tempted to browse the web with your smartphone, wasting even more time in the process.

What are the three main distractions?

Visual: taking your eyes off the road. Manual: taking your hands off the wheel. Cognitive: taking your mind off driving.


What are the 3 distractions?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 3 main types of distraction are visual, manual, and cognitive.

What distraction should we avoid?

6. Put down the phone: Constant but unscheduled phone calls and text messages are common distraction culprits. Shut down your mobile phone and forward your work phone to voicemail. Sure, you can check your calls every few hours or so — just like your email.

How do you distract yourself positively?

Strategies to Redirect Your Thoughts and Distract Your Mind
  1. Play a Memory Game. ...
  2. Think in Categories. ...
  3. Use Math and Numbers. ...
  4. Recite Something. ...
  5. Make Yourself Laugh. ...
  6. Use an Anchoring Phrase. ...
  7. Visualize a Daily Task You Enjoy or Don't Mind Doing. ...
  8. Describe a Common Task.


How do I distract my anxiety?

Distraction techniques
  1. Counting things around you (e.g how many blue things are in your room)
  2. Doodling or colouring.
  3. Counting backwards from 10, then from 25, and then 50.
  4. Focussing on your breathing, by breathing in for four, holding your breath for four and then breathe out for four (link to meditation tile)


What is the number one distraction?

1. Texting While Driving. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. Cell phone distraction rates are incredibly high.

Is distracting yourself healthy?

Unlike avoidance, distraction is a healthy coping mechanism. Distraction means that you temporarily step away from a stressful situation and then return to it once your anxiety level has decreased.


Do distractions make you happy?

[1] A study conducted at Harvard University revealed that when people were engaged in some activity, such as reading or shopping, they tended to be happier if they were focused on the activity itself. When they were thinking about something else, they were less happy.

How do distractions help ADHD?

Tips for ADHD focus
  1. Create a thought dump. Distraction can be one of the greatest hurdles when it comes to focusing on a task. ...
  2. Interrupt yourself. ...
  3. Work with someone you trust. ...
  4. Work toward clarity. ...
  5. Give yourself deadlines. ...
  6. Turn off your smartphone. ...
  7. Use organization tools. ...
  8. Write yourself notes (not just reminders!)


What are distractions for kids?

5 common distractions for kids who struggle with focus
  • Things they pick up or touch. Some kids who struggle with focus are hyperactive, too. ...
  • The phone ringing. ...
  • Itchy clothes. ...
  • Someone walking past the door. ...
  • Their own thoughts.


What are 3 things you should do to manage distractions?

15 ways to eliminate distractions
  1. Have a plan before you begin. ...
  2. Set time limits on your goals. ...
  3. Complete the most challenging tasks early in the day. ...
  4. Set smaller goals. ...
  5. Give yourself a shorter time frame to work. ...
  6. Leave the distractions behind. ...
  7. Get comfortable. ...
  8. Sleep.


What are the 10 top distractions that distract drivers?

Causes of distracted driving
  1. Talking on the phone. ...
  2. Texting and other phone manipulation. ...
  3. Talking with another passenger. ...
  4. Moving objects/animals in the vehicle. ...
  5. Adjusting audio and/or climate controls. ...
  6. Manipulating car components and controls. ...
  7. Reaching for an object or device. ...
  8. “Rubbernecking” and other outside distractions.


What is a manual distraction?

A manual distraction is anything that causes the driver to take their hands off the wheel for any amount of time. According to DMV.com a manual distraction can even count when you take one hand off the wheel.


What are negative distractions?

Frivolous relationships, unproductive conversations.

Or, perhaps with meetings at work, you're in the habit of getting off-topic or talking more about people, less about problems (and solutions).

What is distraction in mental health?

Distraction techniques are a form of coping skill, taught during cognitive behavioural therapy. These techniques are used to distract and draw attention away from the auditory symptoms of schizophrenia, such as auditory hallucinations (e.g. voice-hearing) and intrusive thoughts.

What are the main distractions for students?

External distractions are ones that originate outside of you—things like technology (phones, social media, websites, YouTube, video games, Netflix), other people, or noises around you. Below are some tips for managing external distractions.


What are the types of distractors?

Three types of distractors were used: paradigmatically related distractors (PARA), syntagmatically related distractors (SYN), and control distractors that had no semantic or syntagmatic relationship (CON [see Materials Section for examples]).

Why is distraction good for anxiety?

A distraction strategy is simply an activity that takes your mind off your current emotions. Instead of putting your energy into your worries and increasing your anxiety, you can focus on other things instead to give your mind and body time to calm down.