Wise people understand that your mind can be your worst enemy, and sometimes, there is nothing scarier than being left alone with your thoughts. The truth of the matter is that while your mind is amazing, it can feel as if there are traps for you in there. One bad day arrives, and it is too easy to see a long, steep slide into something awful. Keep your brain occupied, and keep it out of dangerous waters; these techniques can help you beat substance abuse issues, or things as severe as depression, more.
Learn a New Skill – One of the best ways to keep your mind active is to be learning something new. Even if the thing that you are learning is entirely physical, you will discover that it can help you sharpen the way that you think. Things are always difficult when you start them, but time and practice will ease the way and help you gain mastery. This feeling of effort and satisfaction can keep you smiling and sharp! Pick up a paint brush – art can be extremely healing.
Help Others – Helping others is an act of good in the world, and it is also something that can shore up your own self-esteem. Think about how you can help others, whether you want to man a hotline or you are interested in stepping out into the community
Find a Good Workbook – Sometimes, you want to improve yourself but you do not know how. While plenty of people have good luck going to a therapist, that might be a dead end for you. Perhaps you cannot afford one or you cannot find one that suits you. This is where self-study and a good workbook can come in. Find a workbook that encourages you to work on yourself. This can make a huge difference to how you view the world. Pick it up, work on it in good faith, and embrace change in yourself.
Turn Off the Television/Get Away from the Computer – While there is nothing wrong with computers and televisions themselves, the issue arises when we do not use them constructively. Both the television and the computer can be very passive forms of entertainment, and what this means is that you will feel tired even if you don’t do anything. Over time, that passivity can lead you to try some pretty dramatic things to get out of the rut, so limit this kind of behavior.
Learn a Language – When you learn a new language, no matter what language you are looking at, you will find that you are activating parts of your brain that do not get much use. This is a fantastic way to keep your brain completely occupied and to make sure that you are staying mentally sharp. As you go through your day, start learning more words for the items around you, and recite them in your head.
Do a Puzzle – Are you someone who experiences a small click of satisfaction in your brain when you snap two puzzle pieces together or when you figure out a crossword puzzle? The truth is that you can train your brain to love the satisfaction that you get from doing puzzles, and this satisfaction can keep you right where you want to be. Let puzzles sooth you.
Do not think that you have to allow your mind to go to waste. Take a moment to think about what your mind is like, and think about how you can clear it out!